I have go to AC all the time but I have never gotten in on poker there. Some one please explain to me how the casino makes money? Are you playing against the dealer, or other players? Do you have to pay to get into the room or can you just walk in and sit down? What are the average table limits and what should I expect to bring with me money wise to play with? I have played hold’em in poker games and I’m pretty good, but I want to know if I need to bring $200 $500 or what. Any other help would be a big help.
Answer 1:
The casino makes money by either taking a small amount from each
pot, or, as is the case in the UK, charging a “sit-down” fee– you buy your seat in the game.
Answer 2:
You only play against other players. At low limits, the house takes a cut of each pot, and at higher limits they charge a set amount per hour for your seat. There is no charge to get into the room in any casino in the United States. Some European casinos charge you just to enter. When you walk into the room, they’ll have a board listing the available games and limits. You sign up on the waiting lists for the limits you want to play, and when there’s an open seat, they call you. Waits can be fairly long in Atlantic City, especially if you play holdem.
If you are open to playing other games, such as seven-card stud, or to a few different limits, you shouldn’t have trouble finding some game quickly. The lowest holdem limit is 2-4. Next largest is 3-6, then 5-10, then 10-20. Holdem is spread only at the Taj Mahal and the Trop to my knowledge. $100 is more than enough for a session of 2-4. If you are a winning home game player, you should be able to handle 5-10. The problem with 2-4 is that the stakes are so low and the house cut of the pot is so large that it’s hard to make any real money even when the opponents are really bad (which
they are).
Answer 3:
In games below $10/20 the casino takes a “rake” of 10% of the pot, up to $4 max. In games above, the casino charges for time. This amount varies by casino & limit. Usually, no more than $10/hr. There is no charge to get into the poker room. You only pay while you play. To get into a game, you go to the poker desk and see what games are available. If there is a seat open in the game/limit you want – you’ll be directed to someone who will seat you in that game. If there is a waiting list, add your name to the list & they will call you when a seat is open. Fri/Sat nights are busy and there is almost always a waiting list. It helps to put your name on more than one list. For example, I’ll wait for the $10/20, $5/10 and $3/6 games. Ideally, I want the $10/20. However, I’ll play in the others if they are “good” games, while waiting for a call for $10/20. Holdem is usually spread: $2/4, $3/6, $5/10, $10/20, $20/40, $30/60, etc. Sometimes you’ll find a $15/30 or $4/8 – they are pretty rare, however. Stud looks like: $1/3, $1/5, $5/10…..similar to holdem, but the betting varies depending on if the board is paired – and on which “street”.
To play holdem, I’d suggest the following buy in $$$’s: $2/4 – $100, with another $50 in reserve (don’t play $2/4 – it’s not worth the time); for $3/6 – $150/$100; for $5/10 – $200/$150; for $10/20 – $400/$200, etc…. Sounds like on your $500 you’d be looking at $3/6 or $5/10. You’d be a little short stacked at $10/20 and we’d try to squeeze you. That and the game is a little tougher than $5/10, less players see the flop and much more raising. Short stacks usually can’t handle the variance.
