I chatted with the Poker Room boss last night at Auckland. It's a small room and they are playing with Tournament schedules etc and she was interested in feedback. Amazing how quick you become a local.
The rake is high at 10%, capped at $10 on a $1/$2, $60-$100 NLH table. She explained the financial realities and they need to take $200 per hr / per table. That still doesn't compete with pokie and other casino table revenue. Small tournies with 40 people and 4 tables for a few hours can generate less than $200 total. Not a good return, hence not many tournaments. They are running freerolls to help people transition from pub poker to casino poker.
So accepting that the rake is high - to play or not? I'm learning, so table time is an investment. My style reflects the challenge of beating the rake as I am the nittiest nit ever. I watch like a more experienced interested player though.
Last night, I am please to report that playing 5 hands and limping a few more netted me a profit of $74 over 4 hours of play. Had I played any looser, I would definitely have lost! I played pp pairs 3 times after flop. Once I hit and got a flop bet and turn fold on 89KT board, twice I raised preflop and c-bet and was folded to.
AA, I linped UTG (aggressive table), MP raise to $7, BB call, I re-raised to $27 as I would be put on a post flop c-bet if I didn't and I was getting away regardless of flop as it was such a loose / bluffing table. They fold, fold which was fine but dsappointing as I was happy to stack off on any flop.
That was essentially it. Very lillte risk and a successful result. As Blindman said, playing fewer hands I was up for less rake too!
5 years ago
1 comment:
There is no doubt that it is tough for Casinos to make money on poker. But there are other advantages for them. Poker is a "cool" game - a thriving poker room is a big benefit for a poker room in terms of generating interest from spectators and in drawing people into the casino who wouldn't otherwise be interested (people like me).
1/2 is probably just too low a level. They need to spread higher limits in order to enable people to play at a level where they won't be reamed by the rake.
At Burswood, the rake is 10% up to $8 at the 2/3 ($100-$200) game, and 5% up to $20 at the 10/20 limit and the 5/5 no-limit. Both of those are much better than the rake you describe. 10% up to $8 is a bit steep, but if you play tight with a full stack you can limit the damage.
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