Hard Rock Casino Macau’s Poker Room is officially OPEN.

While everyone is trying to find the best rake deal at the softest cash tables, it’s easy to miss the little things that make poker enjoyable.

One of the biggest flaws I find with casino poker rooms comes down to basic design and comfort. The poker boom has forced casinos into jumping on the band wagon with little thought for aesthetics or advice from actual players.

Typically poker is a casino game played for long sessions during which a decent player will play very few hands. I can’t emphasise how important comfort is to me when I am playing poker. There is an ongoing joke about the Grand Lisboa always having the air conditioning set to freezing so they sell more sweatshirts. Hence, the right chair, the right air temperature and a decent view of the sports on tv (if I am getting cold cards) will always influence my decision on where to play.

In most cases a casino will decide to open a poker area within the casino floor by simply sectioning off an area that was once occupied by blackjack tables or slot machines that was somewhat of a dead zone and by banging in some cheap poker tables, crappy chairs and poorly trained dealers. Put up a few pictures of Phil Ivey and Johnny Chan and you’ve got your five percent rolling.

In New Zealand and Australia with only one casino in each major center, the lack of competition means that the consumers are stuck with whatever is being handed out.

On the tiny island of Macau there are 33 casinos and competition is in full swing. You want some bang for your buck…. You’re gonna find it here – if you look around.

Whether it is with all of these factors in mind or simply the fact that the brand is well….cool, the newly opened purpose built poker room at the Hard Rock Casino is a poker players paradise and the main thing you need to be worried about is making sure you aren’t having too much fun to actually play cards.

Having sat down at all of the island’s major poker rooms, here are the Top five things that make the Hard Rock Poker room the most enjoyable poker experience in Macau:

1. The
   chairs and the table - The executive rockstar chairs are so comfortable
   that even after a ten hour session you will want to take one home. Add to
   that the solid cushion ledged tables that give you leg space even in seats
   2,3,7, and 8 and you’ve got a winning formula.

1. Free
   drinks served by sizzling hot waitresses - What’s better than a scotch and
   soda….a free scotch and soda. What’s better than a free scotch and soda…a
   free scotch and soda served by gorgeous Brazilian models in leather bikini
   tops. You get the point.

1. The
   sensational play list - Great rock and pop classics from the 1960s-2000s
   at a decent volume. I guess this should be expected, after all it is the
   Hard Rock, but whoever put this playlist together is a musical genius.

1. The
   high stud and the table layout -
   With smoking being pretty much industry standard throughout Asia,
   the high stud in the poker lounge means a less smoky environment for the
   players, appreciated by both smokers and non smokers. In addition the
   tables are spaced well apart from each other.

1. A
   dozen flat screen TVs to keep you occupied when you are getting dealt
   rags. While you are waiting for your spot to slay the fish – keep an eye
   on your sports bets.

Be warned though, you may enjoy yourself so much that you make friends at the table and feel bad taking their money.

D