I hadn’t been here in quite a while, I was mainly checking out the poker action upstairs.
The vp-inventory is very current.
MOST of the vp machines I checked had at least 9/6 JB game on them.
BTW - Also, all of the multigames had VP (poker), Keno, Slots (like Super Race 8, Rhino), and BlackJack on them. So when the casino gets crowded, sometimes it is harder to find a low-denom machine, due to players who like Keno/BlackJack/slots playing those games instead.
Some are shortpay on other games, but most (if they are the IGT/Mulit-game Game Kings) have:
9/6 JB, 8/5 Bonus Pkr, 99.45 % Bonus DW game, 15-9 ugly dw game (98.9), 9/7 DB, 9/6 DDB, and
slightly under 99% (Bonus pkr deluxe 8/6, Triple Bonus Plus 8/5 with 100-1SF, )
No marginally playable JW in games I checked.
The .05-.10-.25-$1 multigames were mainly in the casino I would describe as the 'main ’ casino, surrounding the ‘Round Bar’ (with large stairs or escalators that go to the upstairs Bingo Hall or Poker room).
The slants by Main Cage / or ‘to the left’, outside High Limit area, also were fullpay games listed in .25-.50, $1-$2 denom. (listed only as .25-.50 on vpFree inventory currently).
(which I would describe as in a separate area between the ‘North’ casino / north self parking garage casino in a corridor that has 2 sides (1 hallway also has entrance to a theatre/box-office), the other side is closer and leads to the main cashier.
I basically found banks of mostly uprights in 2 types:
.05-.10-.25-$1 or .25-.50-$1-$2 for lower limit players. I didn’t scout out the higher denom games.
Unfortunately on ALL these VP games, I think they are set to $5/pt, and it takes 1000 pts / $1 in comps or freeplay. So .002% (very minimal). i.e. .01c per $50 vp played. It’ll take a long time to earn much in terms of bonus comps --but for a SoCal casino, pretty good vp, considering competition (Only Pala has similar, but at $1 denom and higher).
I did find an ‘alcove’ of 5+5+5+5 (20 total) uprights with the sign above the alcove reading (POKER - KENO)
These were in the North Garage casino, just before you reach the gift shop/main corridor leading to theatre and main slot club. It can get quite smoky there (lower ceiling), when smokers present.
The round bar only had 9/6 JB as best fullpay game in .25 and higher, other games shorter pay.
That area got fairly busy in the afternoons, as players like to drink/watch sports while playing vp at the bar.
The whole casino is super huge (at 188,000 - over 200,000 sq ft! and listed at 3400 machines on some websites. They also have a huge $285M expansion project (mainly for 2nd hotel tower and big RV park/swimming pool and convention events area).
But, due to the next nearest casino being 15miles away (Pala), and bussed in groups from Riverside/Orange/and Los Angeles counties, even Sunday afternoons gets pretty busy.
I’m glad their parking garage is huge (think South Pointe or larger), not quite like MGM size, but they should get one that big! However, layout is convenient, as all decks have stairs that lead to nice walkway leading to the ‘north’ casino entrance- which has 2 man-made ponds/mini water falls in the front.
It is easy to get lost , but if you keep in mind there are basically ‘2’ main casinos, and they are both very large ‘boxes’, then you can get your orientation - the Round Bar casino is bigger than the North Casino (but both are very large, relatively speaking).
Live Poker: 54 table room - HUGE- but airy (high ceilings, nice ventilation, and SMOKE-FREE).
Other than some stiff chairs (but they provide free seat cushions!), very nice room to play in.
Poker room promos are okay for SoCal -but rakes are tough to beat ($3+$1 blinds in 3/6 and higher games, with extra $1 rake for house promotions or $5/pot total, no matter what is in the pots).
2/4 no kill game is $2+$1 blinds, and $4 total rake from all pots, assuming there is a ‘flop’.
Promotions vary by month, usually 2 days per month are high hands every hour paid (Top 3 in Hold’em)-$200-150-100 (I’ve yet to make one).
However, easy qualifiers : only 1 hole card has to play, you can ‘flop’ the winner, and just show the dealer if you bet and others fold their hands… Jacks full or better.
With 54 total tables, I counted 7-10 live games going at the beginning of this promotion (Sunday) noon, every hour until 11pm. I lasted until 6pm, too tired to play longer. At the peak, about 18 live games were going - all 9 handed max (10 were NL games). 3 Omaha games (Omaha players - check rules ) - Pechanga deals a weird 5 card Omaha game (so 5 hole cards to start with)? I think only 8-handed, as 9-handed would deal out the whole deck! including flop and burn card(s). I’ll have to watch that game next time to report on it.
Omaha only has 1 top high hand hourly $100.
Tournaments are run pretty well - but they do have all players pay ‘antes’ - just like in WSOP, after 3 levels!
So lower buy-in tournaments, you don’t have many chips.
I’d always try the $40 and higher buy-in tournaments (4000 min starting chips). Extra $5 for dealer tips gives you extra $1000 in tournament chips. Some are rebuys / add-ons, varies by day.
Generallly good TV screens on the walls indicating total players in the tournament/total chips in play, tournament blinds/levels, etc.
You get a randomly assigned table/seat when you buy-in to the tournaments at their poker room ‘cashier’ window/cage.
PS - Like most Indian/SoCal casinos - alcoholic drinks are not free, even if you are playing at machine or table games. There is a player poker room menu, but plenty of other options in the casino too - food court, 24 hr cafe, buffet, 2 Asian restaurants and a few others.
If I ever build up some comps ($1/hour in poker, $1.50 in higher limit games), I may check them out sometime.
All info on their website : google Pechanga casino resort.
That’s all for now.
Martin