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I played at the MGM and the Monte Carlo. The MGM was more active, with at least 5 tables of $1/$2 NL going and one $2/$5 NL. There were also some $2/4, $4/8 and a bigger limit game going on the Monday that I stopped. I played $1/2 NL. The play was loose, with most action happening on the flop instead of preflop. The MGM also runs sit n go tourneys plus a morning and an evening tourney.
I was impressed with the MGM's dealers, who kept everything under control. At one point, an older dealer told a younger, internet type player to stop mucking prematurely. He had done it several times. The player started to argue and said that there was no action on the table and he was bored. The dealer cut him off and said that the floor will explain it to him and to argue with the floor. That pissed off the player, but he shut up and did not muck it prematurely again. That was the typical player profile at the MGM, but they behaved for the most part.
The Monte Carlo is much smaller, with about six tables. It is a more intimate setting, but they bring out additional tables out into the area in front of the poker room for larger tourneys. The play was tighter and the players were older. I hit a nut flush flop with AKs and turned the royal flush to win a $616 high hand bonus, which was sweet.
I played the morning tournament, which was $50 including the $10 add on, which was absolutely essential as that just got you to T$2,000. The buy in (including the add on) for the am tourney is $36 + 14 in fees/tips which is just 72% to the pool, but as I was staying at the Monte Carlo, I did it anyway. The evening tourney is $60, including the add on, which is 73% to the pool. The am tourney had 19 runners. I lasted to the final 5 and then got cold decked and sucked out on the bubble (insert Hellmuth quote here). But, I took it like a man and watched the rest of them chop it up, which I would not have done anyway.
The tourney dealers were excellent. There were many first time players with some newby mistakes. The poker room managers were also great, calling most of the players by their first name after an hour or so.
The Monte Carlo is spreading a Thursday night $4/8 HORSE game that will also deal players' choice games. They said that they had a good turnout and may expand the game to other nights or more tables on Thursdays.
It was a good trip for poker, but a bad trip at the craps table, so I came home even. One pull of the airport slot machines got me about $100 up, though. I was asleep on the plane before it took off.
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