Wisconsin has over a dozen different Indian casinos with poker rooms. Most are very small and in the northern part of the state. I have only visited the two largest ones which are located in southern Wisc.
Ho Chunk - Baraboo. Thats right -- the Tribe (and the casino) are named "Ho Chunk".
Its located about a mile off the Interstate on the Wisc Dells side of Baraboo. Kind of a dreary looking casino and cardroom.
Poker area is in a tent (the old bingo room) and includes a sports book and bar. Smoking is allowed a few feet away from the tables and was very evident. Twelve tables with three in play on a weekday late afternoon. Two tables of 1-2 NL and one table of 2-4. Played in an extremely tight NL game for a while then switched to the 2-4. The limit game was completely different with mostly multiway action and very bad players. Rake was $4 with no bbj. Beers were available and mid priced. Chips were brand new.
Most action in the room happened when the sports book started showing a race. People perked up and stood, some were cheering. I looked over at the screen -- and it was a dog race.
Potawatomi - Milwaukee. (nickname = The Potti) A big casino very close to downtown Milwaukee and undergoing a big expansion. Very nice Indian and Tribal decor and some historical pix, artifacts etc.
Quick History Lesson -- you probably remember this from history class in high school. During the War of 1812, Fort Dearborn (present site of Wacker Drive and Michigan Ave in Chicago) was evacuated by US soldiers and settlers. About a mile south, they were attacked by the Potawatomi with many killed. The rest were taken prisoner and sold to the British. Now - THIS band of the Potawatomi says it wasn't them; but the Potawatomi in Michigan say the same thing.
ok ok,back to the poker room. Its upstairs by a huge bingo room. Separated by a glass wall in its own separate, very quiet, non-smoking room. Very drab by comparison with the rest of the casino - I was underwhelmed. They will be expanding into a new area in a few months, so things may look better. Fifteen tables, ten of which were in play on a weekday afternoon and evening. Two tables of NL 3-5 with buy in of 200-600, and many tables of Limit --- 2-4, 3-6, 4-8, and 6-12 ALL with a Kill. Rake was $4, no bbj drop , and dealers kept their own tips. What a welcome change from Illinois and Indiana. Biggest complaint was that there is no beer served in the casino except for the sports bar downstairs. Must be an "Indian" thing. Think about it though --- No Beer in Milwaukee?
Games and players were plentiful and bad. Two funny stories;
A kid comes to a limit table and just looks the part of a young internet NL whiz. And he showed us that he was. Clumsy with his chips, watching and staring at all the players, etc. Waits until the action is to him before he ever looks at his cards -- haha so funny. He did this every time, so I started tapping on the table and counting to show him how much time he was wasting - he didn't get it. He would raise, then bet and have nothing at the end - and then "just can't believe that they called me".
Later, a gal comes to the table and says she only has an hour to play then she has to go to a concert. She puts her chip rack on the table and the dealer says no racks on the table --- she doesn't get it and he tells her again. She emtys the rack and puts the chips on the table, then wants to know what to do with the rack. Dealer then asks her if she wants to post and get a hand. She says, sure. He says go ahead and post, and she asks, "How do I do that?"
Both of these two went thru their chips very quickly.
