Encore Boston Harbor reopens poker... with a $10 rake!

**Buzz Kill** · 02-03-22, 12:45 PM

Recent review of the casino:

"There is a reason why there are no robbers waiting for customers leaving the Encore Boston Harbor casino. This is because they know you will not get out of the casino a winner. I have been gambling at this casino since they opened - mostly slot machines. Yes, I am a casino regular (local). I even go to the casino sometimes more than 2 times a day. There is no such thing as random or luck. The random is controlled to make the machines pay less than standard payout and the chances to hit are way too low (controlled random). The slot machines are so predictable and boring. All they do is take your money whether you bet high $9 and up or low $0.88 and up. Once a while they give you a hand-pay just to make you come back again and lose more money. The hand-pay is not even close to 40% of what you lost so far. I can even predict when I am due a hand-pay. This is so sad and so disturbing in so many ways. Too bad because I thought this place will be the local Vegas. Well, today was my last day gambling at Encore Boston Harbor casino. $30,000 donation/support since they opened is plenty. Good luck to all! I know there is no such thing as luck at Encore Boston Harbor casino! Ha Ha!"

**mpaschal34** · 02-03-22, 01:16 PM

These greedy odds/rake have really made it no fun to gamble. The house has always had an edge, but at least you could go on hot streaks and win for a while.

Now it’s just walk in….fleece the gambler as fast as possible and hope he’s dumb enough to come back.

**Ballerholic** · 02-03-22, 02:15 PM

Do you mean $10 hourly rake or $10 rake per hand?

**Ian** · 02-03-22, 03:11 PM

Originally posted by Ballerholic

Do you mean $10 hourly rake or $10 rake per hand?

10% to $10 per hand.

EBH has a monopoly on gambling in eastern MA and they are taking full advantage of it (and the people who want to gamble).

**Jnas** · 02-03-22, 07:22 PM

I heard they didn't even want to re open the poker room again but they were contracted to as part of their gaming license. That is why they intentionally have such ridicoulous hours. The $10 rake must also be to sabotage their own poker room. But people are so stupid they probably will stil play anyways.

**Brandt Moat** · 02-06-22, 08:21 AM

From what I have experienced from the sports fans of Boston, they are azzholes! Glad to hear they are getn it put to them.

Originally posted by Jnas

I heard they didn't even want to re open the poker room again but they were contracted to as part of their gaming license. That is why they intentionally have such ridicoulous hours. The $10 rake must also be to sabotage their own poker room. But people are so stupid they probably will stil play anyways.

**JAKEPEAVY21** · 02-06-22, 09:20 AM

Originally posted by Ian

Do yourself a favor and avoid this casino.

They already spread 6/5 blackjack exclusively, have crappy VP paytables, low slot payback (92%), and stingy comps. Now they've reopened poker with an unbeatable $10 rake. No weekend or late night poker either. Hours are Monday-Thursday 10AM to 8PM. It's a good thing they don't have sports betting, they'd probably charge -130 a side.

Save your money and gamble elsewhere.

It seems like a lot of these state run casinos/sportsbooks have some awful juice, odds etc...I'll probably just stay offshore if/when online gambling/sports betting ever gets legalized here in California.

**cankid** · 02-06-22, 08:27 PM

Originally posted by JAKEPEAVY21

It seems like a lot of these state run casinos/sportsbooks have some awful juice, odds etc...I'll probably just stay offshore if/when online gambling/sports betting ever gets legalized here in California.

I hear ya no big surprise I guess with the heavy juice stuff with certain states, buyer beware and expose those that exaggerate greatly.

**Crusherrr** · 02-06-22, 09:46 PM

Originally posted by JAKEPEAVY21

It seems like a lot of these state run casinos/sportsbooks have some awful juice, odds etc...I'll probably just stay offshore if/when online gambling/sports betting ever gets legalized here in California.

Smart choice. Legal books have grown on me a little because some are so slow to move lines and very easy to hit hard. They also do have good sign up offers, odds boosts, stuff like that. There are some good reasons to use them. But offshores still way way better for most things.

In regards to Boston Harbor $10 rake. If people are willing to pay it- who's to blame? They don't want poker and in order for it to be worthwhile to them- they raised the rake. Players can choose to not play but they haven't

My dad plays a local game where they take 10% up to $15 at $2/$5 where most are playing < $500 stacks. But they put out a nice food spread, have high hand promos each night. So players don't think about the fact that $300+ is being raked every hour because they're eating antipasto, veal parm and good pastries.

**JAKEPEAVY21** · 02-07-22, 09:57 AM

Originally posted by cankid

I hear ya no big surprise I guess with the heavy juice stuff with certain states, buyer beware and expose those that exaggerate greatly.

It seems like many of these USA legal sportsbooks are borderline predatory.

Originally posted by Crusherrr

Smart choice. Legal books have grown on me a little because some are so slow to move lines and very easy to hit hard. They also do have good sign up offers, odds boosts, stuff like that. There are some good reasons to use them. But offshores still way way better for most things.

In regards to Boston Harbor $10 rake. If people are willing to pay it- who's to blame? They don't want poker and in order for it to be worthwhile to them- they raised the rake. Players can choose to not play but they haven't

My dad plays a local game where they take 10% up to $15 at $2/$5 where most are playing < $500 stacks. But they put out a nice food spread, have high hand promos each night. So players don't think about the fact that $300+ is being raked every hour because they're eating antipasto, veal parm and good pastries.

Yeah, I'd certainly whore the bonuses but after that not so sure I'd use them much.

**thetrinity** · 02-08-22, 10:22 PM

Yeah I saw that. Terrible hours they are open too.