Waiting Frustration

[mindgame]

For those currently playing ring games in casinos:

I'd like to know some of the procedures your local venues have for handling the queue in the poker room. This last weekend at Harrah's outside Chicago there were 41 people in front of me when I signed up. The wait was 4 1/2 hours, an insufferable period of ennui in a building full of activity that I don't care to engage in. (I'm not a gambler.) Is this standard procedure in most casinos? You put your name on the list and then wait forever? Do any casinos give a seating preference to regular players? Anyone allow you to "tip" (okay, bribe) the room supervisor for quicker seating, as is done in some trendier restaurants? There must be a better way. I was tempted to just get a room in the adjacent hotel, grab some sleep I'd need later, and have them call me when my name finally made it.

When the boat actually was a boat (pre-dockside gambling with restricted boarding hours) you could call and reserve a seat and minimize your wait considerably. This is nuts.

Anyone have thoughts, suggestions, or ideas beyond "Oh quit bitching and suck it up?"

[Dave B]

I call 1st to see what kind of waiting list they have. I also pick off peak hours to show up and then stay after the fish come in. If you get to know the casino, there should be typical times when you can easily get on a table and times when it is tougher.

I agree, there in nothing worse then getting there ready to play and needing to find a way to kill time.

I suppose you could bring a lab top and play online until your seat is ready! or not.

[mindgame]

I'm going to be forced, I suppose, to get there a three or four hours before the real action players (fish, if you must) arrive. Trouble is that I'm not much good for more then 6-8 hours of poker. After that I get tired and my concentration starts to break down. Of course it's a gradual process and you don't always notice until you do something truly stupid--like miss the straight draw because you're so happy that your two pair don't have to sweat that flush you had yourself convinced the guy was drawing to. I've tried stoking myself up on coffee and tobacco, but, damn, then I get home and can't sleep for three days!
This is why Dolly Bunson said your best poker is behind you at age 50. You young guys can just enjoy that observation while your elders labor at becoming the exceptions to the rule.
Where do you play, anyway?[/i]

[DDiehr]

At the casino I go to, I have to wait a long time too. Although I spent a few months in the Bay Area (I'm in Portland now) and never had to wait more than twenty minutes. In all the places I've played you can call ahead for the "big" games and get your name put on the list. If I'm not interested in playing in the bigger limits, I'll usually remember to bring some reading material (poker books) and some headphones. As far as those "other" activities in a casino, you're right, STAY AWAY. I've known many a good poker player that lose all they win at the poker table and more playing blackjack, at the OTB and at the sportsbook.

[Dave B]

I play at a card club in a horse track at Canterbury Downs in Shakopee (just outside the Twin Cities) in MN.

The longest I have waited was an hour, but that was at 8pm on a weekend. They have tons of great tournaments, jackpots, and good players. Including one local dude that made it to the final table in the WSOP a few years ago.