Guide to Asian Poker Destinations - MACAU

Macau is the Vegas of Asia. Or should I say, Vegas is the Macau of the US. Macau is actually the gambling capital of the world, with more gamblers, more money dwarfing Vegas' numbers. But that's not what we are talking about. Macau's poker scene is still far from Vegas but it is getting there. This week there's the ACOP, with the main event buy in at HKD 100,000 - higher than WSOP's main.

Recent Photo of Macau, after the typhoon destruction

There are I believe almost 40 casinos in Macau, but when it comes to poker in Macau, they are only available at these casinos.

1. Wynn Macau

Wynn Macau is one of the earliest if not THE earliest to have a poker room. I still remember playing there like 10 years ago when it the games were at 10/25. Wynn has a cool room, nice tables, stakes from 25/50 to 1000/2000 (HK$), free drinks, good dealers, reasonable service and usually a good 4-6 tables going every day. The room is open 24 hours and doesn't disappoint. The rake is good, capped at $250 regardless of stakes (please correct me if I'm wrong) Due to this, there are more regulars and pros here. However it is good to note that most players play with deeper stacks here, compared to other rooms.

2. Venetian

Like Wynn, Venetian has a very active poker room as well. Well, Venetian has a very active casino. I think it is one of the most crowded in Macau. So the poker room is buzzing with action too. When full they can accommodate quite a lot of tables because it has a pretty big area. However rarely they do that and there's always a queue. The dealers are pretty grumpy and service isn't great. Games are 24 hours too but the rake cap is at $500. Less pros and regs, good location so there are curious fish who swim by once in a while. However most just sit there with a 50bb stack.

Outside the Venetian

3. Galaxy

Galaxy has a small but reasonably active poker room. When full they can only fit in 3-4 tables and games are 25/50 and 50/100. However they do have some promotions going to attract players, such as the bad beat jackpot, aces cracked, high hand of the day etc. Initially when they started they had a rake promotion of $150 cap. I am not sure if it is still the case. Dealers deal pretty well, but do not expect friendly banter or smiling. I was told tables close at 1am, but I am not sure about this myself.

4. City of Dreams

This is where most of the big tournaments are held, ACOP, Red Dragon, etc so it has a buzzing poker room as well. Stakes are usually 25/50, 50/100 and occasionally 100/200 but I have never seen higher. Rake I believe is capped at $250 as well. I would say the game is pretty good during tournament times but there is usually a long queue for seats. It is away from other gaming tables so I don't think they attract passer-bys as well as some of the other rooms.

5. Wynn Palace

Wynn has a twin! Pinkish, flowery twin! They have a poker room with 6 tables but usually only 1 or 2 are running. Smallish games, haven't played there so I don't know about the service or dealer skills. But I think it is a bad idea to split their focus to two poker rooms. Would not recommend, unless you're staying there or happen to be passing by. I would recommend taking the free cable car while you're there though.

6. Others

Lisboa and Babylon were running poker at one time. I have no idea if they are still going. If anyone knows please comment below.

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Guide to Asian Poker Destinations - MANILA Accommodation

Live poker is illegal where I live. Therefore I have to travel to play legitimate poker games. And one of the headaches is where to stay. Where can you find safe, affordable, convenient, comfortable accommodation? Let me give you a rough guide. Check out my YouTube video on Poker in Manila.

I recently just returned from Manila. Manila is a great place to play live poker due to the following reasons:
- Plenty of games to choose from (Resorts World, COD, Solaire, Okada, Metro, Masters)
- Plenty of different stakes (from US$0.50/1 to bigger games)
- Tables are pretty soft (not many grinders go there because most games are too small to be sustainable)

Wanna feel like a millionaire? Their biggest denomination is 1000 pesos, which is like US$30.

Manila can be a dangerous city if you're not street smart. Word of advice, keep a low profile, no bling bling, fancy jewelry or camera on your neck otherwise you've just painted yourself a target. Take taxis that drive by. Taxis that are parked there for a long time most likely is there waiting for a sucker. One of the best taxi companies is called RYOAKI (the white taxi with rainbow stripes) Therefore when it comes to accommodation, I usually prefer walking distance from the casino I am going to. But most hotels in Manila are super expensive. Even more expensive than Macau standards. But depending on your budget, you can live like a king, or have a decent place but doesn't break your bank.

Resorts World Manila - Airbnb (recommended - search for Pasay City or even Resorts World), Marriott (Luxury) or Belmont (Not cheap but very nice)

City of Dreams - Hyatt or Nobu (Luxury), Red Planet (Decent hotel and affordable but need a 5 minute taxi ride), Heritage (budget 5 minutes by taxi but not a great neighbourhood)

Solaire - Solaire (luxury with cool ceiling to floor windows), Airbnb (recommended - search Solaire or Mall of Asia)

Pretty soft games at Resorts World but small stakes

I think I will make a separate guide for other poker destinations. Overall I would say Airbnb is your best bet for quality, safety and price. Still expect to pay like US$40-50 per night. Hotels are pretty expensive and not as good as the price you're paying for it. However if you really want to book a hotel, I suggest contacting the guys at www.pokertourbookings.com They have the best rate, better than Agoda, Booking.com and any online sites.

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