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Things didn't start off well. Tonight is the Freedom Festival Fireworks on the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor... So more foot traffic on both sides. Couple that with the fact that CW shut down the parking garage and everyone had to go in one entrance (to prevent firework watchers from parking for free and taking up guest spots) -- that entrance is normally the 7-Star Club entrance, and it wasn't that well marked... When I finally got to talk to the guard, he let me through.
If you have been to the old Casino Windosr in the last two years, you won't notice much different on the inside...a few more Roman statutes... The rest of the layout/appearance is about the same. I did think the staff was extremely helpful, though. I assume its much of the old staff (and I never had a problem with the old staff), but everyone I asked for help was very, very willing to help.
A few things that were different. First off, no tokens, all TITO (sorry, Rose). I think this was to be expected. Next, you can't buy chips at the cages, just the tables. And you can't buy chips at the tables with American money... That was a hassle.
The Poker Room has been branded the WSOP Poker Room. Not a bug surprise, since Harrah's is behind both Caesar's and the WSOP (I don't know who owns what, but I know they are all the same ownership). I didn't catch the tables to see if they had the WSOP logo, but I'm sure they are new... the old tables had the Casino Windsor logo and needed new felt... I assume they were waiting until the name change. All the chairs now have the WSOP logo embroidered on the back. They look to be Gasser chairs... I'm looking forward to putting in a few sessions on those chairs.
I did ask whether Caesar's would be hosting a Circuit Event next year (the closest one now is Caesar's Indiana) and the floor at the desk said they were, but then she gave me an information sheet about WSOP satellites to this year's main event ($500+$50 buyin, 100 participants, top 5 get paid, winner also gets a ME seat). Given that the room has been rebranded, I would fully expect a WSOP Circuit Event next year. I do know that last year, the Circuit schedule was announced shortly after the WSOP ME ended, so perhaps we'll know in a few months.
I asked about the old chips and cards (the poker room used KEM plastics). They weren't forthcoming with the answer. When I told one of the employees that I was a collector, she asked if I got any of the old chips before the were gone, leading me to believe that they were destroyed.
I managed to get enough for everyone that asked in advance. I have a few extras for sale. If no one wants them, I'll just change them back in next time I go. They are all Paulson RHC with the grand inlay (actually, its kinda halfway between the grand and the giant -- the gpigaming website shows the grand inlay ends below the brim of the hats and the giant inlay cuts the hats in half; with these chips, the inlays just covers the brim of the hats...is there a size in between grand and giant?). The ones are white with 218 triangle dark blue inserts; the inlay shows Roman architecture (the Forum?) and has a subtle Roman numeral I and a THC. The snappers are pink with two 1" inserts (makes it look like a quarter pie), one dg orange and the other a light blue; the inlay shows the bottom of a column and has a subtle II and a THC. The fivers are red with 4a12 edge spots, yellow and white; the insert is the top of the column and has a subtle V and THC. I'll put scans up tonight when I get home.
No commermorative GO chips. I was told that they handed out $25 chips at the Grand Opening (probably the private/invite only event before the Billy Joel concert), but that as they were taken in/cashed in, they were taken out of circulation. I saw the $25's, $100's and $500's on the tables. No 25c chips (as expected). The Roulettes appeared to be BJ's with Roman numerals indicating the table number. I saw at least up to VII.
I have chips for the following people:
Pat Fricke: 2x$1 + 2x$2.50
Jovito Ng: 2x$1 + 2x$2.50
Bruce Allen: 1x$1
Rose Cooper: 1x$1 + 1x$2.50 + 1x$5
Jim Hickle: 3x$1
Carl Maziarz: 1x$1
Dave Kielbanski: 1x$1 + 1x$2.50 + 1x$5
Jane Voller: 2x$1
Ray Sampson: 2x$1 + 2x$2.50 + 2x$5
Bill Burton: 3x$1
Unless I've worked out a trade with you, chips are as follows:
$1: $2
$2.50: $4
$5: $6.50
Shipping is $1 for the first chip and $0.25 for each additional chip. You can pay by cash or Paypal (I have two paypal addresses, one for balance transfers (no fees) and one for credit cards and other payments (fees are 3.9% + 30c)). Email my address (if sending a check) or paypal address.
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