Pokerstars Live Manila Review

Located in the scenic Tagaytay City, Pokerstars Live Manila aims to bring a premium poker experience to the Philippines. However, based on recent player feedback, the reality often falls short of expectations, particularly concerning service quality and operational efficiency.

Overall Impression: A Mixed Bag with Significant Downsides 📉

While the physical environment of Pokerstars Live Manila generally receives praise for being "nice" or a "nice room," the overall player experience is heavily marred by recurring issues. The average sentiment from recent reviews is largely negative, with players frequently expressing frustration over service, dealer competence, and operational policies.

Key Aspects Reviewed by Players:

Poker Play Experience ♠️

• High Rake: A consistent complaint across multiple reviews is the 10% rake, which many players find to be quite steep. While some acknowledge it might be "on par with rest of Manila," it remains a significant factor impacting a player's potential profitability.
• Dealer Competence: This is arguably the biggest area of concern. Multiple players report that dealers frequently make mistakes, sometimes as often as "once an orbit." Players are often required to "keep an eye on the dealers" and "correct them." A serious incident was reported where the poker room allegedly failed to reimburse a player for a 10,000 peso error made by a dealer, despite clear camera evidence. This reported lack of accountability is a significant red flag for player trust.
• Game Quality: The games themselves are described as varying, from "really soft to somewhat tough," depending on the table composition and assigned seat. This suggests there's potential for good games if you find the right table.
• Chip Buying Process: An inconvenient policy highlighted is the requirement for players to get up and buy more chips at the counter after getting "felted," rather than chips being brought to the table – a common service offered in many other poker rooms.

Service & Management 👎

• Subpar Customer Service: The service is frequently labeled as "meh" or even "trash." Players report experiencing some of the "worst customer service" in their playing careers. There's a notable perceived lack of "common sense" in management decisions.
• Table Availability & Staffing: Despite a "20-person waiting list for the smallest buyins," the management reportedly "won't open up any more tables." This is compounded by observations of the room being "highly overstaffed, with 70% of the dealers just lingering around doing nothing," leading to frustration when managers allegedly "laugh at you" when asked to open more tables.
• Lack of Accountability: The most severe criticism pertains to the casino's alleged unwillingness to take responsibility for dealer mistakes, even with clear evidence, directly impacting player funds.

Environment & Perceived Improvements 🌟

• Nice Environment: The physical room itself is generally regarded as "nice" and providing a pleasant atmosphere, which is one of the few consistent positives.
• Service Improvements (Marginal): One review noted "some improvements for service since last year," but suggested the venue might be "mostly riding on the brand" rather than making truly significant strides in overall customer experience.

Conclusion and Recommendation 🤔

Pokerstars Live Manila in Tagaytay presents a notable paradox: a well-branded poker room situated in a pleasant physical setting, yet consistently hampered by critical operational and service deficiencies. The high rake, coupled with frequent dealer errors and a perceived lack of accountability for those errors, significantly detracts from the overall poker experience. Players seeking a professional, smooth, and entirely trustworthy poker environment might find themselves disappointed.

Recommendation: Proceed with caution. If you choose to play at Pokerstars Live Manila, be prepared to vigilantly monitor every hand for dealer errors and be aware of the reported service limitations. While the games can be potentially soft, the inherent risks associated with operational issues and customer service shortcomings make it a challenging venue for serious poker enthusiasts.