B&M Rooms in the Philippines

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Wolfe

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I am currently in the Philippines. I like to play poker and it is sometimes hard to find a game when I am travelling. So far I have found 1 Poker Room in Cebu City. It is in the hotel Waterfront in Lahug.

If you know of others, please let me know.
 
Bernard Pugi

Bernard Pugi

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There is Poker in Manila but I've never been in there. http://philippinepokertour.com/landbase/

There is also in La Union but I don't know the exact location.

They also want to have a Casino here in Baguio but people here doesn't want it that is why it was refused.
 
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Wolfe

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Philippine Poker Tour - Awesome!!

Thanks for the info Bernard. :)

Sounds like some good tournament poker is available here.

I will be sure and look it up when I am in Manila. Maybe I will see you there.
 
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Wolfe

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The Forum in Cebu

I heard about another room from a guy at work. I am going to play there this weekend. It's called The Forum.
 
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@wolfe

You can try at The metro which is located at Metrowalk "Ortigas" . :)
 
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Wolfe

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The Forum

I played at the Forum this weekend. The room is really nice. New tables, good lighting and competent dealers. Everyone was really friendly. All they play is NLHE. 5/10 up to 100/200.

One thing I didn't like though. At one point in the evening a group of women came in to market a cigarette brand. Obviously this is a business arrangement between the casino and the marketing company. Problem is, you have to take a survey to get the free pack of cancer sticks. All of a sudden, half the table is up taking these surveys that take 10-15 minutes to complete.

Second concern. The room itself is very secure. CCTV and security guards. But, the casino is in a strip mall. No security in the parking lot. You have to walk to the street to get a taxi and you need to wait for a taxi to go by, no stand nearby. I would be worried about walking out with a big win here.
 
slycbnew

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I live in Cebu (Mactan, actually) - there are three poker rooms in Cebu, All In (Waterfront Hotel Lahug), Metro Cebu (formerly Bravio) on AS Fortuna, and Diamond Club next to the convention center. I play all three - tables are loosest at All In (tourist traffic), I prefer the atmosphere at Metro.

Metro Cebu is owned by the same group that owns Metro in Ortigas. They also have a room in Davao (supposedly ridiculously loose, haven't made the trip yet) and another somewhere else - check out their website.

The Hyatt Casino in Manila has poker tables - very action oriented, high variance, but very profitable if you can weather the variance.
 
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slycbnew

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I played at the Forum this weekend. The room is really nice. New tables, good lighting and competent dealers. Everyone was really friendly. All they play is NLHE. 5/10 up to 100/200.

In Cebu, the highest typical game is 100/200 (pesos, for those of you not in the Phils., this is roughly $2/$4 USD) with a forced straddle (effectively turning it into 200/400 - this is done to limit the rake, which is government regulated according to the blind limit). Occasional larger games are arranged up to 300/600. At the Hyatt in Manila, I believe they run larger games. Metro Manila I think maxes out at 300/600.

In Cebu - Diamond focuses on 10/20 up to 50/100. Metro Cebu is mostly 10/20 to 25/50, a few times a week there'll be 50/100, but has regs who play 100/200 a few times a week. Metro also runs daily tourneys, buy ins are typically 500 if I remember right. All In has regular 10/20 up to 50/100 play, and again has regs who play 100/200 several times a week. Both Metro and All In have larger guarantee tourneys - All In has a 1M guarantee 1R1A on June 27 (I think), Metro Manila has a 5M guarantee in July some time.

One thing I didn't like though. At one point in the evening a group of women came in to market a cigarette brand. Obviously this is a business arrangement between the casino and the marketing company. Problem is, you have to take a survey to get the free pack of cancer sticks. All of a sudden, half the table is up taking these surveys that take 10-15 minutes to complete.

This is common to all the poker rooms, but doesn't happen that frequently - once every two months or so.

Second concern. The room itself is very secure. CCTV and security guards. But, the casino is in a strip mall. No security in the parking lot. You have to walk to the street to get a taxi and you need to wait for a taxi to go by, no stand nearby. I would be worried about walking out with a big win here.

Be very careful, this is a very legit concern. In Cebu, security is best at All In and Metro - Diamond doesn't have security outside the room, but both the others do.

I came in second in a MTT last year and won 250K pesos - all in 1K denomination bills, since that's the largest denomination in the Phils. - I have a car and driver, so it wasn't a big deal, but I can't imagine taking that into a taxi.

Reputable clubs (Hyatt Casino and Metro in Manila and probably others, all three in Cebu) can make arrangements to hold your winnings in the cage for you to pick up later, but I wouldn't do this with a club I didn't know the owner of.

gl - Ask if Bert P. is around the next time you're in a club in Cebu, I play several times a week, and most of the larger buy in tourneys.
 
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Wolfe

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Thanks

Thanks for the info Slycbnew. :)

I will definately ask about you next time I play.

Quick question. When I was out here about 3 years ago they didn't have poker in the casino's. I was playing in a game at the Rajah. Do you know if that game is still going?
 
slycbnew

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Thanks for the info Slycbnew. :)

I will definately ask about you next time I play.

Quick question. When I was out here about 3 years ago they didn't have poker in the casino's. I was playing in a game at the Rajah. Do you know if that game is still going?

That game became either Metro or Diamond, I forget which, there's no game at the Rajah now that I know of.

Do you know any of the following guys - Nonoy, Bebot, Abio, Richard Sharpe, or Clyde from that Rajah game (Cebu Players Club)? If so, that became Bravio and is now called Metro.
 
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Ecomdan

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Has to be the Metro in Ortigas. Best poker room in the Philippines. That's where I play. Sometimes I go to Caesars along the south highway just on the edge of Makati city... it's a small club and is usually dead til 7 or 8pm but it's a nice place and the players and staff are pretty friendly there.
 
slycbnew

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I didn't realize there were this many CC forum members in the Philippines - this is a welcome surprise.

I only speak English, so I haven't been able to participate in the pokermanila site.

If you're up for it, we could make arrangements to meet at Metro Ortigas just before the 5M guarantee in July.

PM me if you're interested.
 
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Ecomdan

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I wanna play the 5M tourney but I ain't got the roll for it. Made the final table of the Metro500 twice in the last month but never won the seat. If you wanna stake me :D i'll agree to 50/50 split if I cash :D
 
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Wolfe

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Do you know any of the following guys - Nonoy, Bebot, Abio, Richard Sharpe, or Clyde from that Rajah game (Cebu Players Club)? If so, that became Bravio and is now called Metro.

I remeber clyde richard and nonoy. I haven't been to the metro, i will have to check it out soon.
 
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