The Horseshoe has a $5 max with a $1 bad beat. The Chicago area rake structure is pretty standard. Hollywood along with Grand Victoria’s no limit games have been very soft every time I have played. I make it a point to play at all Chicago area poker rooms at least twice a year. So for good players making adjustments this game should be just as profitable. Under current Illinois regulations the poker room manager’s only option is to increase the rake for more revenues. If Illinois gaming revenues start to increase than the less profitable poker tables are the first to go. This is due to a decrease in casino revenues. We have seen an increase in poker tables in Illinois over the past two years. So for every poker table added a Blackjack, Craps, Slots, etc, etc is eliminated. Current Illinois laws are very restrictive on tables allowed. Chicago area casinos could easily support twenty plus table poker rooms. This is a case where Illinois lawmakers have put casino operators behind the eight ball. How much is the rake at the Horseshoe Hammond or other Chicago area places for comparison? Even the slightly lower amount on the limit games is terrible. Man, I was thinking about stopping there on my upcoming drive, but this is a crazy rake.
