Hard Rock Casino (Cincinnati, Ohio) -- FAQ in OP, updated 2015.03.13
***This FAQ brought to you by Tom1975 with an assist from ythelongface. Please contact them if you have any additional info that should be added.***
What games and limits are offered at the poker room?
No Limit Hold ‘em:
1/2 NL (50-200)
2/5 NL (200-500)
5/10 NL (500-2000)
10/25 NL (1000 – uncapped)
PLO:
1/2 PLO with $5 bring-in (100-500)
5/5 PLO (300-1000)
5/10 PLO (500-2000)
10/25 PLO (1000- uncapped)
Limit games (Hold ‘em, O8):
3/6
6/12
What games actually run on a regular basis?
1/2 NL, 2/5 NL, and 3/6 limit run every day. There are generally 1-2 tables of 2/5 by the evening, 3-4 on Friday and Saturday.
5/10 NL usually runs on Friday or Saturday night.
5/10 and/or 10/25 PLO runs every Wednesday and Friday for sure. There are always at least two tables of 5/10 or 10/25 on those days, sometimes three. It also sometimes runs on Saturdays and Mondays.
1/2 or 5/5 PLO has run most days so far
6/12 limit holdem- Does not run
6/12 limit O8 typically starts early Friday afternoon and may get a second table going sometimes. Normally a lot of regs in this game, but it is a pretty friendly game that welcomes new people.
I’ve seen interest lists for Stud and bigger limit games as well. but it is very rare if ever that they get off. Maybe during a very busy weekend or a tournament series you may see one or more of these games.
What’s the rake?
10% up to $6. NL and PL games 5/10 and higher have an $8 per ½ hour time charge.
What about the bad beat jackpot? The bad beat jackpot maxes out at $25.000. Here is a link to the rules regarding it.
https://www.jackentertainment.com/cincin...
Tournaments! What about tournaments?[B]Tournaments updated as of 6/24/2016. The daily turbos now have 10K starting chips instead of 8K, there is a new survivor tournament where 10 percent of the entrants get paid $1250 each and the remainder gets paid the runner up. Also there is now a $400 buyin 50K guarantee on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month.
Daily tournaments are now running:
Tournament Information
New Tournaments start on June 24th! More starting chips for the Turbo Tournaments! Improved Structure for better play! Two 50K Guarantees a month (1st and 3rd Saturday)!! 10K added to each of the 50K Tournaments! New Monday night Survivor (1 in 10 wins $1250)
Daily Tournaments
$160 NL Hold'em (Re-Entry) / $10,000 Guarantee
Start Time 12:15
Details 10,000 Starting Chips / 30 Minute Levels Registration Opens 10:15 AM
Days Sunday
Buy In $160
$80 Turbo NL Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Start Time 12:15
Details 10,000 Starting Chips / 15 Minute Levels Registration Opens 10:15 AM
Days Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Buy In $80
$160 Survivor NL Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Start Time 18:15
Details 10,000 Starting Chips / 30 Minute Levels Registration Opens 4:15 PM / 1 in 10 wins $1,250
Days Monday
Buy In $160
$160 NL Hold'em / $10,000 Guarantee
Start Time 18:15
Details 10,000 Starting Chips / 30 Minute Levels Registration Opens 4:15 PM
Days Wednesday
Buy In $160
$400 NL Hold'em (Re-Entry) / 1st & 3rd Saturday / $50,000 Guaratee
Start Time 12:15
Details 12,000 Starting Chips / 40 Levels Registration Opens 10:15 AM $50,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool / $10,000 Added
Days Saturday
Buy In $400
Here are the structures:
Structures will be posted as soon as they become available.
What about the WSOP Circuit? It was held in 2013 when this was Horseshoe Cincinnati. Due to security concerns in he ballroom it was not held in 2014 or 2015 and at this time it is unknown, but unlikely it will be held here in the future as this casino is now fully owned by Rock Gaming who bought out Caesars Entertainments stake in this and the two casinos in Cleveland.
What are rules on straddling?
Only allowed UTG and for double the big blind, with two exceptions. In 1/2 games it's to 5 (instead of 4) and in 5/10 games it's to 25 (instead of 20).
Do dealers keep their own tips?
Yes.
Does the poker room have chip runners and their own cage?
There were chip runners during the first 3-4 months approximately, but since then there have been none. You can try to buy chips from the dealer for some games, but it is generally just as easy to go to the cage in the poker room. Along these same lines, cash does NOT play, and for 1/2 NL, you must have $25 chips or smaller(not generally an issue, but just an FYI.
Can you call ahead to be put on the waiting list?
No, they do not allow call-ins.
Are they listed on the Bravo app?
Yes, under JACK Cincinnati Casino
What are the hotel options?
There is no on site hotel. The casino has partnered with seven downtown hotels to offer rooms at varying discounts based on your play. They have a free shuttle which runs from 8 am to 2 am during the week and 8 am to 4 am Friday and Saturday night. The next closest option after downtown is across the river in Covington or Newport. Details on their hotel partners are here:
https://www.jackentertainment.com/cincin...
What about self-parking?
The casino has an attached 2,500 spot garage. There are entrances on both Reading and Gilbert. There are two entrances on Reading, valet is the closest to the casino, self-parking is the furthest. Parking is free. They originally were planning on charging during weekdays to discourage people going downtown for other purposes from using the garage; however that hasn't been a problem so far and they never started charging. If you happen to go into the garage before 9am weekdays, they will want to see your players card. This is a mild attempt to discourage downtown workers from parking here for free. For people worried about security, the garage has hundreds of cameras and 24 emergency call boxes. All you have to do is hit a button and it sounds an alarm and connects you directly to security.
What about valet? Here is a link to parking/valet info
https://www.jackentertainment.com/cincin...
What about comps?
Awaiting confirmation on this.
What are the benefits of A, C and K cards?
The A card doesn’t get you much really. C card gets you free valet, access to the VIP Lounge (which has free appetizers basically, sometimes actual food) and priority seating at restaurants. There’s other stuff too like discounts at the gift shop and what not. You can click this link for details.
https://www.jackentertainment.com/cincin...
What’s the policy on eating in the room or going to dinner?
They allow snacks like candy bars and fruit. You can get candy bars or pretzels from the waitresses for $2. If you leave to eat you can miss two dealers plus a 15 minute grace period before you’re picked up.
What about cocktail service?
Non-alcoholic drinks are free (except energy drinks) . Alcohol must be paid for with cash. If you’re planning on having a few drinks it’s a good idea to keep a few fives and ones in your pocket. Waitresses can now be tipped with chips. Beer is 3.50 for a 12 oz bottle or 4.00 for a 16 oz bottle. Mixed drinks are around $5. Last call is at 2:00 and all drinks must be consumed by 2:30. Unlike Hollywood, there are no self-serve pop machines.
Are there massage therapists?
Yes. It's $1 per minute. For now you must pay with cash but they're trying changed that so they can take chips. It's the same company that was at Hollywood Lawrenceburg and some of the same girls.
For people used to playing at Hollywood Lawrenceburg, are there any different rules to be aware of?
The edge of your cards is your betting line. If you bring out chips past your cards you have made an action. Two other things I’ve noticed so far is that a second boxed card does not kill the hand and straddles must be in place or announced before any cards are dealt. Also, black chips do not play at 1/2 NL and purple chips do not play in any game. You can use pumpkins (1,000) in 5/10.
If you have any further questions, please ask in the thread or pm ythelongface.
3 Replies
Anyone on here played lately? Thinking of going for 3 or 4 days in July and have never been there before. How sketchy is the area right around the casino? Looks like its about a mile from the ballpark, safe to walk to and from after a game or better off driving? Thanks.
I would certainly make the walk during the day and I 'personally' don't really worry about walking much at night, but that's just me.
Most of the PLO is 5-card, buy you might find a 4-card game on the weekend.
I've always found the low stakes very tight and the 2/5 can be tight as well unless there's an action Player at the table.
I go there during holiday weekends most of the time and enjoy myself for the most part. There's a few weak Dealers, but most of them have been there for years. GL
Anyone on here played lately? Thinking of going for 3 or 4 days in July and have never been there before. How sketchy is the area right around the casino? Looks like its about a mile from the ballpark, safe to walk to and from after a game or better off driving? Thanks.
I'm there regularly. It's an interesting transitional area, kind of at the 3-way connection between an ugly mass of freeways, Pendleton which is sort of the beginning of all the hip stuff in Over-the-Rhine, and the good ol' classic American downtown that tends to clear out nights and weekends. The path to the waterfront/ballpark goes through the downtown.
I wouldn't take a ton of cash through there but in general, and especially on a game day, it should be fine. Lots of people come by after a Reds game. You can probably save by parking, playing an hour, going to the game, coming back, playing some more, etc. but don't blame me if that goes badly wrong.
Until recently 4 card held its own well and it depended on who started the game any given day. In the last 3 months 5c has been pretty dominant.
I've always found the low stakes very tight and the 2/5 can be tight as well unless there's an action Player at the table.
In PLO?! Either way I'd never call the small games tight. Most weekday evenings the 1-2-5 PLO has maybe average 5 to the flop. Some days it's very passive and no one even open-raises without AAxxx. Other days there's a reliable raiser playing 80/60 and you can get in your limp/reraises. But almost never tight, and if so, wait 15 minutes.
I've only played 5-5 PLO a few times. It was good each time, as loose preflop as 1-2-5 but much more aggressive.
1-3 HE is 1-3 HE... .ok, occasionally tight weekdays for 1-3 but nothing like optimal play. 2-5 NLHE can vary and has some skilled LAGTAGs. Within 10 minutes you'll either see a lot of limps and cold-calls or know it's time to go play PLO.
