Few things capture the poker world's attention more than the high-stakes cash games that take place at the Poker King Club in Macau. While the game has been spreading for three years now – earning the distinction as the biggest in the world – it has been shrouded in mystery as few players are willing to talk for fear of being ostracized. One man who has opened up, though, is Tom Hall, also known as 'Hong Kong Tom.'

I played during the day looked like night would have been better or the bigger games had the gamblers the solid regs were playing low stakes. The poker room staff were a great help. They had an American poker room supervisor when I was there 4 years ago but he said they were fazing out non citizens for locals. The Venetian Poker Room in Macau has about 10 tables. Some things we picked up from IntenseGambling.com, however are not so positive: While they do have the best room for low stakes poker in Macau, the 10 tables they have aren't always open (even if there is a waiting list! - that's not good news) and they have the highest rake in Macau at 5%. VIP, by the way, is a Macau euphemism for casino fish, a guy who plays high-stakes baccarat in the pit and dabbles in nosebleed poker as well. The casino loves him and so do the poker pros. In referencing the buy-in, I assume that Yu is talking Hong Kong dollars (currently 7.75 to 1 US dollar), but who knows. Learning Poker: Table image over rated in low stakes? 6: July 11th, 2020 9:05 PM: Tournament Poker: High stakes vs, low Stakes: 8: May 5th, 2020 3:00 AM: General Poker: High stakes players playing.

Macau Poker Low Stakes Odds

Over the years, Hall has posted various updates in a TwoPlusTwo thread devoted to the game. Hall's most recent post came earlier this month when he revealed that the game had approximately USD$20 million in chips on the table! According to Hall, the short stack at the table was just USD$1 million, and the blinds varied from USD$4,000/$8,000 to USD$12,500/$25,000. He even included a picture (found below).

Around the same time, another photo taken by Poker King Club Macau Business DirectorWinfred Yu surfaced and revealed that Tom 'durrrr' Dwan was sitting in the game alongside what appeared to be Alec Torelli.

PokerNews was fortunate enough to speak with Hall, who should not be confused with the European Poker Tour player by the same name, about the big games in Macau. While he wasn't at liberty to go into specifics, he was kind enough to shed a little light on the clandestine game.

PokerNews: If you had to guesstimate, how many players rotate in and out of the Big Game?

Tom Hall: I would guess since we started there has been somewhere between 100-150 players that have played at one point in the game. There is a core of 10-20 that play regularly at some point every month and three to four that play pretty much all the time they are in Macau. The lineup changes all the time, though usually the pros rotate with some frequency and locals — usually junket operators in Macau who hear about the game and like to gamble — frequently pop up for a few sessions.

Is the game always played in no-limit hold'em?

Yes, the big game is always hold'em. Some of the guys will occasionally deviate to PLO separately, but the stakes are much smaller.

What is the networking process like? We assume it's not easy to get into the game.

It all depends. If there are some brand new local players chancing their arm — guys that are very new to the game and relatively inexperienced — there can be a crazy waiting list even amongst the 'regulars,' whereas at other times if the core regular group are away on business or playing a high roller tourney somewhere else in the world, pretty much anybody is allowed as the remaining guys just want to play. It is a quasi-private game, so you shouldn't turn up and expect to be allowed to play, particularly as a pro. Pros are usually introduced through a pro that has played before or through Winfred Yu who organizes the games. Visiting businessmen are usually always accommodated!

Does the language barrier ever cause problems? Any funny or crazy stories due to confusion?

I don't think it ever causes any problems, but visiting players may find the amount of table talk going on in multiple languages throughout hands unusual. There is never any collusion through table talk. It's probably the fairest game out there and is vigorously self-policed by the table itself due to some of the quirks of the game.

On the PokerNews Podcast, Greg Merson said that only one white player was allowed to sit at a table at a time. Is there any truth to that?

I don't think it has anything to do with skin color, more whether the player is a pro or not. The same restrictions apply to Western or Asian pros. Again it depends on which of the regulars are playing and if there are new locals playing. I would guess overall an average would be one or two pros at a nine-handed table. Occasionally we play 10-handed but that's rare (not enough space due to all the chips on the table). Recently there were three Westerners playing (as I found out to my cost when I thought there was only two – see 2+2 thread).

Along those lines, are there any rules outside the norm for those who participate in the big game?

I wouldn't quite describe them as rules, but there are some nuances of the game that sometimes take pros or newcomers by surprise when they first play. Certain wealthy local beginners will request to look at a pros cards if they have folded to a big turn/river bet and the pros are pretty much obliged to show that specific player who will look at the cards and not comment further. This calls for a slight adjustment of strategy from the pros but bearing in mind they are still significant favorites they comply pretty quickly and it's all done in good humor. This is a throwback to the early days when, for the first year we played, everybody had to show every winning hand. It helped people learn faster in the beginning and also removed some collusion concerns guys had in the very beginning.

Also when players are all in, the game can slow down as a side group offers 'insurance' bets. This has been described at several points during the 2+2 thread so I won't elaborate here. Yes, there is vig charged but with the size of the pots involved, most people take it to reduce variance. Getting one or two outed on a US$1m+ pot can be a pretty sick feeling otherwise. As I have stated before, I think the insurance option removes a lot of the animosity/frustration that can arise from getting sucked out on and helps the game keep its friendly flow.

I can't remember anybody ever calling time on anybody. If somebody is tanking, the other players will watch TV, play on their phones, walk off and chat, etc. Slow rolling is also not frowned upon either and is sometimes the cause of great amusement. One of the funniest I remember was when one player was all in, and the other tanks for ages, then gets up and goes to the toilet and is gone a good five minutes and then comes back to call with the stone cold nuts. This was all taken in good humor.

What's the most anyone has ever won in a sessions in the Big Game? What's the most someone has lost?

I would say approximately the same, around HK$100 million (~USD$12.8 million) won/lost in a single session, bearing in mind these sessions can run 30-40 hours regularly with perhaps a mini food break or quick nap or break to watch a soccer game. What I will say is that without a doubt the single biggest winner in live table poker of all time is one of the big game players who plays the Macau game regularly and some of the other big private games around the Region. This is not one of the established pros but any of the pros that play regularly will know whom it is. Not going to get into quantum or specifics but the Macau game formed the base for some pretty phenomenal winnings (and obviously losses). All of the local regulars usually play their own funds whereas most of the pros are either staked or pieced out to a certain degree. This is probably pretty smart taking into consideration the size of the games and the swings.

Are the games still growing? Have they plateaued? Will they?

That's a very difficult question to answer. I always say I think they've plateaued but then I hear about new higher stakes. However, for the past year I haven't heard of stakes bigger than HK$100K/200K blinds or a variation they played once with no blinds, just a HK$100K ante per hand.

Which player or players would you credit with getting the Big Game started?

Paul [Phua] and Richard [Yong] are probably the hub of the game and were there from the very beginning and Winfred Yu and his team do a fantastic job providing the best possible environment for the game and its players at the Poker King Club. The table we play at was moved from the originally designated spot (private area) to one that wasn't anywhere near as exclusive, but was nearer the toilets so players would miss fewer hands whilst away from the table.

You don't have to name any names (unless you want), but are any players unwelcome in the Big Game?

I don't think any individual is specifically unwelcome, but those super nitty, 'silent at the table' pros are extremely unlikely to get a second invite back to the table.

What's the minimum buy-in to get into the Big Game?

This varies a lot depending on how long they have been playing, time of day, etc. It can be as low as HK$1-2m and sometimes it has been HK$10m. If blinds are at the low end HK$5K/10K, people can buy in for HK$1m though most would buy in for 200BBs (HK$2m) as the game plays much bigger than the usual blind/pot ratio you would see in most cash games.

Next week, PokerNews will take a look at Tom Hall and his Macau origins in an in-depth interview, so be sure to check back for that.

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Poker in Macau is nothing like poker in Las Vegas and the
United States. You’ll struggle to find Texas holdem poker rooms
at most Macau casinos, although they still do exist in some
parts. The experience on the whole will be a lot different to
the United States and you’ll need to adjust your expectations
when looking for a game.

First and foremost, the waiting lists for cash games in Macau
are crazy. It’s not unheard of to wait up to 6 hours for a spot
at the table. Even though most poker rooms only have a few
tables open, they let lists accumulate up to 60 or 70 people and
won’t even open more tables. Poker is a bit of a spectacle here
and isn’t treated like a table game that should be offered for
players on demand. It’s treated more like a service or amenity
that the casino and hotel offers, much like they offer a valet
service or room service. On top of all of this, the number of
table games a casino offers is strictly regulated by the Chinese
government and the fact is poker just doesn’t make as much money
as a baccarat or blackjack table.

The one exception to this is the Pokerstars Live room in
Macau. This is more of a player’s poker room and is the closest
you’ll find to a United States or Europe style poker room.
Closely following this room is the Wynn and Venetian poker
rooms; they obviously run great poker rooms in Las Vegas.
They’ve had to slightly change it up for the different market
though.

In general, the poker play in Macau is quite tough. When
poker arrived on the scene here in the mid-to-late 2000’s the
games were very juicy. Since then the newcomers to poker have
returned to other games and the players that persevered have
become much more skilled and harder to beat. You can still
certainly find good games at a wide variety of stakes; however,
you won’t get the baccarat players basically giving away their
hard earned cash at the table like you did in 2008.

List of Macau Poker Rooms

Here is our compiled list of all the poker rooms you can find
in the state of Macau:

Pokerstars Live Macau Poker Room

Location: Level 2, City of Dreams, Macau
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Tables: 13
Games: You’ll find a good mix of cash games and
tournament play at the Pokerstars Live Macau poker room. At
any given time, you’ll be able to find a no limit Texas
holdem cash game running, usually with stakes of HK$25 / $50
and HK$100 / $200 and higher when there’s demand from
players. In US dollars this is about $3 / $6 and $13 / $26.
These limits are quite high although everything is like that
in Macau when it comes to gaming. For the tournament players
out there you’ll find some major events taking place in this
poker room including Macau Poker Cup “Red Dragon” series,
Macau Millions, the PokerStars Championship PSC Macau and
Asia Championship of Poker ACOP. On top of this they usually
run a major tournament on Saturday’s and Sunday’s with
satellite entry tournaments to these running all through the
week. The standard weekly tournaments range from HK$1000
US$130 buy in up to HK$4000 US$515. Most tournaments are no
limit Texas holdem with the odd Omaha one running from time
to time.
Ambience: It’s all about the red and black of Pokerstars
here. The room is huge, open and airy and provides a great
playing experience. The tables are covered with black felt
and the black leather chairs clash nicely with the red
carpet. The room is connected to the rest of the casino so
some noise and smoke will get through, although it’s pretty
well ventilated. This is a great place to play poker which
is no surprise considering Pokerstars is involved.
Hospitality: You’ll need to request service while
playing poker in this room, although water, tea and coffee
will be provided most of the time free of charge. Alcohol
wise you will struggle to get complimentary drinks here
although some report when they asked they did receive beer.
This seems to be hit and miss and the service certainly
won’t be anything like you would get in Las Vegas.
Players: The players are quite good and competition
tough in this poker room. The game has certainly reached a
maturity point where the remaining regulars are of a higher
skill than in the boom day in the late 2000s. You can still
find the odd soft table here and there and during major
tournaments you’ll find a lot of good action. Generally
speaking the players in Macau will be friendly. We’ve heard
reports they have been welcoming and the table and room has
had a generally fun atmosphere.

Poker King Club Macao

Macau Poker Low Stakes Horse Racing

Location: Venetia Casino, Macau
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days
Tables: 10
Games: Both cash games and tournaments are offers in
this poker room. Cash game wise you will find no limit Texas
holdem games running almost always. Stakes offered are HK$25
/ $50, $50 / $100, $100 / $200, $200 / $400, $500 / $1000.
For tournament players you’ll find a wide range on offer
usually with buy in’s at the higher stakes. They run Asia
Poker Tour events here and some World Poker Tour affiliated
events. They once offered a big game tournament which had a
prize of $50 million, which is crazy high. It’s safe to say
this hasn’t happened again and probably won’t anytime soon.
Ambience: The Venetian is a wonderful casino with bright
beige filled rooms which are well ventilated and welcoming.
The poker room is new and is smoke free, which is a major
bonus considering smoking is almost always permitted in
poker rooms in this city. The bright blue felt of the table
contrast well with the beige fittings and plush carpets. The
chairs in this poker room are leather and comfortable. You
will also be able to view a TV from most seats at the
tables, as well as charge your phone via USB charging ports.
Hospitality: You’ll get around the clock table side food
and beverage service in the Poker King Club at the Venetian
casino. This is another rarity in Macau, as poker is almost
the second class citizen to other more favorable games.
Players: The players here will be quite tough and the
games usually at the higher limits. Because of casino
regulations in China they really need to make some bang for
their buck and that’s why most limits are a little bit
higher than you would expect to find in poker rooms in the
United States. You’ll still be able to find juicy tables in
the Poker King Club during peak times.

Wynn Macau Casino

Location: Rua Cidade de Sintra, Macao
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days
Tables: 11
Games: The Wynn poker room in Macau offers cash games
and tournament play. For the ring game players, you will
find no limit Texas holdem at medium and high stakes as well
as pot limit Omaha. Stakes range from HK$25 / $50 up to $500
/ $1000. Remember you get about HK$8 for each US$1. The Wynn
poker room won’t offer many tournaments. However, they do
run special events on occasion with a range of buy in’s.
Ambience: The Wynn in Macau is very similar to the Wynn
in Las Vegas. Steve Wynn won’t allow his brand to diminish
in value or integrity at all and as such the poker room here
is very nice with great décor and well maintained seats and
tables.
Hospitality: Tea, coffee and water will be free for
players here. If you want alcohol you may be able to get a
free beer while you pay, but most drinks must be ordered
from the menu and will attract a charge. You can also order
food and eat at the table while you play.
Players: This is a wildly popular poker room and as a
result you will sometimes have to wait hours for a table.
Book a seat many hours before you plan on playing and you
shouldn’t have a problem. Because of this, the poker is
tough and you’ll need to be playing very solid poker to do
well. The vibe is quite serious due to this but also a lot
of fun at times, particularly on weekend evenings.

Macau Billionaire Poker Room

Location: Babylon Casino, Macau
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days
Tables: 5
Games: This poker room currently offers no limit holdem
cash games at various stakes. While they are aiming to offer
higher stakes you will most likely be able to find HK$50 /
$100 and $100 / $200 games running more frequently. They run
tournaments on occasion including their Jade series which
features a HK$2000 buy in event.
Ambience: This is a nice poker room which features gold
and beige colors on the wall with ruby and gold carpet. It’s
a nice place although it is near and on the casino floor so
can be quite smoky at times. The blue felt tables are basic
with gold wrapped simple seating. Regardless it’s still a
decent poker room.
Hospitality: You will get basic drinks provided
including water, tea and coffee. If you want anything
further you will need to request for a server to come and
take you order and you’ll usually be paying full price off
the menu.
Players: The quality of play in this poker room will
usually be quite good. This is because it’s such a niche
market now in Macau and as such you won’t get as many
amateur players trying out poker. That’s not to say you
can’t do well if you put in a few solid sessions playing
decent and straight forward poker.

Conclusion

Macau is a different experience for players used to poker
rooms and casinos in the United States. But if you’re planning a
trip you can still find some good Teas holdem games. Just plan
well ahead and be prepared for extended wait times in some
rooms.