The Niagara Falls: Enjoying the Attractions and the Poker
Niagara Falls is a tourist hotspot — there’s no denying it — and why wouldn’t it be? The falls are absolutely staggering in their beauty, despite some of the past controversy around them. People continue to flock to them and get the most out of the experience, whether that’s a cruise tour up to the foot of the Horseshoe Falls or viewing the Falls from a helicopter.
Even so, there’s a whole lot more to see and do in Niagara than just come for the views. That could be a walk along Clifton Hill, where you’ll find the Movieland Wax Museum and the Nightmares Fear Factory haunted house; a venture out further afield on a day trip to the beautiful wine region of Twenty Valley; or a day on the soft sands of one of Lake Eerie’s several fine beaches in Niagara’s South Coast.
However you choose to spend your days in Niagara, be it at the Falls themselves or exploring the region’s other attractions, you can wind down and enjoy a little excitement at the same time with a visit to the Casino Niagara.
The Casino Niagara
The casino opened its doors in December of 1996 and generated extra appeal, offering locals and visitors alike a chance to experience some gambling thrills and spills and make a little money. The odds of not being able to sit down to a game of some description are very slim: the casino is home to more than 1,300 slots and has 40 games tables.
That includes a room on LV2L dedicated exclusively to poker. Best of all, the room is open 24 hours a day and features 26 poker tables. You can look out across to the falls from your table while you put together a winning hand. The room hosts games of Texas Hold ‘Em Poker — where you can compete for the progressive Bad Beat Jackpot — 7-Card Stud, Omaha High/Low and Omaha. Other poker variations you can play while you’re at the casino include Mississippi Stud, Three Card Poker, High Flush Poker and Nexus™ Progressive Five Card Bonus Hand. Games feature high and low limits, if you’re looking for them.
Of course, you can’t — and shouldn’t — sit down to a game without knowing poker hand rankings or understanding the rules. That would be setting yourself up to fail, so take the time to learn the rules of the game, the rules of the poker room itself and make sure you have put in plenty of hours brushing up your skills before you start laying your money down.
It’s always wise to book a table if you’re serious about playing. The casino will hold your seat for 90 minutes.
For the keenest of cards players
You don’t have to stick to poker if cards aren’t really your thing. Mix things up a little and sit down to a game of blackjack, or Blackjack Switch in which the cards are dealt the same way as in the standard game but you’re playing two hands. You can also play Spanish 21, a variation of Blackjack, or battle it out with the dealer in the straightforward Casino War — the player with the highest card wins!
It’s not only cards you can play at a casino table. Anyone who’s game for a spin at the roulette table may do so. There’s nothing quite like the sense of anticipation when you spin the wheel and hope that it will whirl in your favour.
Enjoying the resort
There’s no need to come, spend all your time at the playing tables and then just return to your hotel when you’ve had your fill of games. LV2L features a large, fabulous sports and entertainment bar that has a seating capacity of 275 and boasts 50 HD screens, so you can follow everything that’s going in the sports world while you dig into a freshly prepared salad, handmade pizza, juicy burger or other niceties from the catering service, which is open until late.
The gambling doesn’t need to stop if you wish to play but want a change of scenery. The LV2L makes it all possible. As well as watching the sports while you’re in the bar, you can wager. Hockey, football, college basketball and other sports are all viable for the wager.
If all you’re just feeling like you could do with a speedy snack, you can call in at the Perk’s Café and tuck into a deli sandwich or pastry and wash it down with some gourmet tea or coffee afterwards. Have a bigger appetite? Visit the Market Buffet on the main level of the casino and pile your plate up with chicken, beef, salad or something else. Desserts at the buffet include cheesecakes, sticky toffee pudding and more.
Fabulous times in Niagara
Naturally, don’t leave the region without seeing the awesome waterfalls if you are planning on visiting here. Ignore the regional politics and just take the time to explore the region, too, and get the most out of your visit. That could mean having a flutter at the poker table during the evening and, if luck is on your side, replenishing a little of your leisure fund; packing some beach towels and travelling out to the South Coast for some relaxation on the beaches; spoiling your palate with some wine tasting out in the Twenty Valley; or giving yourself a bit of scare (all in good fun) at the Nightmares Fear Factory. One thing that you can be sure of is that you’ll leave with fond memories of Niagara.
