Power in the Poker Room

Power in the Poker Room
power_in_the_poker_room_1

A member in Springfield, MO. writes, 'Dear Geno. My friends and I love your websites and appreciate the advice you give in your columns. I have a problem with one of the poker rooms in Oklahoma. Downstream Casino seems to want to spread only no-limit Texas Hold'em. To me and my friends, that game can get really expensive very quickly. We go to Downstream, but rarely can find a limit game where we could play. What advice can you give us? Don R., Springfield, MO."

I lived in Springfield, MO. two years and played a lot of poker at Downstream as well as Indigo Sky, an Indian-owned casino just southwest of Joplin, MO. Both casinos were in great competition with each other. And Don R. is right --they rarely spread any games other than no-limit Texas Hold'em.

Poker tables are important to the casino management of any casino, and that is especially true of Downstream and Indigo Sky. I spoke to the poker room managers of both casinos about the need to bring other poker games to the rooms. They agreed with me and basically said, 'We will spread any game the players want provided there are enough players to start that game.'

Now nobody can force a person to play at a poker game. And if there are not enough players at a table, the dealers will simply not be put to work.

My suggestion is that the players get together before the game is called and determine what game they wish to play and what the limits should be.

Don't ask the poker room manager what game is being spread. Go to the manager in a group and tell him or her what game you are interested in playing.

power_in_the_poker_room_2

Don't let the poker room intimidate you. Stay firm on what you want and don't settle for anything less.

Now I would not expect new games to appear overnight. Poker room managers need to realize players mean it when they say they are determined to play a certain game at a certain spread. It just takes a certain amount of arm twisting and some great resolve before things start to happen.

You may wish to start a poker club in your area. Bring new players into the club, play at a certain rate, and then go to the casino of your choice to play the game at that rate, bringing your club members with you.

The fact is that poker room management is ruled by the bottom line. Nobody wins if a game is not being spread. But poker players do have the power if they are willing to stand firm and use it.

When I arrive at a poker room, I sign up on a list for the game that I want to play. If there is no list for that game, I insist the management start a list. Other players in the room then have the option to sign up for that game and I have managed to start several games that way.

If enough players stand together, they will get the games they want, not the ones casino management wishes to push on them. Good luck. Let the games begin.

Back to articles