MERKUR Casino Bad Oeynhausen

Bad Oeynhausen runs the cheapest real poker game in the MERKUR group. Its own page opens the poker section by saying that here many people play with one another — the plain statement of player-versus-player play that Duisburg and Monheim pointedly do not make — and then sets out the game: one Texas Hold'em table daily from 19:00, blinds from a minimum of 1 and 3 euros, buy-in 100 euros.

One detail to plan around: reservations lapse at 19:00. Booking a seat by phone and arriving at 19:30 will not hold it. Enquiries and reservations go to the main house line.

At a 100 euro buy-in this is the entry point to live poker in eastern North Rhine-Westphalia, a long way below Hohensyburg's 500 euro minimum, and the nearest licensed table to Minden, Herford and Bielefeld. No tournament schedule is published.

The building opens from 11:00 to 03:00 Sunday to Thursday and 11:00 to 04:00 on Friday and Saturday, with the classic tables from 18:00 to 02:00 and 18:00 to 03:00 respectively. Entry costs 5 euros and guests receive an M-Card from their third visit. Admission is from age 18 against a passport or national identity card; driving licences are not accepted and holders of a residence permit are normally asked for a passport as well. The house closes on Good Friday, All Saints' Day, Volkstrauertag, Totensonntag, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.