Did you ever step foot in the L.A. Casino? I dare say that it makes Crystal Park look like the Taj Mahal (and not the casino). I braved it twice on chip runs and I was scared to death both times. Too bad it's closed now.

I don't necessarily agree that all of the L.A. card rooms are that unsafe. Aside from the awful play at the tables, I think Hollywood Park's fine. My favorites are the Hustler and the Commerce Club... I don't feel uncomfortable at all in those two. The Normandie Club can seem a little hairy at times, but I've played there and seen nothing seedier than you'd expect. Hawaiian Gardens also seems pretty safe to me. The Club Caribe is probably very safe, if you can speak fluent Spanish and are heavily tattooed.