>>Would someone please explain to me the advantage (or even fun) of playing poker in a casino as opposed to getting some beer and chips and calling up a few friends??

1. Some people may not have poker playing friends.

2. Some people may not like to play exclusively against their friends -- related some people don't find it fun to win money from their friends.

3. Some people may enjoy playing in the atmosphere of a casino, where a professional dealer runs the game and a cocktail waitress brings you drinks instead of passing the deck and running to the fridge to get a beer.

4. You can get a game in a casino pretty much whenever you want to play, you don't have to work around your friends schedules.

5. Some people don't play poker to have fun.

>>If you want comps or the chance to win a nice pot, play video poker. It's about as social as playing in a casino poker room.

Exactly what is social about sitting alone at a machine?

>>Quite frankly, I'd rather sit in my hotel room and play in a computer online tournament than play in the casino poker room

Well everybody has preferences. I enjoy the social interaction of live poker. I enjoy the security of knowing that I am playing in a regulated environment, and I enjoy the security of knowing that I will be paid when I cashout. If you like to play online that is Okay, but my preference is live play.

>>folks wearing sunglasses pretending they are blind taking forever to analyze the situation before calling a $5 pot.

You know what. I keep hearing about this, but I spend most of my time in poker rooms. When I'm not working I'm usually playing and yes I see some 2-4 players wearing sunglasses and overacting, but they are a tiny minority This is much more myth than reality (and most of those who fit this mold seem to be internet players on vacation).