Poker is the ultimate home game and the perfect excuse for having a night in with friends. But what happens when all your pals cry off and can’t make your fortnightly game? Well, instead of watching Friday night television or heading for the local venues (although we do have some pretty good ones), why not head into town and find yourself some real action for a change. That’s right, we’re talking poker games with chips, felt and croupiers.
Now, these aren’t like your home games, so before you make your way to the casino, it’s probably a good idea to make yourself familiar with the rules and terminology of the game. And be sure to not only study rules but also strategies such as when to raise when playing. Once you’ve got yourself sorted, it’s time to hit the casinos.
The Genting Casino
Now, as you are probably well aware, Genting is a global brand, and so, they usually pull out all the stops to keep their players happy at the tables. At their Glasgow location on Sauchiehall Street, you’ll find pretty good services with a decent-sized poker room for tournaments. They have cash games every night, and the place stays open until 6 a.m. If you go in after 2 a.m. on the weekend though, you’ll have to pay an admission fee.
They also have karaoke and a sandwich bar, so if you’re in need of a break from the tables, a toastie and a few songs might do the trick. The best thing about this place, though, is the service. The staff is always on hand to help out, and they’re a pretty welcoming bunch.
The Grosvenor Casinos
You can choose between two Grosvenor casinos here in Glasgow. One is in Merchant City while the other is on Broomielaw. Both are pretty much the same; however, the Riverboat (Broomielaw) location does get better reviews for their level of service. At both casinos, you’ll find all the usual games and amenities, but what we like about the Grosvenor is the fact that they are a novice-friendly casino.
If you walk in here without a clue in the world about how to play poker, they will take it upon themselves to teach you by providing free training and advice as you play some dummy games. It’s worth its weight in gold for anyone who is unsure of themselves at the tables and is one of the main reasons the places are usually quite busy. Oh, and by the way, the Merchant City location is open 24 hours.
The Alea
We’ve saved the best for last. The Alea is the place to go in Glasgow if you have any interest in poker. They have a dedicated poker lounge where you’ll find games going all the time. This casino’s claim to fame is that it has the largest cash games in Scotland, which is no mean feat. They also have a regular tournament schedule and plenty of events throughout the year.
As for the casino itself, it has a luxurious bar called the Long Bar while those who want to keep track of the sports can do so in the Sports Bar with live action on the large screen TVs 24 hours a day.
While the Genting and Grosvenor have great reputations for looking after their players, it’s the Alea that is our favorite. It’s classy, has excellent poker tournaments and two superb bars, and all with a stunning view of the river. So, if you’re looking for a night of poker, take yourself down to the Alea where you’ll find the best poker action not only in Glasgow but all of Scotland.