Route 66 Casino review - Building a good reputation

To the west of Albuquerque, some 20 miles from the city limits, rises one of New Mexico's newer casinos, Route 66. From the outside, its visual appeal is not as great as it other metro rivals, but one thing is clear from the outset, it attracts a large number of truckers. Route 66 Casino has created ample parking for semis and with its convenient location off the well traveled I-40, this strategy is part of their success.

So, one might at first think, "Oh no! The building looks plain and it is full of truckers. This place won't be nice." When in actuality, the interior is quite nice and up to the standards of the other competing casinos. What makes Route 66 Casino an even better situation are two things:

#1 A poker room was apparently never part of the original structure, so it has been added on recently. What this means is a dedicated space set apart from all the clatter of the slot machines and an interior design that was meant to welcome the poker players. A full service bar is located at the outside edge of the playing tables. Smoking and alcohol consumption is only allowed in the outer edge. The room has a giant mural on all the walls and the mahogany tones of the furnishings lets you know that this was the intent. Poker. Period.

#2 The place is full of truckers! Most truckers like to gamble, but it has been my experience so far that they are dead money. I was actually tipped off to this when playing a tournament at Isleta Casino Resort. The tip was not wrong. During the late morning to evening, any 2/4 or 2/6 spread table has at least 3 truckers per 10 people playing. I have yet to see one trucker who matches up to the regulars. Most come for the fun and entertainment factor, and have the bankroll to keep running to the cashiers' window for more. Yum yum!

Tournaments - Morning tourneys being at 10AM on M,W,F and 9AM on T, Th. Both are $20 buy-ins with $200 added on M,W,F and $500 added on T,Th. Evening tourneys are M-Th at 7PM with a $25 buy-in. One Omaha Hi-Low tourney is scheduled for Saturdays at 1PM with a $20+5 buy-in. $200 is added to the pot. All tournaments at Route 66 Casino are no-rebuy. Personally, I love this fact. I'd rather pay a higher entry on a no-rebuy tourney than have to suffer rebuying at a lower amount. Fewer fishes and more intense play is the order of the day.

All in all a good poker experience is waiting at Route 66 Casino, now one of my favorites.