Players Casino — Attraction in Ventura

If you've ever had the pleasure of playing proper poker at a decent establish be prepared to be disappointed by this dump run by amateurs.

Made-up rules, untrained dealers, rude managers, a rake system that screws up the game, and dirty, old tables.

This happened 9:30pm tonight. UTG straddles with 2BB behind, Villain in the HJ calls, and I raise the button 12BB. UTG calls and Villain calls. By the river, there's about 150BB in the side-pot. I bluff-shove the river and Villain folds. I muck my cards because 8 high isn't winning the main pot. Without anyone saying anything, the dealer immediately takes my cards out of the muck, and turns over my hand. I object and say the dealer shouldn't have turned over my cards and stand up to leave. I had spent hours developing a tight image. The same Villain had already called me all-in light when I bluffed another bricked draw. By showing my cards, the dealer destroyed my hard-earned image, and showed the other players what level I was playing at, that I could bluff the calling-station back-to-back with air.

The dealer argues with me for no reason and calls the floor. The floor says it is a rule that because UTG called all-in, anyone at the table can ask to see my hand. Under this rule, someone could call all-in pre-flop with 1 BB + $1, and no matter how large the side pot becomes, whether it is 100 BB or 1,000 BB, anyone at the table can request to see mucked hole cards at showdown, even if they aren't in the pot. Let me emphasise that no one asked to see my cards. The dealer took it upon himself to turn my cards over.

Add to this that the floor (50+ years old, 5' 9", moustached wanna-be cowboy) then tells me to go learn the rules. Pardon? This rule does not exist in any other casino anywhere in the world. He then tells me if I don't like it, I can go play at another casino. Don't worry bud, I won't be back.

Next let's talk about their stupid rake system. Say you're playing $2/3. They have a $5 flat rake on every pot that goes post flop. This directly affects game dynamics. Today I wanted to balance my limping range, so called AKs in late position. It folds around to the BB, who checks. I bet 2BB into the 5BB pot on a AKQr flop, BB folds, and I win...nothing. From the $8 in the pot, $5 gets raked. This makes it unprofitable to limp big hands, meaning that it is impossible to fully balance your pre-flop limping range.

I'm not done. They give their dealers discounts to play at the casino. Sometimes you're sitting at a table with 3 players/dealers who have dealt you thousands of hands, and who have watched your play for hours. Name one other casino in which half the table you're playing against works for the casino.

Lastly, the place is a total dive.

0/10,...

The food here is great, a bit pricey but I would argue that you are paying for quality. I would recommend trying the tri-tip sandwich. They have a nice bar along with decent dining staff. I would argue that they are a bit understaffed and overwork who they currently have but it appears to work for them. As far as the casino itself, it is a neat little place that most people would seem to not notice, tucked away next to a bunch of car dealerships. Who would have thought?

The gaming floor itself is very small! I have played here many times and tend to just keep to myself, play & observe. The casino is definitely too small and I hear they are going to try and fit more tables. When the casino gets busy, the hallway where the bathrooms often stink of well, fecal matter. The place gets packed like a sardine can some nights and it almost smells like one too. The dealers are mostly all really cool people, but sometimes favoritism comes into play and for people who are not regulars, this can anger them. The place almost has a mob-type feel to it. The floormen/managers take bribes from players disguised as tips which adds to the mob-type feeling and favoritism when the floor man has to make a decision. The carpet is a tad disgusting and could use a good cleaning and or replacement! They seem to be squeezing every dollar out of the place as they possibly can, the building is old and it shows in some places!

The place has Decent security and they will walk you to your car if you request it. All of the guards I have talked to there have been very helpful and courteous to myself and my wife. Shoutout to Security guard Juan for always walking my wife to her car when she wins a little pocket money.

The games appear to be dealt fairly and seem to have a huge amount of checks and balances. There are no slots, it is just a card room. Again, the casino is small! But I have seen some pretty big jackpots here!

In conclusion, if you don’t mind a small casino, gangster-type management, sometimes stinky bathrooms & can keep to yourself and not cause a fuss, this is the...

There's only 4 Black Jack tables. Dealers are under staffed but not enough Players for them to hire more so Two table are always open but sometimes 3 and very rarely the Fourth table to the public on the account that you can call ahead and request the table for a buy in of $1500.00. So unless you've got money to burn that Just upstairs from The Derby Room at the Ventura County Fair Grounds They have Texas hold em and poker in one room with the cashier cage and just passed the elevators they have Black Jack with a progressive jackpot for a dollar a hand, Bacarat, Pai Gow Poker pan 9 also with a progressive jackpot, 3 Card Poker and Mississippi Stud. Location isn't the greatest. It's atmosphere is noticeably depressing and desolate compared to it's previous location. Isolated at the farthest end of Venturas beaches it's not the greatest area to be at night, but they do have security in and outside the building during their operating hours of 11am-3am, They serve beverages ( non alcoholic ) you can go downstairs to the bar but you can't bring drinks upstairs tho the Players Club yet. They also serve food but again choices are limited in comparison. The Lead server is a real Gem, having 2 servers on weekends, only 1 during the week and floor (pit bosses) on occasion, filling in, it can take a little longer then most would expect at a Casino but undoubtably they're service especially hers is reflected by they're great attitude, enthusiasm, attentiveness to their guests and the familiars that frequent here. So that being said, because the Dealers, the Floor and the House as well as the Clubs Servers and Security work incredibly well with each other and their energy as a team vibe so well, this in combination with the Casinos poor location, cheap marketing or lack there of, and the odds "The House Always Wins" are almost guaranteed to be certain, I'm giving it a 3...