I was a tourist in Goa for three days with my daughter Hannah. We stayed in Baga Beach for the most part -- taking day trips to interesting tourist attractions including an amazing waerfall, a spice plantation, and a huge flea market on the nearby Anjuna Beach. We went out to restaurants, took long walks along the beach, watched some amazing sunsets, and in general saw the Goan sites. What we did not do was play poker. That I saved for my last day -- after Hannah had departed for points east in Thailand.
I planned my poker for Thursday, my last full day in Goa. After dropping Hannah off at the airport I took a cab back to the main city in Goa, Panaji. It is about 45 minutes north of the airport and 20 minutes or so south of where we stayed on Baga beach. It is a coastal city -- the ideal location of gambling boats that dot the harbor.
This week, in fact, there was an article in a local newspaper about the dangers posed by the many casino boats in the Panaji harbor -- increasing as they do the regular boat traffic across and through the waterways.
The scene is very interesting. Panaji sits on the south side of a large inlet that feeds into a long river. At its mouth the harbor is many miles wide, but in Panaji the harbor is roughly half a mile across. A large roadway spans the harbor over a bridge -- connecting southern and northern Goa.
Panaji is a city surrounded by a rich tropical environment. Trees, bushes, vines, and thick greenery are everwhere. People still fish regularly in the harbor. I watched them bring their daily catch into the marketplace -- displaying dozens of variety of fish in baskets and on blankets. The scene was fascinating and not appealing to my western sensibilities. The streets are strewn with garbage. The aroma of the harbor is quite foul -- smelling of sewage and waste. The place has the potential of being a glorious tropical paradise. Sadly, it isn't that at all.
Along the southern coast of this harbor, for about a mile stretch, are ferry boats that transport people out to large casino boats that stay semi-permanently moored in the harbor. There are now about five of these boats. While a few offer live poker, the main place to play is the Casino Royale.
The Casino Royale hosts five different tournament tours throughout the year and has the most consistent live cash games -- that run 24/7. They have ten tables in their main room and two "VIP" tables in a private area upstairs from the main room. I visited and played in the main room (the VIP room was not in use when I visited).
The main room is richly appointed, powerful air conditioned, and is a notch or two fancier than the typical casino poker room you're likely to play in in the United States. There is more a private club feeling to the place -- with a complimentary full bar and food set out in steamer trays for patrons to enjoy at their leisure.
The only game offered on the Casino Royale is no limit Texas Hold'em -- though another boat offers a local game called "Flush" that I did not learn about (an adventure for another trip perhaps). They regularly spread many variations in stakes, however. I'll include more of the specifics about the games themselves and the players in my next entry.
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