In its typically understated, low-key fashion, the El Cortez has completed a major expansion of its historic poker room unbeknowest to the local and industry media. While the attention of the press has been diverted to the multi-millon dollar renovations of the Bellagio and MGM Grand facilities and the unveiling of the Wynn, the El Cortez has quietly expanded their legendary room by a remarkable fifty percent.
In moving from two to three tables, at an estimated cost of $350, the famed Downtown casino resort is hopping on the major capital investment bandwagon alongside the Strip mega-properties.
The well-planned and exectuted renovation was completed on-time and under-budget, entailing primarily the moving of the sign-up podium about six feet and squeezing another table into the walk-way area next to an existing table. No injuries were reported during construction, and all other features of the historic gaming palace were miraculously undisturbed.
The upgrade moved the rating of this room upward from "bad" to squarely into the "below average" category.
Once you realize that not all of the players are necessarily participating in the same game under the same rules as you are, its easy to get the best of the table. I'm not even sure all of the players are on the same planet.
The only time there are less than four callers to a flop it is because either the cocktail waitress was making a rare call and the players were slobbering over their free drinks, or a particularly beautiful lady (rare) or truly odd fellow (common) passes by.
This is a table that could be easily beaten by a sober, focused player. But why would anybody like that want to be here?
With the poker craze creating a demand for knowledgable, experienced dealers, the shortage has to impact some room somewhere. Well the El Cortz is that place at the bottom of the barrel which gets the dregs and partially insane.
The game would move faster and be more professional if they just let the players deal and throw a quarter to the house for an ante every hand. I mean, the players were the ones telling the dealers what to do anyway, and it was kind of funny (if cruel) when three guys would jokingly claim the same pot and helplessly confuse the poor fellow.
Once a player folded his cards and got up to use the restroom. The dealer forgot to pick them up and they sat half-hidden next to the players chips for a couple more hands. Hey, who needs that fourth king anyway (it was the only time at this table anyone folded a hand with a king in it).
In this respect, the El Cortez definitely needs work.
Whether playing poker or table games at the El Cortez the cocktail service follows the same trend. Nothing for the first half-hour, then just when you think your throat will dry up and close, you ask the dealer for a drink for the ninth time, and you are contemplating walking over to the bar, a waitress shows up. Then, assuming you tip well, you get served every few minutes for a bit...and she even remembers to bring the extra shots you laughingly order as she walks away.
But, just like your mom at cousin Sue's wedding, she inexplicably cuts you off, disappearing never to be seen again.
Does the El Cortez secretly endorse some public sobriety program? Is some bean counter upstairs doing a cost/benefit analysis on your play (no more for him until he plays more pots)? Or, maybe the waitresses are migrating entities between the Barrack properties (a triangular pattern from El Cortez to the Western to the Gold Spike every two hours).
But, overall, assuming you get a few drinks during the "season" the waitresses are passing through, it works out to about average with everywhere else.
A guy was there to welcome me and get me seated. Was he a manager doing his job or some "Casino Diaries" wannabe in fantasy mode? I don't know, he didn't say three words.
I don't recall anyone ever coming by to address important issues at the table, nor anyone really being needed. So under the assumption the best management is that which isn't seen, as tempered by the reality that nobody did nothin', I guess it is average.
Who would want something free from this joint? Or be compelled to return for any reason?
