What Would Be More Profitable?
Having just returned from Vegas with a $1K + cash game profit for 13hrs of play, I came to the conclusion that the level of play was so bad there that I should spend my upcoming 3 weeks holidays in October in Vegas grinding the cash games only and forsaking the tourneys I love so much. I figure $5K should be an easily achievable goal with some nice entertainment and restaurants as a bonus.
Then I got to thinking... I've been to Vegas multiple times, so why not do the same thing somewhere else for a change of scenery. The only other place I could think of was Macau! From what I have read, it is now the World's number one gambling destination... even bigger than Vegas. The Chinese for the most part are years behind us in their overall knowledge of poker, and they love to gamble recklessly! Supposedly, the poker rooms in Macau are even softer than Vegas.
Rake in Vegas is 10% to a max of $4 in most casinos. In Macau it's 5% to a max of $20. For someone playing 2/5 NL which would be better... the loose game in Vegas, or the crazy loose games in Macau!
FYI expenses don't enter into it as I work for an airline, and flying to Macau will actually be cheaper for me due to lower taxes.
Then I got to thinking... I've been to Vegas multiple times, so why not do the same thing somewhere else for a change of scenery. The only other place I could think of was Macau! From what I have read, it is now the World's number one gambling destination... even bigger than Vegas. The Chinese for the most part are years behind us in their overall knowledge of poker, and they love to gamble recklessly! Supposedly, the poker rooms in Macau are even softer than Vegas.
Rake in Vegas is 10% to a max of $4 in most casinos. In Macau it's 5% to a max of $20. For someone playing 2/5 NL which would be better... the loose game in Vegas, or the crazy loose games in Macau!
FYI expenses don't enter into it as I work for an airline, and flying to Macau will actually be cheaper for me due to lower taxes.
Comments
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tapatalk puts this here to annoy YOU
tapatalk puts this here to annoy YOU
The two best options during your October vacation are WPT Philippines or ACOP Macau. The Asia Championship of Poker is on October 24 - November 9, PokerStars Live Macau. According to Siri, the conversion is ~seven Hong Kong dollars for every Canadian dollar, so there are buy-ins from $69 - $1,518.
An even better option is the future gambling capital of the world - Philippines and its Entertainment City. I bumped into the WPT President (Obama look-alike!) in an Aria elevator, and he told me about WPT Philippines:
October 16-28, Solaire Resort, Manila.
I can be your translator, tour guide.
A couple of profitable sessions don't make for a 'soft' poker destination. What if you lose $1,500 on your next session? My advice is to find a place that you want to visit that happens to have poker as a sideline, and enjoy yourself exploring this new destination with a little poker on the side.
I often travel to destinations that also have poker so I can play in the evening. Some of my suggestions would be Los Angeles (Commerce, Bike - two of the largest poker rooms in the world), Florida (tons to choose from), Bahamas (they only have poker in January during the PCA for a two week period), London, England (plenty of poker rooms in the downtown core).
One thing you should consider with Macau is the limits are a lot higher and these guys love to gamble so you will need a much larger bankroll to play in these games.
Love to see how you end up doing after three weeks grinding in Vegas. If it was that easy, we would all be living there full time
Having played poker in Manila before at the Metro Poker Club, its really a different experience than any other poker destination. You really have to be careful in the Philippines. Be interesting to see if this Entertainment City pans out. My bet is likely on the new mega gambling resort being built in Nassau, Bahamas which opens next year. Hopefully they will make poker available 365 days a year when this resort is finished.
http://www.bahamar.com/welcome-to-the-new-riviera/
I think it is that easy, which is why there ARE hundreds of Canadians living there and earning a buck or two. I think if you are a solid player, then $40 an hour playing 2/5 is not out of the question... If I put in 50 hours a week for three weeks then I'm looking at $6K. I'm not going to be hitting up Bobby's Room at the Bellagio, more like some of the secondary casinos where the tourists play and from what I've seen... they like to donate their money.
Table selection is key:
Examples from my last three trips (all profitable):
One guy so drunk he pissed himself at the table.
A microsoft employee who was so bad at bluffing that he dropped $1K
in 1hr at 1/2 NL.
A pretty young thing who would raise her premium pairs to 20 times BB
pre-flop and then would proudly show her hand after picking up the blinds.
Needless to say I cleaned her out completely (to the last dollar in her purse).
A drunk Texan who would go A/I with practically any 2 cards.
A woman so ignorant of the most basic rules, that she folded her hand
for a $200 loss even though it was the board that was playing!
I don't know how any competent player can lose under those circumstances. Beats can happen, and I'll undoubtedly have a few
bad nights but leaving without a profit after 3 weeks seems to be impossible IMO.
The fact that they love to gamble is what I'm counting on, because as for
myself, I HATE to gamble. I love poker because for me it's not gambling (in the long term), it is a sure thing; assuming I'm not playing Phil Ivey or the like. As far as the bankroll.... again no problem because I work for a living and make a good buck, so in effect I can replenish my roll at will if I run into a downswing.
I was looking at the WPT site and don't see that particular one, but I'm up for it if you prefer, as well as the LAPT in Lima. Start grinding the satellites!
OMG, I want to see what happens when variance kicks in... Good luck to you tho... The only thing I agree with in your statements above is re table selection. Trouble is you won't be able to find 50 hours a week where the pickings are that good. There are a lot of VERY good live players here who won't quite agree with your assessment of Vegas poker being all THAT easy anymore, 5-7 years ago perhaps, but not now.
Everyone's solid
We'll get ~40 Philippine pesos for every Canadian dollar, so some expenses may be a lot lower. Instead of needing a Jean-Robert "broke & arrested" Belande to translate Mandarin in Macau, I can be your translator. I've read travel reports that there are are more dining and non-gambling attractions near Manila than Macau, including the famous Nobu restaurant (and hotel) owned by Robert de Niro.
Last but not least, you'll find out why half of the Royal Flush Girls come from the Philippines! >:D
Trust me I know variance can be a bitch, and maybe I'll come back with my tail between my legs, but somehow I don't think so... The players at the Casinos that I played at were that bad (Binions and Golden Nugget). I've played over 2 million cash game hands online including a million at 2/4 or higher and that's taught me to be realistic. I'm going to give it a go just to satisfy my curiosity, and if I bomb, I'll be the first to admit I was dead wrong!
While DirtArse & I may postpone a Las Vegas trip until next year, here are the biggest rip-offs to watch out for there:
airport slot machines, taxi long hauling, resort fees :mad:, 6-5 blackjack, slots, card slappers >:D, street hustlers, party pits, cabbie suggestions, bar video poker, and last but not least, the 30% ...
My friend won $2k waiting for her return flight back home on the airport slots. It was the first time she gambled her entire trip.
what!!!!?.... article was good up until this point... if you don't know how to turn bar video poker into one of the most profitable things to do in vegas then you are doing it wrong!
Royal Flush Girl Ivy Teves is coming, so as long as DirtArse, pokerJAH or anybody else I know is going, then I'll be getting ready to rumble! I want to play on October 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, & possibly the Main Event.
Lol