Will it Play in Peoria?

"Will it Play in Peoria" is an old line used by the Nixon administration. Its been used by product marketing promotions too and I think originally comes from vaudeville.

But I'm not talking about any of that. Finally made the 70 mile drive to play the new poker room at the Peoria casino. Its pretty disappointing.

Five tables up on the fourth deck. Only game spread is NL. Two tables (then three) of 1-2 and a single 2-5 game that was shorthanded and almost broke a few times. This is during "Prime Time" friday evening.

Equipment was almost adequate. Tables were ok - good size, but blocked leg room on the ends. Chairs were cheap and uncomfortable. Chips were dirty. Tables had autoshufflers. Rake was 10% to a $4 max. There was no stupid BBJ additional drop.

Dealers were average to average minus. They have been dealing poker for a couple months now, but still are doing some things wrong. Floor staff was terrible. They are rotated out of the pit, so poker knowledge can be shockingly bad.

You can get a players card and swipe into the poker room --- but it does not do you any good. There are no comps for poker play.

Players were mostly bad and typical.

Peoria now joins the contender list for the "Worst Illinois Poker Room". It may not beat out Joliet or Aurora for this title, but it joins Metropolis, and Rock Island on the bad list. Elgin is still unrated. NOTE: there are no "good" Illinois poker rooms.