They allow their employees (which is true in some other poker rooms), but moreso HERE than anywhere else.
Get 2 or 3 of them at the same table, and they'll TAKE your money, without regards to HOW they treat their customers. I suspect SOME collusion may be going on, but you'll be hardpressed to get (their own) floor people and mgr. to admit it. Playing loose and wild is one thing; Having 2 or 3 who PLAY EVERY HAND that way can be construed as a form of collusion - just raise everyone out the pots every other hand, and nobody will probably suspect it.
While they still will take members for their "BSPA - Big SLick P(l)payers Association" (Sick!) - all you get is a monthly invite to a freeroll tournament that is deep stack (and you earn 1 extra $100 chip for every hour played). Big whoope-de-do.
That being said, here's where I think the best promotions are on the River:
For highest payouts on big hands (like Royals, SFs, and 4ks), try the EW or CB. Even in the low 2-4-6 structure limit game, you can qualify for pretty decent payouts (up to 2-3k on some Royals).
Pays a straight up $1.25/hourly - and you can swap at either poker room, if you wanted to eat at Mark Twain's (for e.x.), and had $10 from EW. JUst take your comp slips to the OTHER poker desk and they'll give you vouchers good for their restaurants.
Riverside - Not great on comps ($5 per day, or shift, depending on who you speak to), BUT they do have the EASIEST freeroll 'turbo' tournaments and dwgs to qualify for.
Turbo NL tournaments cost $15 daily at 10, 6, and sometimes 11-midnight. Live DRAWINGS for seated players only about 1-2 hours later, 4 dwgs for $25 each, which go up by $25, if a player is drawn, but nowhere in the vicinity of the poker room (actually should be signed up for a live game or in one by then).
Also nightly evening FREEROLLS ($10 more for 2500 in chips) and quite easy to qualify for (Tues- Thurs - or SUndays, with $1000 in prize monies for top 5 of usually 66 max players). Qualify between those days by winning ANY of their promo monies (high hands, AA beat), or qualify with KK beat, any AA/full beat, OR even the highest hand (full house or better) of the hour in your live game at your table!
Just ask the FRIENDLY dealers, they'll let you know.
$20 min. in pots for those hands in order to qualify.
Also 'club' flushes winning hands may qualify.
Qualify more than once, and every future qualifying hand gives you extra tournament chips in the freerolls at 6:30 on Tu-Th- or Sundays.
AA CRACKED - BIGGEST payouts on the river at $25 for mixed, vs. the usual $20 at Tropicana (and none at EW currently, $100 limited times at CB/AQ). Red or Black AA beat pay $100; AND TWICE daily (from n00n - 3 pm; 8-11pm), the FIRST set of RED AA beat pays $500!
Royals always pay $595, SFs $200; 4ks with pocket pair in hole $25 or $50, if same color.
AVI - SImilar on the big hands, but currently $50 24/7 for any AA beat! And $1.50 hourly comp rate. 15 hours weekly between Fri 8 am - Fri 8am qualifys for a 2 pm Freeroll on Sundays...
HAS anyone stayed at the AVI? IF so , how are their rooms?
Pool/and beach area looked great....
HARRAH's bonuses not so high, and all 3/6 kill games vs. 2-6 spread limit. AQuarius bonuses not so great either, and comps unknown.
PIONEER has limited NL tourneys/games midweek?? I've NEVER seen any live poker going on around their table games area.
GN holds monthly deepstack tournaments for $80 buyin.
That's my current assessment of poker things on the river,
M.
PS - RIVER PALMS is closing their poker room, and I wouldn't doubt if the casino or parts of it will follow.....
TOo bad - I used to like the older property, esp. when it was still the Gold River...
M.