You don’t have many clearly legal options playing Texas holdem poker in
Maine. The entire state only has one poker room offering four tables.

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That being said, this poker room is great and offers a weekly tournament as
well as no limit Texas holdem cash game action whenever they’re open. You’ll be
treated like you would in any other poker room in the country, except for maybe
the Las Vegas rooms, and the staff and management are excellent.

The state has only been recently opened to gaming with legislation being
passed in 2012 to allow poker and table games. Previously the Hollywood casino
only offered slots, yet they expanded into poker and other table games like
blackjack and roulette once this was legalised.

Although this is the only room offering poker now, more casinos are opening
in the state and it’s likely that once the game starts growing in popularity
these venues will also offer poker rooms.

Although this will mean some competition for the Hollywood, it’s great for
the game and poker economy in Maine. It’ll mean more amateurs players, better
value in cash games, and larger scores for those lucky enough to ride out the
natural variance and do well in tournaments.

Other Gambling Games

In general, you can gamble on most things in Maine at the state licensed
casinos, and they also allow off track betting on horse and dog racing at tracks
that are regulated by the Maine State Harness Racing Commission.

The state also offers the lottery and you’ll be able to play in charity based
games of chance and luck such as bingo and raffles. Even though there are
multiple native Indian tribes and lands in the state they aren’t currently
permitted to operate casinos, which is kind of strange considering that this is
the only place casinos can run in most other states.

Some attempts to get legislation passed to allow for native Indian
reservations to open casinos have been attempted, but these have so far been
unsuccessful. This may change soon which would be a good thing as it would mean
more Texas holdem poker options for players in this state.

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Online Poker

Online poker is not yet regulated in the state of Maine and therefore you
can’t play on a local online licensed poker room. We’ve heard some reports of
players playing poker on offshore poker sites from within Maine, however this is
a bit of a grey area legally and you could end up in quite a bit of trouble if
you do this. We certainly wouldn’t recommend it.

Most of the larger online poker sites have a blanket ban on US players,
unless they operate a state based site, so you would also be breaking terms and
conditions of the poker operator if you were to play on their site from Maine.
It’s likely that the state will regulate online poker within the next five to 10
years, which is a great thing for players. The big tipping point in this
happening will be if New York regulates online play. Being a large state and
close to Maine this will certainly have a knock-on effect in the region. So,
you’ll be able to see plenty of light at the end of the tunnel if you want to
play online and live in Maine.

Home Games

Like most states in the US you can find private and home games in Maine. You
need to use common sense and be smart, but if you know where to look and who to
ask finding a safe game isn’t too hard.

Start by asking other Texas holdem players you know and check at your local
bars.

Local Options

If you live in Maine, you at least have one decent option in Bangor to play
some poker. If you’re in the southern part of the state, you can always skip
over into New Hampshire to play poker as well.

In the north and west you can also enter Canada to play poker, including
online poker, which is always a good thing. So even though there’s only one room
in the state you should still have plenty of options available to be playing
some live or online poker quite quickly.

The state has a generally decent approach to gaming so more options should
open up soon, and online play should eventually be available. It’s just a bit of
a waiting game at the moment in this respect.

In the meantime, enjoy live poker action in Bangor, and make sure you spread
the word about the great poker games that are available there. Together, we can
make sure that poker continues to thrive here and in the rest of the United
States.

List of Maine Poker Rooms

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

Hollywood Casino Bangor

• Location: Bangor, Maine
• Hours: Open daily from 8am until 3am
• Tables: 4
• Games: This poker room runs a weekly no limit Texas holdem tournament on
  Saturday at 7pm with a buy in of $90. If you’re looking for a cash game, you’ll
  find $1 / $2 and $2 / $5 no limit Texas holdem tables running. Sometimes if
  there’s player demand they run limit Texas holdem or Omaha cash games.
• Ambience: The colors in this poker room will really smack you in the face
  when you first arrive. The beige felt tables and walls are nice and modern, but
  what stands out and adds to the room is the colorful carpets which are
  predominantly red and match with the chairs in the room. The room itself is
  completely no smoking and they have TVs placed around so you can stay up to date
  with all the latest sports scores while you play.
• Hospitality: You’ll receive cocktail and food service while you play in this
  poker room so you need never miss a hand. On top of this they offer comps for
  players through the Marquee Rewards program and run a series of jackpots and
  promotions including a progressive bonus prize when you a four of a kind,
  straight flush or royal flush.
• Players: You’ll come across a good mix of players in this poker room with the
  standard of play being quite good. Poker is lacking in Maine and this is the
  only option for live play so there will be some solid regulars at the table most
  of the time. If you want the best and softest action, visit on a weekend
  evening. Things will be at their best action wise on Saturday nights when the
  weekly no limit Texas holdem tournament is running. From all reports the staff
  and dealers are great in this room and the overall vibe is fun and welcoming.

Conclusion

While Maine only has one licensed poker room, you can travel into Canada or
to a southern state to play Texas holdem as well. You can also find local
private games in many cities in the state so the nearest Texas holdem game isn’t
far away.

Bar Poker Near Me

Another good name for this page may be how to find Texas
holdem games, because we’re getting ready to tell you the best
ways to find the nearest games no matter where you’re located.

The first thing that comes to mind for most players when they
think about finding a place to play Texas holdem is the nearest
poker room or casino. But the games running in a structured
environment are just a percentage of the games running in
private clubs, businesses, and homes around the world.

One problem is that it’s fairly easy to find listings for
public places to play, but it can be quite difficult to find
private and home Texas holdem games. Learn more about how to
find holdem games in each of the next two sections and then
learn how to protect yourself when playing in private games.

Finding Poker Rooms and Casinos

We’ve built pages for each state and a few of the major
cities like Las Vegas listing all of the public poker rooms and
casinos that have poker rooms for your convenience. Most of the
information is current, but over time rooms open and close so
it’s always a good idea to check ahead if you’re traveling far
to play.

Most large and medium sized casinos have poker rooms, but
don’t assume one has poker tables. With the availability of the
internet on your home computer and on most mobile phones it only
takes a minute to look up the web site of the casino to see if
they have a poker room listed or to find the phone number to
call.

If you’re planning to play during the busiest times, usually
the weekend evenings, you can often call ahead and get put on
the waiting list. This can save a great deal of time waiting
when you arrive. Don’t waste too much money at the slots or
other games while waiting to play Texas holdem. Your best odds
to leave a winner are at the holdem tables, not at the slot
machines.

Simply search through our section of Texas holdem games by
state or city to see what’s available where you live or where
you pan to travel. Make a list of three or four different rooms
and try them each out.

Depending in the time and day each room has different numbers
of players and tables open. The overall level of playing ability
can also vary from time to time in the same room.

We read a story about a poker pro who decided that they’d
adjust their sleeping schedule so they could arrive at the
tables late at night / early in the morning so they could take
advantage of the players who had too much to drink and were
tired.

When they arrived at the poker room they saw a number of
other pros who had the same idea, turning a profitable situation
into one filled with sharks.

Finding Private and Home Games

Finding private and home Texas holdem games can be more
challenging than finding a game in a poker room. This is
especially true if you don’t live in the area where you hope to
find a game.

The best place to start looking for a home game is by talking
to other poker players. Many private games are by invitation
only so even if you found them you might not be able to play. A
recommendation by another poker player may be your only ticket
into the game.

If you don’t know any poker players where you want to play
you may be able to find some online. Message boards and forums
can be found where poker players hang out, but you need to be
wary of any information you receive from someone hiding behind a
user name in a forum.

One of the best places to find out about private Texas holdem
games is in bars. Many bars run their own poker games, and most
bars have at least a few people who play poker I them at any
given time. But they’re also wary of strangers asking questions
because in most places it’s illegal to run poker games in these
establishments.

We don’t know exactly how not to come across as a cop or
other law enforcement officer, but this is the main obstacle to
getting information in a bar or other drinking establishment.

Many communities run charity poker events, which can be a
great place to get leads about private games. Make sure you talk
to as many fellow players as possible while playing. The odds
are high that you’ll be invited to a few games or told where you
can find out more.

Just make sure you stay safe and smart about how you get your information and where you go.
The next section covers many of the possible pitfalls to playing in
home games.

Protect Yourself

Private and home games are not the same as ones offered in
poker rooms, so you need to be aware of some of the possible
areas you can get into trouble while playing.

One of our editors tells the story about a private game he
used to play in. It was well off the beaten path, off a one lane
dirt road, up a winding driveway that passed a number of houses.
He received an invite from a friend and knew many of the people
who played, but it seemed like a place that was ripe for someone
to rob the game.

When he asked one of the game’s organizers about it, the
reply was simple and to the point, and somewhat comforting.

“Did you see all of the houses you drove by to get here?
That’s all family, and anyone dumb enough to come up here with
bad intentions would be lucky to get through all of them alive.
We take care of our own issues up here. Not even the local law
enforcement comes up here without calling first.”

This is a comfort to some players but a scary situation to
others. After all, what if they decided they wanted your money?
If you haven’t played in many private games you may think this
type of situation is rare, but it’s more common than you think.

But the other side of playing in private games is some of
them are vulnerable to being robbed. Doyle Brunson tells stories
about being robbed and held at gun point. You need to be aware
of your surroundings and careful about what you do and don’t do
and where you go.

Most private games are cash only so you’re carrying a bunch
of cash, often into a blind or unknown situation. Sometimes the
only thing you can do is only carry enough for the game and hope
for the best. If someone points a gun in your face what are you
going to do? When you’re faced with the question of your money
or your life have you thought about what you plan to do?

Most people give up the money and pray they get to keep their
life. While we hope you’ll never face this situation, if you
play private Texas holdem games you need to at least consider
the possibility.

Another real danger in private Texas holdem games is the
possibility of being cheated. While a few players try to cheat
in regular casinos and poker rooms, you’re more likely to run
into it in private games.

The first area you need to watch is when the cards are being
dealt. In many private games the players shuffle and deal, which
creates a perfect situation for someone to try to cheat.

In order to cheat during the deal the player usually first
needs to stack the deck, so watch how the cards are collected
and placed for the shuffle. Then watch how the cards are
actually shuffled. It’s fairly easy to learn a false shuffle and
to shuffle cards in a way that leaves a number of cards on the
bottom or top.

Next you need to watch for the way the cards are dealt from
the deck. Most players deal with the deck held in one hand. A
player dealing cards from the bottom or holding the top card
while dealing the second, also called a mechanic, can be tough
to spot. The best cheating dealers are almost impossible to
catch.

Don’t always expect the dealer to give themselves the best
hand, as many players work in teams of two or more. The dealer
may be giving strong hands to someone else at the table and
splitting the win at the end of the night.

Sometimes players also secretly exchange information about
what they hold to other player’s they’re working with. This is
often a simple as adjusting the way they hold the cards.

If a player has a strong hand they hold their cards in their
left hand and if they have a weak hand they hold them in their
right hand. The number of fingers held in front of the cards
also indicates a second piece of information. The third piece of
information is shown by the way the hand not holding the cards
is held on the table.

Each finger has three knuckles which can be assigned
different values, so each one can be assigned a value.

Imagine the elaborate communication system you could devise
using all of these things simply using your hands.

Add in the possibility of moving chips in your stack you add
a fourth piece of information and you’re starting to reach the
place where you can almost show another player the exact two
cards you hold.

Unless you play with the same players many times it’s almost
impossible to pick up on these types of signals unless the
cheaters are sloppy. All you can do is keep your eyes open and
try to track any players who seem to have too much information.

We’ve also seen pairs of cheaters sit beside each other and
exchange cards. If the duo is especially good the only way you
can even see evidence of their cheating is by watching them from
behind.

When they switch cards
their shoulders that are against each other dip at the same
time. From behind the player on the left has their right
shoulder against the left shoulder of the player on the right.
If they dip at the same time frequently the odds are that
they’re exchanging cards. But be warned, just because you see it
doesn’t mean you can prove it, so it’s probably going to start a
fight and they won’t admit it anyway.

Of course how you react is up to you, but the safest course
of action is to quit playing and leave as quickly as possible.
Consider the possibility that whoever is organizing the game may
be in on the cheating or receiving a cut. You could be in real
danger if you start accusing someone of cheating.

The last danger to consider is one involving legal issues
that may come up if the local law enforcement becomes involved
in the game. Most people don’t even consider if it’s legal or
not to play Texas holdem in a private or home game. But in most
places it’s illegal to gamble outside of a licensed business.

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We aren’t lawyers and we don’t offer legal advice so you need
to know your local laws and make your own decisions. In many
areas local law enforcement and even judges play in private
poker games. But this doesn’t automatically protect you legally.

Conclusion

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Finding Texas holdem games near you is often as simple as
keeping your eyes and ears open and talking with everyone you
know. Start talking about poker and you’ll often find that
others are just as interested as you and play. They can lead you
to private and home games that you won’t be able to find any
other way.

Bar Events Tonight Near Me

If you want to find a holdem game in a poker room or casino
use our directory of Texas holdem games by state. We have a page
for each state and major poker hot spots like Las Vegas. Simply
find the area you’re interested in and follow the link.