Poker in Northern Indiana

Had not played here for over 5 years. The players were not as rude and the games were easier than I remember. Rake is $5 (and taken very quickly) with another $1 for bbj. Dealer tips were pooled. Beers are expensive.


Blue Chip, Michigan City -- This casino is another 30 minutes further east than Gary, and I had never played here before. Its a very pretty casino with much construction and building expansion going on. Poker room is tucked away in a semi-private area, but its very loud with casino noise. They have 8 tables, 2 of which were in play on a weekday afternoon; a 3-6 and a 1-2 NL. Both tables were loose-passive with much polite talk. Chips were very dirty but tables and chairs were nice. The dang "Betting Line" was on ALL tables but was not in play.



Majestic Star, Gary -- This is two boats (one used to be the Trump Casino) and the casino areas are kind of run down. Poker room is in a separate area and has 21 tables, 10 of which were in play on a weekday evening. Multiple tables were going of 3-6, 1-2NL, and 2-5NL. A tournament with 60 people started at midnight. The facility and patrons were scruffy and downmarket. The 3-6 was played with a full kill and was super loose. The 1-2NL was quite loose also. For those of you that want to stay overnight in Gary Indiana, sign up at the desk and they give you 1/2 off on the hotel room with 2 hours play.



Resorts, East Chicago -- This is the old "Harrahs-East Chicago" that had all the great wild games a few years ago. Resorts Company didn't change much to the casino, but had changed the poker room a little. Room has 16 tables with 3 running on a weekday morning; a 20-40 (musta gone all night) a 1-2NL and a Seven Stud 1-5. This room still has the best selection of limit holdem games in the area and almost always has 5-10, 10-20 and 20-40 on a daily basis. Chips were reasonably nice, chairs and tables were worn.

I played 1-2NL for an hour waiting for them to open a 5-10 or 10-20 game. The game was very tight-passive. When the floor called the 5-10 game to start, five of the tight passive players moved over to it with me. The 1-2NL game then died and we had a tight-passive 5-10 game with 6 of the same players.

Resorts has sold this property to Ameristar. So we'll see what changes that brings.




Poker in these three properties may not survive. Blue Chip is just 10 minutes away from the brand new Four Winds casino and poker room in New Buffalo Michigan. The Gary and East Chicago properties will be threatened when the Horseshoe casino expands in Hammond --- with a big poker room.