www.CostaRicaTicas.com

The Hotel Del Rey started construction yesterday to expand their casino. They tore out the entire back bar (in the restaurant). First I was told that they are putting in one or two poker tables.Then a good source told me that they were putting in more rummy tables and another roulette wheel. They are doing either or both with Chad (casino manager) in charge.

Poker at DR? Hmmm..... it may be a little hard to concentrate on the chicas.

Is there a timeline? Whatever it is, you have to double it to account for Costa Rican time.

Dammit! I like sitting at that back bar, watching the parade of chica's making "the turn" around the corner slot machines! Oh well...

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

The back bar was a great place to hide in the morning and drink your water and get your head together.

Does anybody else have the feeling that this expansion is Big John et al flipping Laura ChinChinga the bird?

I'll miss that back bar. I don't play poker, although I have been known to play poke-her.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

or your Bloody Mary

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

I was wondering the same thing. This story doesn't seem to jibe with all the recent reports about the death knell for casinos in CR indicated by the recent "severe" cutback in hours. Or does it mean, like I suggested earlier, that the restricted hours largely just shifted gamblers playing hours to later in the day and thus created a need for more tables during those times? Well, at least this will put a few of those morning shift casino workers who lost their jobs back to work.

he is looking to make up for revenue lost during the closed hours and due to his overall volume being way down.

The new room at the DR looks about ready to open. The word is that it will be operative by Tuesday. It is set up as a VIP room with carpeting on the floor and a nice couch with side chairs. there will be two poker tables,along with a roulette wheel and a blackjack (or rummy) table. I don't know what the limits will be. I also hear that the chicas will NOT be allowed to hang around in there. It takes up about 1/3rd of the ogiginal room where the back bar was ripped out. Obviously they feel that more casino space will replace some of the income that has diminished lately.

From the description that VB provided and if they really are not going to allow the girls in there it would seem they are going to make it a VIP room for "high rollers". They seem to be orientating it to serious gamblers in anticipation of more dollars to the bottom line. A casino is in someways exactly like any retail business in that it boils down to how much revenue do you generate per square foot of floor space.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I'll try to the poker room. Any word on who's running it? Is Russ back in town?

I would have to agree with this. Especially if they're only going to have 3 or 4 gaming tables in there. A lot of the big boys / serious gamblers - don't want a chica hanging on their arm when it's time for "business". There's always going to be time to play later. I'm sure they're probably trying to attract some of the high rollers. And if this is true, it might actually move "Colombiana corner" towards that side of the bar. I can see it now - all the hard-core Colombiana's, sitting and waiting near the new casino for the big boys to walk out. Like an eagle waiting on a tree limb, looking down at it's prey !

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

I went in yesterday to look at the table tops. There are 2 poker tables (with nice high back chairs) plus a Carribian Stud table (interesting that it says Car.Stud instead of the tute equivalent) and a Blackjack table.It is real blackjack as opposed to rummy for the first time at the DR. It appears that they will be gringosising the room.I will report back on the playable aspects (rules variations) later but I bet that it will suck for the player. To ID.... The meaning of VIP in a casino is that it caters ONLY to high rollers. (higher limits)

Oops they fooled me again. Yesterday they snuck in another poker table. They now have three poker tables along with one blackjack and one Carribian stud tables in their VIP room. I think they are going to be a downtown force in the poker community. It's certainly going to be a classier place to play than the Colonial , Horseshoe or the Clarion. Last night they were training agout 15 dealers in the room. I hear that they plan to open on Tuesday.

there was about 10 or more feet to the back wall from the back of this bar. this is a wise use of space to put tables in and create more jobs.

i was down in the del rey in mid may. how bad are the tourist numbers thruout the week?
I heard alot of hotels dipping down to 25% occupancy sun-thur. I didn't think the crowds in blue marlin were large by any standards in my two week stay.
thanks
fred757