Category Archives: Poker

High stakes crusher Ike Haxton has been blogging about the health concerns live poker players face in the future. The American partypoker ambassador talks about how much he misses the game but also can not stop thinking about the real challenges we face once the lights turn back on.

By: Mark Patrickson

I dont know about you folks, but Im really starting to miss playing live poker. Sitting around a table, shuffling chips, talking s**t. Drinking too much coffee. The steady, mellow pace that can make 12 hours pass before youve noticed. I love it, I miss it

The COVID-19 lockdown has left much of the worlds population nervous about returning to normal. With the number of coronavirus deaths being visibly published every day it is unlikely that much will be normal for a long time, with many choosing to stay under their own lockdown.

Haxton points out the obvious situation that live poker will struggle with when the games start, that it is the perfect environment to spread an infection.

The constant touching of the surfaces around you, including the cards and chips, makes it so easy to transmit any kind of bug to your playing partners.

The breathing in each others direction in such a small space guarantees an increased possibility of catching something.

In general, poker players are also not known for the healthiest lifestyle. With their compromised immune system we can again guarantee that per player there will be more bugs going around, even ignoring the coronavirus for a second.

Weve traveled from all over the world, on planes, through airports, and in taxis, coming into contact with countless people along the way. Were stressed out, jet-lagged, not eating well, and not sleeping enough, all of which surely compromise our immune systems.

A lot will depend on how quick a reliable vaccine program can be installed around the world. Will normal service resume before this happens? Haxton is of the opinion that it shouldnt in the case of poker.

There is bound to be quite a lot of arguing in the near future on exactly what is the best way forward. Haxton just says that his main interest is in getting the conversation going beforehand.

For the most part, I dont have very strong convictions on what should change, but Id like to get a conversation started about our options.

.

Visit link:

Ike Haxton Raises Concerns About the Health of Live Poker Players - HighstakesDB

June 16, 2020Matthew Pitt

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed a major victim in the British poker world as Genting is ceasing all live poker activity in the United Kingdom.

PokerNews was aware of rumours circulating regarding Genting not reopening its live poker operations before an employee reached out to us. The Genting employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, informed PokerNews they work in the Birmingham cardroom and have been told Genting will cease all live poker in their casinos.

Our source claims the Genting Resorts World Casino in Birmingham is losing 98 employees with between 20 and 50 jobs lost at every Genting casino around the United Kingdom.

A Cardroom Manager at one of Genting's casinos, posted an update on his Facebook page.

Please note: It was not this manager who told PokerNews of the upcoming redundancies

7,000 staff furloughed by Grosvenor Casinos

Well, its been emotional. Thank you to all our poker players, hope you have a great experience. Thoughts to all my colleagues (family) that didnt deserve this (although in current climate it was kind of expected) you are all superstars and proud to have had you in our team. Onwards and Upwards. PS anyone hiring?

PokerNews reached out to several Genting sources, including the President and Chief Operating Officer of their UK operations, but none had replied at the time of writing.

The cessation of live poker operations comes less than a week after Genting announced it is considering the closing of three of its UK casino.

GMB, the union for leisure and hospitality workers, revealed Genting casinos in Bristol, Margate, and Torquay are set to permanently close, resulting in significant job losses. GMB also warned of possible job losses across the companys remaining 29 sites.

Paul Willcock, the President and COO of Genting UK, sent a statement to his employees, which read in part, The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges. It has had a huge financial impact on our business and caused significant uncertainty for the foreseeable future. I am therefore forced to contemplate some very difficult options to ensure survival.

British casinos ready to reopen on July 4

It looks certain the long-running Genting Poker Series (GPS) has ran its last event. Launched in 2012, the GPS proved extremely popular in its infancy thanks to its solid blind structures, affordable 440 buy-in and substantial guarantees.

Genting inexplicably closed its online poker arm, which ran on the iPoker Network, a couple of years ago, which had a profound effect on the number of entrants because players could no longer qualify online or play Day 1 online.

Lower attendances and a restructuring of the GPS results in smaller buy-in stops being scheduled. The last GPS event was an 80 buy-in held at Genting Club Stoke on Trent that attracted 397 entrants and awarded 26,966.

Its only a year since Genting spent 750,000 refurbishing its casino in Luton. Part of that refurbishment was the creation of a more intimate poker room which will now likely be converted to more gaming floor space.

Eighteen months ago, Genting Casino Westcliff underwent a multi-million pound makeover.

Five years ago, Genting Resorts World Birmingham opened its doors to the public. It cost 150 million and is part of an entertainment and shopping complex at the site of the Genting Arena, formely the NEC. It features 50 shopping outlets, cinema, hotel, and a vast casino.

Link:

Genting Ceases All Live Poker Activity in the United Kingdom - PokerNews.com

Times Correspondent

Gary Joerres, a retired restaurant owner, missed the Derby Lane Poker Room during the shutdown caused by the coronavirus. The St. Petersburg resident is a regular at the Texas hold em tables at the Poker Room, which opened with a limited capacity May 20. Joerres, 69, plays about five days a week and has for 15 years or more. His tip for not going broke, he says, is to limit the amount youre willing to lose. Joerres said he likes Derby Lanes measures against the virus, including checking the temperature of everyone, requiring masks and restricting the number of players at tables.

So youre happy to see the place again.

Exactly We didnt think it would be two months. We thought maybe it would be 10 days or two weeks. We knew it was serious, but we never knew it was this serious.

Did you get up any games with friends at home during the shutdown?

Nobody really wanted to get out and about and get together like that. Its something youve got to be very serious about. Theres still a lot of people dying; we definitely dont want to be one of them. We can always play cards. We dont want to rush into it.

Is this a hobby, or is this the way you make a living?

Oh, no, Im not a professional. I just like to have fun.

Whats the best hand youve ever had?

A royal flush (the highest hand) How many times? In spades, twice, but Ive had other royal flushes. I had clubs, hearts matter-of-fact Ive had all four of them already ... I just had a straight flush a little while ago, a nine, 10, jack, queen and king of clubs.

What is largest pot youve ever had?

The largest one? It was that spade royal thing about three grand.

How long do you stay?

If Im having a good time, Ill play four, five, six hours. If Im not having a good time, Ill get up and leave in an hour and a half Just not my day. Why stay and give money away?

(Interviewed another day.) I stayed almost seven hours today didnt have to reach into my pocket once. I was quite happy

How much did you win?

Almost a thousand.

Your system is to fold hands that you dont have confidence in.

You could play every hand, but you could, like, just give money away. A bad hand you dont play. But people do. Believe me, I saw them today.

When you hit something like a $1,000 day, do you go celebrate at Berns Steak House?

I go out for a steak, but maybe not to Berns. Thats (near) downtown Tampa. I live the opposite way.

Does wearing a mask help with the poker face?

Id have to say definitely. The poker face would definitely (be helped) with the mask. Some people walk in with that, and Ive been playing with them for years, and I go, Is that you? It really covers everything up but the eyes.

Can you tell by looking at fellow players expressions whether they have a good or bad hand?

Sometimes you cant; sometimes you can. Some people have a little give-away. Youve just got to watch them a little bit. And some people are really good at it and dont give anything away.

How are you at it?

I try to be steady. Like I mentioned earlier that big royal flush, you dont get up and get excited. You just try to keep that way all the time.

What is your usual game pot?

It could be 20 bucks sometimes. Sometimes it could be 200 bucks (if) you get some aggressive players at the table.

How much does it cost to get in the game?

The $1-$2 (ante) game $60.

You say you feel comfortable playing now because of Derby Lanes precautions?

Very much. Thats what I like. Also, they have cashiers that run around and take care of dealers with change and get people stuff. And when theyre not busy, theyve got a towel and a spray bottle in their hands, wiping things down. Someone gets up from a chair, they wipe down the chair and the table in front of them before the next player sits down. I like that a lot.

Read the original post:

New poker rules in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic - Tampa Bay Times

The reopening of various U.S. casino markets has continued over the last several weeks after months of forced closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But even in areas where casinos have reopened, many poker players that are ready to return to the felt are finding it hard to get in a game.

According to the American Gaming Association, 621 of the nations 989 commercial and tribal casinos are now operating again in at least some gambling capacity.

Florida is by far the state with the most plentiful game selection at the moment. With the Seminole tribe opening two of its South Florida locations in Hollywood and Coconut Creek Friday morning, nearly every poker room in the state is operational.

The Seminole Hard Rock Tampa location was one of the first to open in late-May and other major poker rooms like bestbet Jacksonville followed suit. Many are still adhering to short-handed play, but some rooms have already begun to transition to traditional nine-handed full ring games.

But as you look up the eastern seaboard, the pickings are slim for grinders.

In Maryland and New Jersey, casinos are still closed. Maryland casinos are set to reopen June 19, but there is no word yet on whether poker will be offered. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has yet to announce a timeline for the reopening of the Atlantic City casinos, but was hoping for a July 4 return.

In Pennsylvania, a handful of casinos in Pittsburgh are open, but neither Rivers Casino nor Meadows Racetrack and Casino have reopened their card rooms yet. Both will remain closed until further notice.

Upstate New York casinos have begun to reopen but Turning Stone Casinos poker room is the only spot for poker in the Empire State. Most of the New England gaming market is still completely closed.

Massachusetts has yet to open its three casinos, but it seems unlikely that the two poker rooms in the state will open for business when gambling is back. MGM Resorts owns MGM Springfield and Wynn Resorts is in charge of Encore Boston Harbor. Neither company opened any of its poker rooms in Las Vegas when Sin City reopened last week.

Connecticuts two tribal casinos, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, are both open, but without poker. All of Maines casinos are still closed as well. The lone New England poker room with a scheduled opening is Chasers Poker Room in New Hampshire, which will open on June 15.

The trend is similar across the Midwest. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan are all poker-less. Ohio casinos are eligible to reopen June 19, Indiana on June 15, while Michigan and Illinois have yet to put forth a timeline for its commercial casinos.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that when the states Detroit casinos reopen, poker rooms will remain closed until further notice. Poker rooms in Wisconsin and Minnesota are also closed.

As players move further west, poker options become more plentiful. Nearly every poker room in Texas is back in business with certain guidelines in place to prevent the spread of germs at the table, while Choctaw Casino is running games in its poker room just north of the Lone Star State in Oklahoma.

One of Arizonas largest casinos, Talking Stick Resort, opened its doors on June 1 and is running several games in its poker room.

Nevada reopened its gaming market last week, but there are only a handful of rooms to choose from. South Point, Venetian, The Orleans and the Golden Nugget are Sin Citys only options, while the Peppermill is the only spot to play poker in Reno.

Outside of Florida and Texas, California likely has the most options. Jamul Casino, a tribal casino in the San Diego area has been spreading poker games since late-May and has been joined by other properties throughout the state. Thunder Valley Casino near Sacramento and Towers Casino in Northern California are both showing active poker games on the Bravo poker app.

Stones Gambling Hall in Sacramento and Seven Mile Casino in San Diego are both scheduled to open Friday morning. The major Los Angeles-area cardrooms have yet to be given a timeline for a reopening.

The rest is here:

Most Poker Rooms Remain Closed As Gambling Markets And Casinos Reopen In The United States - CardPlayer.com