After a wild 14 months and his first World Series of Poker bracelet, Jason Mercier is ready to take a break.

Mercier, 22, of Fort Lauderdale, won the a $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament that drew 809 entrants. He collected $237,462 for first place.

Mercier graduated from Sheridan Hills High in Hollywood, where he got a 35 out of 36 on his ACT and played all kinds of sports.

Mercier cashed for the first time ever in a major poker tournament in April 2008. Since then, he has won five tournaments -- including two European Poker Tour championships and a WSOP gold bracelet and crossed the $3 million mark in winnings.

Now he'll take a break.

"I'm just planning on spending time at home the next two months, maybe playing online a lot," he said, in an interview arranged by his sponsor, PokerStars.net. He also now has a girlfriend and they haven't seen that much of each other.

He made it into day two of the main event before busting out, and speaks with a twinge of disappointment in his voice, even after winning a bracelet.

"I played in 33 events and I bricked 21 (failed to cash) of them," he said. "And it the bracelet wasn't like a huge cash, although it wasn’t so much about the money but getting the bracelet."

The year before at the WSOP, after his hot run in Europe, he cashed in only 3 of 22 events.

Mercier played an average of 5,500 hands a day -- multiple games -- on the internet to hone his skills, both while a student at Florida Atlantic University and afterward. He built up a $90,000 bankroll and then went on to win $1.3 in San Remo, Italy.

"On the internet you just get so many hands in per hour; you can develop your game a lot faster than playing in a casino," he said. "It's just so much easier."

Next tournament: He'll likely go to Barcelona for the European Poker Tour.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Scott Ramshaw of Pembroke Pines won the season-ending Bar Poker Pros tournament at Hillcrest Country Club in Hollywood Sunday night.

The tournament, for players in the Bar Poker Pros league, drew about 300 players, the largest in the league's three-year history.

Ramshaw had almost three times the chips of the nine remaining players, who all agreed to "chop" the $5,000 in prize money. He took home about $2,500.

Next in line were: Jim Holland, Davie; Pete Hanti, Pompano Beach; Ronette Yarbrough, Fort Lauderdale; Momodou Knight Wadda, Miramar; Rod Messina, Miami Lakes; Alexandra Dumanowsky, Miami; Dave Dixon Ft Lauderdale; Karen Kelley, Oakland Park and Bob Sullivan, Hollywood.

For more information go to www.BarPokerPros.com.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

"Sunday Night is Football Night" worked for NBC, as it attempted to create new patterns after Monday Night Football left ABC.

Now ESPN is trying "Tuesday Night is Poker Night."

Nothing like keeping things simple for us guys.

ESPN begins its coverage tonight of the World Series of Poker, with three weeks of pre-Main Event coverage, then hitting the Main Event hard. Tonight at 8 is the $40,000 buy-in tournament; the Champions Invitational airs at 8 p.m. Aug. 4 and Ante Up for Africa is at 8 p.m. Aug. 11.

The Main Event gets started Aug. 18 and will run each Tuesday through Nov. 3, showing us how it got to the final nine, which includes Kevin Schaffel of Coral Springs.

The players reconvene on Nov. 7 andl play down until two remain. The final two will finish play early on Nov. 10, and ESPN does a quick edit and shows it at 8 p.m. that night.

Poker isn't the easiest activity to convert to TV. There were 6,494 players in the Main Event, and getting the nine who make it from the first hand on is quite improbable.

"We record everything,” ESPN coordinating producer Jamie Horowitz said. “It is hours upon hours of (production) time in New York City, going through the logs and trying to re-create the tournament.

"It’s funny because you reverse engineer," he said. "You have to wait to see who made the final table, then you try to find their hands. But once they make the final table you scurry around and say 'Did we have (chip leader) Darvin Moon covered?'"

At the ESPN press conference last week, I asked specifically about Schaffel, who is as unknown as they come to the poker world, and never was a chip leader, always hanging around at No. 15 or so the last two or three days.

Announcer Lon McEachern said: "Again you hope and you go back and go through logs and see if you can find Kevin at an early part of the main event.

"You’re doing the legwork out there, the producers, they’re all trying to talk to players, families and friends to try to discover a strong story.

"Certainly his whole story will be told now."

And if you think the WSOP is weighting its coverage more toward the main event, you're right. This year they'll have 24 hours of main event coverage, compared to 18 last year and just six five years ago.

"Every off-season people tell us 'More main event,’" Horowitz says. "They especially like more of the latter stages of the final table."

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

A casino night Thursday will raise money for an 11-year-old Boca Raton girl who needs medical help.

The girl, Jessie Robinson, has a disease called NF (Neurofibromatosis) type 1, which means doctors have found tumors growing around her optic nerves, according to casino night promoters. She will go blind if she cannot get help, they said.

She is hoping to get treatment with a specialist in Boston and the family is trying to raise money.

Mike Henry, a co-owner of Gatsby’s Boca Raton will host a casino night, at 8 p.m. July 30. Cocktails begin an hour earlier.

Tickets at the door are $30 and include one drink, food and 50 chips to play blackjack, craps, roulette and slots with.

At the end of the night, you convert your chips into raffle tickets and try to win prizes.

Casino Party Nights Florida Inc. is the host (954-926-4219).

Contributions are also encouraged at any Washington Mutual Bank c/o Katya Robinson and The Benevolent Fund of Jessie Robinson (Account No. 3184417159).

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Jaws slot machines are surfacing in Florida at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood and Tampa.

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is giving away four tickets to the Miami Seaquarium from 1-7 p.m. Saturday. Additionally, at 8 p.m. a prize drawing of four certificates for Miami Seaquarium’s Swim with the Dolphins experience, the Dolphin Odyssey, will be given away to slot players.

According to the casino's press release, the prize is designed to build excitement for the launch of Jaws Slot Machines and raise awareness about sharks and other fascinating sea creatures.

With a flick of a finger on the "shark tooth" spin button, the game begins with that trademark ominous John Williams Jaws theme, the casino says. Players can vie for one of four progressive jackpots and bonus games to keep them in the "water" and in the game, longer.

When Miami Seaquarium first opened in 1955, one of the main attractions was the Shark Channel, the casino says. At the Shark Presentation, animal care specialists feed 200-pound sharks while explaining the various species of shark that exist worldwide.

The grand prize winner will not only get to see the sharks at the Miami Seaquarium, but win the opportunity to experience the Dolphin Odyssey at Miami Seaquarium’s Dolphin Harbor. Guests kiss, hug, dance, rub and get up-close to the dolphins, plus swim into deeper water for more interactions including a dolphin ride across the pool. Participants in this program must be 52 inches or taller.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Brian Baris was the chip leader and declared the winner of Wednesday's Dan Le Batard 790 The Ticket Celebrity Poker Tournament at Dania Jai-Alai.

The Wednesday night multi table Texas Hold’em tournament drew over 200 players.

The final nine players decided to “chop” the prize pool with each player receiving $957. Baris, from Tamarac, took home the trophy.

I got knocked out early. Was card-dead and kept calling -- never a good move -- then survived an all-in with my ace-queen hitting an ace against queens. Ouch.

Payback came. I got pocket kings from the big blind with about 3,000 chips left and blinds at 300-600. Needed a caller or two. The woman to my left made it 1,600 to go, so I made it 2,600 and there was a third caller. Eventually all the chips went in. (I thought if I went all-in, being a tight player, I'd get no callers.)

So with a nice pot, I turn over kings, she turns over 8s. Flop is something like 7-10-J-4. And a nine on the river, for her straight. Her fourth straight of the night of 10-or-under variety.

Usually I'll second-guess myself. But last night, my head hit the pillow, no problem. That's poker. I was able to "get it in good."

Dania Jai-Alai’s Cardroom is open Sundays through Thursdays from noon to midnight, Friday and Saturdays from noon to 2 a.m. The fronton is located at 301 E. Dania Beach Blvd in Dania Beach.

Meanwhile, the fronton is promoting a 12:30 p.m. Aug. 1 tournament. Cost is $150, with only a $5 house fee.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Jeremy Schaffel didn’t want to give his dad an ordinary Father’s Day card. He wanted to motivate him for the upcoming World Series of Poker.

So he found a picture of 2008 WSOP winner Peter Eastgate and his $9.1 million prize and went to work on the computer. He replaced Eastgate’s face with his father’s.

“I had been reading the book, The Secret, and the money portion said to visualize the money,” said Schaffel, a 2007 graduate of Everglades High School in Miramar.

Something must have worked: Jeremy’s father, Kevin, reached the final table in the WSOP main event last week.

Kevin Schaffel kept the picture in his wallet and even pulled it out when Eastgate himself sat next to him midway into the tournament. Schaffel said he asked: “Are these your arms?”

“The table had been pretty quiet until then, but everyone got a good laugh,” he said.

Jeremy Schaffel lives with his mother in Pembroke Pines but spends a lot of time with Kevin, who lives in Coral Springs. He flew out to Las Vegas when his dad reached the final 64.

“He was a huge help,” Kevin Schaffel said. “He helped me stay focused and stay positive.”

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

The Isle Casino & Racing buffet is only $9.99 five days each week through August, and two-for-one on the two other days.

The buffet usually runs from $15.99 to $23.99

Sunday through Thursday, the buffet is open 4:30-9 p.m. and will be $9.99.

Special fare each day: Sunday is "Traditional Favorites," Monday is steak and shrimp, Tuesday is "Tour of Italy," Wednesday is "Good Home Cookin'," and Thursday is "Local Flavors with a Latin Flair."

On Friday and Saturday, hours are 4:30-10 p.m. and the $23.99 seafood buffet is two-for-one.

For info, call 954-972-2000.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

The Seminole Casino Immokalee has started $5 blackjack and promises to have it 24 hours a day, seven days a week -- at least for a limited time.

The promotion started July 17.

The Southwest Florida casino, which expanded and renovated last February, also has $5specials in its EE-TO-LEET-KE restaurant, 1st Street Deli, Zig Zag Lounge, and Grill Bar.

The rest of the casino's release:

The EE-TO-LEET-KE (The “Camp” in Seminole) restaurant is offering a “Blackjack 5 for 5 Appetizer Special” with a choice of any of its five appetizers for $5 each. The appetizers are: Vegas-style Shrimp Cocktail and shrimp served in fresh salsa; Buffalo Chicken Fingers served mild, medium, or hot; Spinach Artichoke Dip served with fresh corn tortillas; Fried Potato Skins stuffed with cheese and barbeque pork; and Tempura Vegetables with Tai peanut sauce.

In the New York-style, 1st Street Deli, diners can choose any of the following five appetizers on the “5 for 5 Blackjack Menu”: The Knish Sampler (two mini-knishes served either crispy and Reuben style); The Slider Sampler (a cheese slider next to a Reuben-style slider); The Soup Sampler (a chance to taste each of the deli’s soups to find a favorite); The Dipper Platter (choice of smoked whitefish, tuna salad, chicken salad, or egg salad served with fresh toasted bagel chips); And The Dessert Sampler (a trio of decadent Ambrosia, rice pudding, and warm homemade apple bread pudding with caramel sauce).

Those specials can be enjoyed with $5 Margaritas in both the new Zig Zag Lounge as well as the EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill Bar.

Seminole Casino Immokalee has completed a 43,700-square-foot expansion, bringing it to a total of 75,600 square feet. The casino offers Blackjack, Mini-baccarat, Let It Ride, Pai Gow, Three-Card Poker, Texas Hold ’em Bonus Poker, and live poker.

The number of high-paying progressive gaming machines and Las Vegas-style slots now total more than 1,100.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

The Seminole Casino Immokalee is trying to attract more than 2,000 bikers in an attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the “Largest Harley Parade.”

The plan is for Harley owners to meet at the Germain Arena in Estero at noon on Sunday for a ride to the casino in Immokalee.

To register for the Sunday's hog ride, call 800-218-0007. All Harley riders will receive a certificate for their participation if the record is broken.

The record is believed to be 2,118 Harleys, at a Children's Hospital Toy Run in Denver on Dec. 8, 2002.

To get to the Germain Arena from the north, take I-75 to Exit 128 (Alico Road). Go east on Alico to Ben Hill Griffin Parkway and drive south approximately 3.5 miles. The arena will be on the right. From the south, take I-75 to Exit 123 (Corkscrew Road). Go east on Corkscrew and drive north on Ben Hill Griffin Parkway. The arena will be on the left. The arena address is 11000 Everglades Parkway.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Judie Kraiem thought she had a winner when she hit for four queens Saturday afternoon in an Omaha game at Dania Jai-Alai’s cardroom. Then Bernie Zisholtz flipped his cards to reveal four kings.

And the table erupted into applause.

Kraeim hit the $4,901 Bad Beat, and the table shared the money.

Kraiem received 50 percent of the jackpot pool or almost $2,500; Zisholtz got $1,470 plus what he won in the hand. The remaining players that were at the table playing each received $163.

Meanwhile, Dania’s regular Texas Hold’em Bad Beat Jackpot is over $30,000 and still building each day.

The Dan Le Batard Celebrity tournament is at 8 p.m. tonight, at Dania, 301 E. Dania Beach Blvd.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Construction began this week on Calder Race Course's new "Studz Poker Club" on the first floor.

Studz Poker Club is scheduled to open in late October, featuring 29 tables and offering Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and 7-Card Stud. According to a release, they'll have tableside food, beverage service and massage service, which is now pretty much an industry standard.

Calder says: "For guests who frequented this area on the first floor that is now under construction, we invite them to join us on the second floor or the fourth floor, which is now open on all live racing days for their convenience. The first floor food court and the east side of the first floor remain available."

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

William Michael Beasley of Hollywood won the Heavyweight Division of the Main Event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sunday.

There were 118 entries in the $1,100 event. Beasley took home $38,940.

In case you were wondering, or Googling basketball players' names, William Michael Beasley is not with the Miami Heat. I have attached his picture as proof (this guy doesn't have the tattoos).

Leonard St. Germain Jr. of Southwest Ranches won the "Cruiserweight Division" Thursday. The $575 tournament drew 74 entries and he earned $12,950.

Steven Wolansky of Cooper City won $9,385 last Monday in the Middleweight Division, which drew 92 entries.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

In February 2008, I wrote about how I'm the luckiest bar poker player in the world, when my 10-9 offsuit got called by kings but I hit four to the flush and went on to win.

Since then, I have not won a bar poker tournament. Haven't even gotten down to a head-to-head.

A few months later, I wrote that I hadn't flopped a nut flush in months. (Of course, odds against hitting a flush on the flop are 118-1, but so what?)

Two days later, I hit a nut flush at the Isle, and the board never paired, keeping the boat out of play -- and I let everyone bet into me for a nice pot.

Meanwhile, in our occasional home game, I am a perennial runner-up, if I cash at all.

I am due.

I have a theory that the poker gods surf the 'net, and hear all pleas.

Hey, it can only help.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

One day your residence is a buddy’s spare bedroom, the next you’re a TV star with $1.2 million in your pocket.

That’s how fast life changed this week for Kevin Schaffel of Coral Springs.

“Surreal,” says Schaffel, who has received almost 100 calls and texts since Thursday. “I’m not exactly certain what’s in store, but I’m sure looking forward to it.”

Late Wednesday, Schaffel won one of nine seats at the final table of the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. He got a check for $1.2 million, an endorsement deal with PokerStars.net and a shot at $8.5 million more in the finals, on Nov. 7, where he’ll get as much ESPN air time as Dwyane Wade.

On Aug. 18, ESPN will start airing the poker action that narrowed the field from 6,494 players to the final nine.

Schaffel grew up in North Miami Beach, divorced in 2006, and has been on the road playing poker more in recent years as his printing and direct mail business faded. He has played in the World Series since 2004 but wants to stay in South Florida because his two college-age children and his friends are here.

So he has crashed at a friend’s house near the TPC at Eagle Trace, where he plays golf (he’s a former club champion). It works out because both are often away.

“I think I’ll be able to afford a place of my own now,” he says.

At 51, Schaffel also is a poker anomaly. It’s a young man’s game, with an aggressive tone spawned by the rapid-fire style on the Internet. Six of the nine at the final table are 34 or younger.

Schaffel, tapping into the gentlemanly nature of golf, is different.

“I was watching Wimbledon and they asked Serena Williams what helped her perform well under pressure,” Schaffel says. “She used two words: ‘calm’ and ‘patient.’

“I wrote them down and it stayed with me the entire tournament,” says Schaffel, who played for eight 10-hour days before making the finals.

Says his son, Jeremy, who lives with his mother in Pembroke Pines, but joins him for games at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino: “I’ve never seen him yell or get upset over a poker hand, even when he’s getting bad cards.”

Early in the first day in Las Vegas, Schaffel was one card away from elimination after betting all his chips with three 10s against a straight. (The flop was 8-10-J; the player had raised and then pushed with 7-9.)

But after 4 on the turn the final card was a jack for a full house, winning the pot.

"In the past, I'd stand up at the table and reach for my bag if I were behind like that," he said. "But this time, I just knew. I can't describe it."

He had a few “all-in” moments later in the tournament, but always when the odds appeared to be well in his favor.

The 2009 final table is one of the most decorated in recent World Series history. Schaffel’s table mates will include Card Player magazine editor Jeff Shulman and Phil Ivey, called “The Tiger Woods of Poker,” who has won seven World Series events.

Schaffel is considering hiring a top pro to coach him until November, which would cost him at least $50,000, or he may just go with patience and good instincts.

“There are lots of decisions to be made,” he says. “But then, I don’t want to over-think things.”

But he had breakfast Friday with Dennis Phillips, who finished third in last year's World Series, about how to handle the upcoming days and how to make the most of "other opportunities."

You could see how those two would get along. They have similar demeanors.

Schaffel said he was a cash-game player who hadn't had a losing year until this one, and was starting to doubt himself. But a tournament hot streak, with four out of five cashes, helped right him.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Play poker and race go-karts...

All in Free Poker's inaugural "Taste of" event is from 3 p.m. to midnight at Saturday at Xtreme Indoor Karting, 5300 Powerline Road, Fort Lauderdale.

The day includes double points for their Aug. 2 championship (grand prize: $2,000 buy-in at the Capri Isle Casino in Pompano), a $10 food tasting from more than local bars and restaurants at 5 p.m., and a poker “trade show” from 4-8 p.m..

Go to AllInFreePoker.com or XtremeIndoorKarting.com, or call 954-491-6265.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Kevin Schaffel has made the November Nine.

Schaffel, of Coral Springs, played his way to the final table at the World Series of Poker late Wednesday night, meaning he's among the nine players remaining who have a chance at the $8.5 million first prize. (He's the eighth from the left, or second from right.)

As happened last year, the World Series now stops play for 115 days, while ESPN airs footage of what has happened so far in the 6,494-player main event. Then in November, Schaffel and the eight others will play it off while ESPN does a quick live-to-tape edit and same-day coverage (like in the Olympics).

Schaffel sits in sixth place with about 13 million chips, well behind leader Davin Moon with 58 million. There's also two noted poker pros alive: Jeff Shulman is in fourth and Phil Ivey in eighth. Schaffel, who had been battling the flu slept in Thursday (can't blame him), then had a WSOP 2-hour meeting in Las Vegas in the afternoon. He'll fly home Friday, and I'll try to catch him before he gets on the plane.

That WSOP orientation also includes issuing a check to all nine players for ninth place, the worst they can finish. They get $1,263,602 right now.

Schaffel's brother, Jordan, said Kevin has been playing poker since age 11.

"We played for nickels and dimes," Jordan said, noting that Kevin also is a scratch golfer who has won the club championship at Eagle Trace Country Club in Coral Springs.

They both graduated North Miami Beach High (Kevin in 1975) and helped in their father's print shop, The Mail Man. When the direct mail industry went south last year, Kevin began playing in more professional events in Las Vegas and California. That included a run where he finished in the money in four out of five events in 2008-09.

Jordan, who now lives in Washington, D.C., received updates from Kevin's son, Jeremy, who also is in Las Vegas, and via the internet. He then relayed info to friends and family.

"It's been unbelieveable," he said. "I have an email list, a Skype list, a text list and a phone list."

Last night Jordan set up a "conference bridge" for four cousins, two sisters and friends, scattered across Texas, central Florida and Maryland.

"Everybody has carpal tunnel from clicking the refresh button every 10 seconds," he said, about following the results on poker sites.

Jeremy called often, including about 2 a.m. Thursday, when the players were down to 10, and Darvin Moon was trying to knock out Jordan Smith. Jordan Schaffel patched in the call to everyone.

When the river card came up a blank, eliminating Smith and cutting the field to nine

"All I hear is pandemonium over the phone," Jordan said.

For more info, go to www.worldseriesofpoker.com.

Also, PokerStars.net did this interview with him.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Kevin Schaffel went into the nighttime with a good chance still to make the final table at the World Series of Poker main event.

Schaffel, a South Florida native, is No. 8, with 14 players still alive. He has 9.5 million chips; the leader has 27 million, and the No. 14 player has 2 million. The No. 15 player was just knocked out and earned more than $633,000.

They just took a 90-minute dinner break, starting about 10 p.m. Eastern time. They're playing tonight in Vegas until they reach the final 9.

(material from an earlier post is below)

As I wrote earlier, a final table at the World Series of Poker would make Schaffel, of Coral Springs, a media star. ESPN follows you, blogs and poker magazines tell your story and, oh, you'll win at least $1 million.

The World Series plays down to the final table today, then delays the rest of the action until November to a.) give it some build-up and b.) air all the play leading up to the final table. (If you're new to all this, poker is a bear to edit for TV, with tons of dead time. So it's difficult to show 'live.')

Meanwhile, Ryan Fair of Fort Lauderdale busted out at No.31, but he can't feel too bad: he earned $253,941. Plus, Tuesday he was at ESPN's "featured table," meaning he'll get some air time. He went all-in with ace-king, against Jeff Shulman's king, and didn't get an ace on the flop, turn or river.

Schaffel has lived in Pembroke Pines, Weston and Coral Springs in recent years, is 51 years old and is divorced with two children, according to poker web sites. He also is a pretty good golfer, according to our clips, winning the club championship at Eagle Trace and being in the running for the U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifying.

I have some more bio that I'll likely put up on Thursday.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, which added blackjack last year, is temporarily adding another feature prevalent in the world’s most popular casinos: free drinks.

Slots and blackjack players can have wine, beer and cocktails at no charge from noon to 4 a.m. Friday and July 24. (But you actually have to be playing the games.)

The Hard Rock, off State Road 7 north of Stirling Road in Hollywood, is expanding on its recent Ladies’ Night promotion with free drinks, Public Relations Manager Ryan Rogers said.

“Now it’s something the guys can take advantage of as well,” he said.

Dania Jai-Alai’s poker room started giving drinks away about eight months ago to those playing cash games. The Seminole Casino Hollywood “Classic” has offered them for about two months.

Slot areas at Gulfstream Park, Mardi Gras and the Isle — regulated by the state — are not allowed to give away drinks because of a state statute designed to discourage players from using a machine for hours at a time. One part of the rules states that slot players can’t get any breaks on alcoholic beverages that no one else gets.

So, the question: How important is free drinks to you at a casino? Will it get you to go there more?

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has started a Poker Dollars Reward Program that rates players based on play time and offer incentives.

It started July 1. Players can obtain a Poker Player card in The Poker Room at Seminole Paradise. When a player is seated at a jackpot eligible game he gives give his Poker Player card to the floor attendant. Poker Dollars are accumulated according to time played at a specific limit of play. i.e. (50 cents per hour at $2-$5 and $5-$10 no-limit games and 30 cents per hour at all other games).

When a player wants to use his Poker Dollars, a voucher will be issued that is valid for 24 hours. Poker Dollars accumulated will be valid for a one-year time period.

The Poker Room at Seminole Paradise will keep an updated list of where Poker Dollars vouchers will be redeemable. Poker Dollars are presently redeemable for the Hard Rock Cafe, The Rock Shop, Poker Room Deli and participating food outlets and Shops.

See the Poker room for more details.

As fars as I know, the Isle is the only other South Florida card room with givebacks for poker players. Know of any others?

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

A Boynton Beach woman's dog finished second in a national contest held by the American Greyhound Track Operators Association.

JoAnn Rodriguez's Blaze (the light brown dog looking right at you) was among the winners in the association's "Night of Stars" pet photo contest. The winners were shown simultaneously at tracks across the country, including at Palm Beach Kennel Club.

Blaze placed second in the "individual overall" category.

Rodriguez, who is active in Greyhound Pets of America, a pet adoption program, said she and her boyfriend adopted Blaze about three years ago.

"He’s just brought so much joy to our life; he gets me to go outside and walk, sometimes up to a mile," she said. "You just look at him and it puts a smile on your face."

"Joe Marlin," owned by Elizabeth Paquette of West Palm Beach, earned fourth place.

"The Gang (below)," owned by Sonia Stratemann of Loxahatchee, won the group contest, with "Sam and Kent, owned by Robin Shepett of West Palm Beach in second.

“Sandy” (Robert & Madeline Meixner, Port St. Lucie, the gray dog with the cat) won "Sweetest," with runners-up including "Kit and Diceman" (Elizabeth Ferguson of Stuart) and "Archie" (Amber and James Bergdoll of Delray Beach).

There'll be another contest next year. For contact the Palm Beach Kennel Club's publicity office at 561-683-2222, ext. 125.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Kevin Schaffel is now fifth in the World Series of Poker main event, and there's only 27 players still left.

That means he has a better-than-average chance to (shhh!) reach the final table.

A final table at the World Series of Poker would make Schaffel, of Coral Springs, a media star. ESPN follows you, blogs and poker magazines tell your story and, oh, you'll win at least $1 million.

The World Series plays down to the final table today, then delays the rest of the action until November to a.) give it some build-up and b.) air all the play leading up to the final table. (If you're new to all this, poker is a bear to edit for TV, with tons of dead time. So it's difficult to show 'live.')

Meanwhile, Ryan Fair of Fort Lauderdale busted out at No.31, but he can't feel too bad: he earned $253,941. Plus, Tuesday he was at ESPN's "featured table," meaning he'll get some air time. He went all-in with ace-king, against Jeff Shulman's king, and didn't get an ace on the flop, turn or river.

Darvin Moon leads with 20 million chips, and Phil Ivey is in fourth with 11.3 million, just ahead of Schaffel's 11.2 million.

Average stack: 7,215,555

Schaffel has lived in Pembroke Pines, Weston and Coral Springs in recent years, is 51 years old and is divorced with two children, according to poker web sites. He also was a pretty good golfer a few years back, according to our clips, just missing out on the club championship at Eagle Trace and being in the running for the U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifying.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Angelo Miele Jr. of Davie was declared the winner of the largest poker tournament in the history of Dania Jai-Alai Saturday night.

He was the chip leader, when the 10 players at the table agreed to chop the remaining prize money. They each got about $4,000 (Miele got a little more and a winner's bracelet).

Next in line were: Jeff Justinak of Fort Lauderdale; Nigel Murray of Miami, Glen Maiolini of Davie and Carl Delprete of Delray Beach.

Dania officials said they were taking a risk by offering a $40,000 guaranteed prize pool, but the event sold out the 250 seats by 8 p.m. Friday.

“But I was confident the entire way that this would be the most successful tournament we ever had," said Dania card room employee Paula Lettiere.

Dania Jai-Alai officials are already making plans to offer the event, again, in a few months, maybe even making it a quarterly tournament. Meanwhile, they announced that there will be a new $150 tournament with only a $5 house fee. It's at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 1.

Also, Dania Jai-Alai will feature another Dan Le Batard Celebrity tournament at 8 p.m. July 22. Entry is $50.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Looks like we're down to two from Broward-Palm in the World Series of Poker, but they're in good shape.

Kevin Schaffel of Coral Springs, who has been among the leaders since the tournament started, completed Day Five on Sunday in 16th place, with 2.1 million chips.

The field, which started with 6,494, is down to 185 players.

Ryan Fair of Fort Lauderdale is in 46th place, with 1.3 million chips.

5 p.m. Monday Update: Schaffel has slipped to about No. 30, losing 250,000 chips; meanwhile Fair is at ESPN's "second featured" table, meaning he'll likely get some air time when the telecast hits in a couple of months.

And the field is down to 145.

Schaffel has been playing in the World Series just as poker started to grow; his biggest cash was in the 2004, WSOP, when he earned $60,000 for finishing 40th.

Matthew Waxman of Parkland got his fourth cash of this year’s Series, finishing with just shy of $200,000 in prize money. He came in 399th, after his pocket jacks were called by an A-K and an ace hit the board. He earned $27,469.

Day two chip leader Amir Levahot of Weston busted out in 226th after he bet his 364,000 stack with K-J and ran into pocket aces. He took home $32,963.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Looks like Steven Feren, the Broward circuit court judge, met his goal.

He finished in the money at the World Series of Poker . He came in 472nd, earning $25,027.
As I posted below, he won the seat in a charity event, then made it through Friday and into Saturday before being eliminated.

"I'm very happy," said Feren this afternoon, from the Los Angeles airport. He's returning to work Monday. "This is something I have wanted to do for a long time."

Feren entered Saturday play in 633rd place; 648 of the remaining 789 would cash.

"I tried to conserve my chips, and I just kept my ahead above water," he said. "Meanwhile, it seemed like someone was dropping every 45 seconds."

He'll give $2,500 to the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood, he said. He won the seat -- which normally costs $10,000 -- in a Boys and Girls Club charity event in spring 2008, when he was mayor of Sunrise. He then deferred playing in the 2008 WSOP because he was busy running for judge.

Meanwhile, other Broward-Palm players still alive as of Sunday's start are:

Kevin Schaffel, Coral Springs, in 17th, with 1.2 million chips;
Amir Lehavot, Weston, in 169th, with 472,000;
Ryan Fair, Fort Lauderdale, 250th, 307,000;
Matthew Waxman, Parkland, 286th, 252,000.

They're kind of getting shorted in my print story for Sunday (sorry, guys!) but I'll write a new update them on Monday morning.

Also cashing:
507th: Kenneth Weiner, Wellington, who won $23,196;
552nd: Terry McKerchie, Davie, $23,196;
571st: Kyle Brown, Fort Lauderdale, $23,196

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Broward Circuit Court judge Steven Feren is one day closer to meeting his goal at the World Series of Poker.

He sits in 633rd place after play ended late Friday night, Vegas time. The top 648 finishers get paid.

There are 789 players left in the tournament, which started with more than 6,000 players. Feren entered Friday's field of 2,044 remaining in the top one-third, and apparently has hung on. (It's real early out there, so no way I'm calling him, and I'm going to be away from the computer until tomorrow.)

Feren has 104,500 chips, down from the 108,000 he started with. (See post below for full story.)

Meanwhile, Amir Lehavot of Weston, who entered Friday as the chip leader, slipped but is still in good shape. He's in 128th, with 387,000 chips.

The new South Florida leader is Kevin Schaffel of Coral Springs, with 649,000 chips. He's in 24th place.

Play will likely tighten up today as players on the bubble of making the money will throw away marginal hands, hoping those around them get knocked out. Play slows down so much that as the "bubble" approaches, they play only one table at a time, to cut out the stalling.

More info at www.WorldSeriesOfPoker.com.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Ante Up Magazine took the time to troll through all the results, and has them. (I'd like to have done it, but in this case, I'll just thank them and move on to the next story.)

In addition to Amir Lehavot from Weston, the chip leader, two other South Floridians are in the top 100: Kevin Schaffel of Coral Springs at No. 40; and Matthew Waxman of Parkland at No. 72.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

The World Series of Poker — the one you see on ESPN — makes stars out of people who play their cards right.

If his luck holds up, you might be seeing Broward Circuit Court judge Steven Feren.

He has done quite well so far.

Feren will sit down at the World Series main event’s third round today in the top one-third (No. 667) of the 2,044 surviving players.

Starting field: 6,494.

“I’m thrilled,” said Feren, who was a Sunrise mayor for 12 years before become a judge this year. (He also was a commissioner and state legislator.) “So many great pros are out and I’m still here.”

Feren, who is burning his vacation time, didn’t tell many people he was going to Las Vegas. He didn’t want to open his mouth, then get sent home early.

A main event entry costs $10,000, but Feren is playing on house money: He won a seat in a charity event.

“I’d never spend $10,000 of my own money to play,” he said.

Feren made news earlier this year when he asked the city to bump the $200-a-month health insurance check for retiring city leaders up to $350 a month, to match what the city’s general employees get. He makes $145,080 as a circuit court judge.

He won the seat in a Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County charity tournament in spring 2008. But he was busy running for circuit judge, so he deferred until this year.

Feren’s goal today is to finish in the money. That’ll be the top 648, and pay at least $20,000.
“To be in the poker records for all time, to me that would mean something,” he said.

If he cashes, he’ll give a portion to the Boys and Girls Club — after he clears the unexpected expenses of staying in Las Vegas longer.

“I really didn’t expect to make Day 3,” he said.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

By Tom Jicha

Calder’s Summit of Speed has lost one of its Eclipse champions and a Hall of Fame jockey.

Trainer Bob Baffert told the Daily Racing Form that he is not sending champion female sprinter Indian Blessing to the Grade 1 Princess Rooney on Saturday because he fears a positive post-race drug test.

Indian Blessing had a hind leg infection after her last race. Baffert told the DRF he treated the ailment with penicillin, which contains procaine, a prohibited drug for racing. Baffert said Indian Blessing is doing fine but his vet warned it is possible the medication has not fully cleared her system and might cause a positive drug test. This could result in loss of purse and a suspension for Baffert.

Baffert, who will be inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame next month, will still have starters in two under card stakes, Wall Street Wonder in the Grade 2 Carry Back and Underground in the Grade 3 Azalea.

However, with Indian Blessing not making the trip, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who was scheduled to ride Baffert’s runners, decided to stay home in California, too. Baffert did not immediately name replacement riders.

The Summit of Speed offers seven stakes, four graded, all at sprint distances.
Champion male sprinter Benny the Bull is scheduled to race in the Grade 2 Smile Stakes, which he won last year.

The full story is at the Daily Racing Form (www.drf.com), which requires registration.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

A Weston man is the overall chip leader after two days of play in the World Series of Poker Main Event.

Amir Lehavot, 34, finished Day Two in Las Vegas late Wednesday night with 610,500 chips, tops among the 2,044 remaining players.

Lehavot was born in Israel and arrived in the United States at age 16. Before playing poker for a living, Lehavot worked as an engineer, specializing in design, he told WSOP officials. He lived in San Francisco before moving to Weston, and has the online poker handle of AmirSF.

The World Series of Poker is poker's most popular event, and ESPN tapes the play, edits it down and shows the action the rest of the year.

Lehavot recently started a poker website (with strategy content) at www.pokerwit.com. The site contains Lehavot’s comments about key hands he played at various times during the WSOP.

"It feels great. But I have played in a lot of tournaments and I know. There is a long way to go and it does not necessarily mean that much (to be chip leader) at this point. It's nice, but there is still a long way to go," he said on the site.

Lehavot has survived the opening days in two prior WSOPs, but failed to cash. He says his goal goes beyond cashing, and you can't blame him: First prize is $8.5 million.

"If I cash, it is really not life-changing for me," he said. "I am looking to go deep."

To get the whole field seated, "Day One" consisted of four separate days, each lasting about 12 hours; "Day Two" was held Tuesday and Wednesday, also for about 12 hours.
The players are off today and resume Friday.

Players started with 30,000 in chips, and Lehavot was down to 7,000 on Day One, before catching a card on the river when he was beaten to stay alive -- a "suck-out" in poker lingo.

He wasn't the chip leader most of Day Two, but 30 minutes before it ended, "I had a huge hand," he said, and gained 250,000 when he was dealt a pair of threes and then one came up on the flop.

"Most of my chips came from that one pot," he said.

Note: I did a quick Sun-Sentinel archive search and got nothing, and a Google showed a couple of minor cashes, and that he has patented two things. So, again, I'm at the mercy of the South Florida poker world: Anybody know him?

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

When the Firecracker Millionaire game rolls around next year, and if you live in Palm Beach County, you should think about playing it.

It certainly has been lucky.

A second winner -- of only seven in the state -- surfaced Wednesday to claim a $1 million prize. He's Ernest Vasiliou, 50, of Lake Worth.

Vasiliou purchased his winning ticket at Publix, located at 5970 S. Jog Road in Lake Worth, the Lottery said.

I wrote earlier this week about Kristen Gallant, 35, of Greenacres, who was among three $1 million winners to come forward late Monday afternoon.

Rather than try to match numbers, the Lottery guaranteed seven $1 million winners on July 4. It's the state's fifth annual millionaire raffle.

The two others announced were James Kenneth Bush, 50, of South Daytona, and Stephen Quinley, 35, of Jacksonville.

In the regular Florida Lottery, some weeks might yield a winner, and some might not. But in a raffle, winners are guaranteed.

A limited number (750,000) of tickets, at $20 each, were sold to make the prize pool. The odds of winning $1 million were 1-in-107,143. The game also was set up to have nine $50,000 winners, 11 $5,000 winners and 1,000 players with $500.

The winners announced Wednesday also included Peggy Socha, 57, of Largo and Kenny Ferrer, 33, of Deltona. There's still one unclaimed ticket, sold on U.S. 19 in the town of Holiday.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

As a servant to the public -- meaning I try to report things that make your life better -- I feel it is my duty to break this news: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is now online with Facebook and Twitter, according to a casino news release.

The casino says its Facebook Fan Page (www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com/facebook) gives fans "the direct scoop on concert and sporting event on-sale dates, celebrity appearances and more." Also "the site features exclusive photos and video footage from a variety of events at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hard Rock Live and Seminole Paradise clubs, restaurants and special events."

Examples: visits from Kim Kardashian, Motley Crue, Juan Luis Guerra, Pamela Anderson, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez. There's also a lineup of all Hard Rock Live concerts and events plus view rare footage from additional special engagements.

And current casino promotions for Seminole Players Club members and last-minute hotel room deals.

Seminole Hard Rock’s Twitter feed is at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com/twitter. They'll tweet out casino, poker, food and drink specials, last-minute hotel deals and of-the-minute happenings on the casino floor, they say. (The bad news, if you're like me, is you follow 300 people, and the Tweets get overwhelming. Gotta learn to filter.)

They also have RSS feeds at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com and www.hardrocklivehollywoodfl.com.

Now, all that is well and good. It's clearly great marketing -- the idea is to reach people via the media they are most comfortable with.

But I'd suggest because I see the world through a journalist's eye (and hopefully that of an everyday South Floridian) you also bookmark Sun-Sentinel.com/action and diligently read me. One click a day, say during your lunch time, and you're covered.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

The unofficial home for low-limit poker is South Florida is undergoing changes.

“We’re gearing ourselves more toward no-limit players,” Mardi Gras Gaming’s Wil Herrera said.

Among the incentives: a $500 bonus for the highest hand at 6 p.m. weekdays in the casino’s no-limit poker games. And high hand promotions from 10 a.m. to midnight every day, with the prizes doubled if they hand comes during a no-limit game.

Located near a handful of high-rise condominums in Hallandale Beach, Mardi Gras continued to draw patrons interested in playing poker that required as little as a $1 bet, even after the state raised the stakes in July 2007.

Herrera, who took over as senior director of poker operations at Mardi Gras this spring, said he is trying to change the clientele to improve the casino’s revenue. (The house rakes in a percentage of each hand played.)

A first attempt – 18 tournaments with buy-ins of under $50 and a $145 tournament at 11:30 a.m. on Sundays – debuted April 13, but didn’t draw interest. Herrera said he has modified the tournaments, making them deeper-stack events.

Attracting more no-limit players is difficult because neighbors Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Gulfstream Casino & Racing and even Dania Jai-Alai already have pieces of that pie, he said.

That’s where the $500 promotion comes in.

“I figure if players are going to play no-limit in one place or another, they might as well do it where they can win another $500,” he said.

He also has adjusted the options for limit players. After briefly discontinuing the least-expensive poker game available – which had a maximum bet of $2 – the casino now offers it if there is player interest. There are also $25 and $50 one-table winner-take-all tournaments for lower-stakes players, and a “$2-$5 spread” limit game, meaning players can bet $2, $3, $4 or $5, which has fared well.

“You have much more flexibility and control because what you bet can either entice players to call or push them out,” he said.

Overall, the action has swung from being mostly low-limit to slightly more no-limit, he said.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is having a “Royal Flush Game Show” giveaway this month, 2-8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.

Cash prizes are up to $10,000 per day. Player's Club members get an additional entry for each 50 points earned. The grand finale will be held on July 23, 24 and 25 for a cash prize of up to $1 million (paid in an annuity).

Meanwhile, the “Hot Seat Guitar Spin Giveaway” is back with a chance to win $10,000 per day on Mondays (6, 13 & 20). Participants with their Players Club card properly inserted into a slot at the time of the drawing will be eligible. Five slot machine locations will be selected from the floor at random between 4 and 9 p.m. Each participant gets an opportunity to spin the Guitar Wheel to win cash ranging from $250 to $10,000.

A Lexus IS250C Hardtop Convertible is the prize on at 5 p.m. Sundays and 9 p.m. Tuesdays.

Hourly drawings for cash prizes are from 1 – 4 p.m. and Tuesdays (7, 21 & 28) and 5-8 p.m. Sundays.

There also is the “$50,000 Wall of Winning,” noon to 9 p.m. July 27-31. One player per hour will have a chance to win from $250 to $5,000 in cash. For a chance to win to $10,000, daily, swipe your Player’s Card daily for an electronic entry from 5 a.m. – 8:45 p.m. Then, virtual drawings will be held throughout the casino to select players who will choose from one of 50 panels on a cash board. Players have three minutes to claim their prize.

On Wednesdays (1, 8, 15 & 22), Friday (24), Saturday (18) and Sunday (12) is the “$70,000 Free Play Giveaway.” Ten winners will each receive $1,000 in free play at a grand prize drawing to be held at 10 p.m. on each day.

Player’s Club members 55 and over are eligible to join the “Classic Rockers” and participate in the “Classic Rockers Giveaway” on Tuesdays (7, 14 & 21) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to win part of $2,750 in cash and free play. Swipe your Player’s Card daily for electronic entries and get an additional entry for each 50 points earned. Virtual drawings will be held throughout the casino for five participants who will draw from five envelopes containing first place of $250 cash; second place of $100 free play; third place of $75 free play; fourth place of $50 free play and fifth place of $25 free play.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Kristen Gallant, 35, of Greenacres was among three $1 million winners to come forward late Monday afternoon.

The game was called the Firecracker Millionaire Raffle. Rather than try to match numbers, the Lottery guaranteed seven $1 million winners on July 4. It's the state's fifth annual millionaire raffle.

Gallant, who frequently plays Florida Lottery games, said she usually doesn’t check her tickets right away to see if she is winner, but this time she had a lucky feeling, she told Lottery officials.

“I had to look twice at the computer screen, I just couldn’t believe it,” Gallant said in the Lottery's release. She purchased her raffle ticket at Shell Gas Station, located at 5050 Lake Worth Road in Greenacres.

The two others announced were James Kenneth Bush, 50, of South Daytona, and Stephen Quinley, 35, of Jacksonville.

In the regular Florida Lottery, some weeks might yield a winner, and some might not. But in a raffle, winners are guaranteed.

A limited number (750,000) of tickets, at $20 each, were sold to make the prize pool. The odds of winning $1 million were 1-in-107,143. The game also was set up to have nine $50,000 winners, 11 $5,000 winners and 1,000 players with $500.

For more information about the promotion or the Florida Lottery, visit www.flalottery.com.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

11-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth made another grand entrance into the Main Event at the World Series of Poker.

Last year, Hellmuth came adorned as General George S. Patton, rolling into the Rio parking lot atop an army tank. This year, the “Poker Brat” was carted into the Rio while sprawled out across a special platform carried by several centurions, according to the WSOP's Nolan Dalla.

Hellmuth, decked out as Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, made his way into the Rio as flocks of scantily-clad “servants” threw rose petals on the ground. When Hellmuth finally assumed his throne on the ESPN stage, hundreds of poker fans engulfed the area. Then he gave this interview with WSOP media:

Question: Last year it was Patton. This year, it’s Caesar. Why Caesar?

Hellmuth: We are just having as much fun as we can have. Caesar was one of the ideas on our list. We actually talked about me being a gladiator or Caesar, and even Uncle Sam was an idea we wanted to do. We just decided on Caesar. You know that Caesar is going to be the main theme at WSOP-Europe. When you do Caesar, you want to do him big and you want to do him right.

Question: How did you think things went today – with your grand entrance on the red carpet? And how many girls were with you?

Hellmuth: I thought it went great. They hired a hundred models is what I heard. And, having the girls with the body paint is just really fun. I mean, c’mon, how often do you see girls with just body paint on?

Question: What do you think about when you see hundreds of fans, with cameras and lights following your every move?

Hellmuth: Part of it is adoration. Part of it is curiosity. And some people still don’t like me. So, there is surely a mixture of people that are out there. If you are too into the fans and adoration and the world thinking you are the greatest, then you do not perform well. So, being in character as Caesar is just fun. When I shot a television commercial and dressed up in this, I got so into character, I really thought I was Caesar. They have me lying there, with girls all over me and rose petals and food all over the table. Caesar is just such a unique individual. Here we are talking about him over 2,000 years later.

Question: Are they going to be talking about Phil Hellmuth 2,000 years from now?

Hellmuth: I don’t think so. Maybe a hundred years from now, yes. I need to put some more records up. The more records you put up, the longer they talk about you.

Question: Do you think this entrance was about fame or infamy?

Hellmuth: Both. It’s both. I think the majority of the world thinks this is pretty cool and fun. But there are some that say that it’s not right, the Phil Hellmuth is too self-promoting. But I think this is great for the sport of poker. It’s great for the World Series of Poker. And, it’s great for me.

Question: Phil, you played extraordinarily well last year. But you busted out in disappointing fashion. What are your expectations for this year?

Hellmuth: I happen to be playing the best poker of my life. Right now. Today. I might make the final table. I don’t care what the mathematicians say. The field is too big, or whatever. I might make the final table. When I make this entrance, it really gets to me. But when I sit down, it’s a different game. I have to be Phil Hellmuth and I have to win.

Question: So, will Phil Hellmuth’s grand entrance at the WSOP be a recurring spectacle every year from now on?

Hellmuth: Absolutely. Next year, my plan is to be Gambit (a fictional character from X-Men). If not Gambit, we will come up with something else. Maybe it will be Uncle Sam. We’ll see.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Bobby Huff of Hallandale Beach was declared the winner of the Dan Le Batard Celebrity Poker Tournament recently at Dania Jai-Alai. The Wednesday night multi table Texas Hold’em tournament drew 230 players paying $50 to enter.

Ten players remained as midnight approached, and they agreed to “chop” the pot equally. Each player took home $790. Since Huff was the chip leader, he was awarded the tournament trophy. (I wasn't there, but I heard a certain Metro columnist also was in on the chop; not sure if Mayo would mind me mentioning him here, so I'll think about it.)

Dania Jai-Alai features the Dan Le Batard Celebrity Poker Tournament each month, usually on a Wednesday, promoted on 790 The Ticket.

Dania Jai-Alai’s Cardroom is open Sundays through Thursdays from noon to midnight, Friday and Saturdays from noon to 2 a.m. The fronton is located at 301 E. Dania Beach Blvd in Dania Beach.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

There's nothing better than a Saturday July 4 holiday for casinos. That's because July 4 is usually a family night, everyone together watching fireworks. So some casinos can put events on July 3 -- and adults can justify sneaking away from the kids.

I wrote earlier about Seminole Coconut Creek Casino and Dania Jai-Alai, but here are some other promotions for the July 3-4 weekend. The gist: Two casinos are doing fireworks on the third, and one on the fourth.

Gulfstream Park offers a July 3 fireworks display, a $17.76 All-American buffet; live music and will give away three Jeeps.

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has a fireworks display at 9 p.m. Friday, as well as a laser show, strolling musicians and a DJ at Center Fountain. The casino will give away $1,776 every hour from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, then have $20,000 grand prize drawings at 7 p.m. each day. The poker room will have an Independence Day tournament at 11 a.m. Saturday. Entry is $575.

Mardi Gras will have fireworks at 9 p.m. Saturday and give away a 2010 Camaro at 10:30 p.m. Saturday. The casino also will have other giveaways and a barbecue.

Isle Casino and Racing will have an "Early Bird Sweepstakes" on Saturday, giving away $100 to 20 people starting at 11 a.m., then conduct a grand prize drawing of $500. The casino also will give away July 4 tote bags and offer up to five times its normal Players' Club points.

Seminole Classic casino in Hollywood will give away up to $500 in free play every 20 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday. If a patron is not present to collect the prize, it rolls into the next giveaway.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

If you a.) like hot dogs or b.) get rained out from fireworks on July 4, then Dania Jai-Alai has a feasible option.

The fronton is conducting a hot-dog eating contest, at about 8 p.m. on Saturday.

It works like this:

The fronton is taking 12 to 20 contests to eat hot dogs (and buns) for six minutes.

"Most of these contests go 20 minutes but we figure six minutes is enough," says Lou Berdellans, promotions and events coordinator at the fronton. The person who eats the most gets $250; second prize pays $100.

Berdellans has a couple of contestants lined up, but will put you up for the title if you bring at least 10 friends, he said.

"I want people who have cheering sections," he said. The event will be held when whatever jai-alai game going on at 8 p.m. ends. There will be two paramedics on duty, he notes.

Meanwhile, he also has some Dania-style giveaways to just anyone who walks in: TNT fireworks from the store down the road; two kitchen sink sundaes from Jaxson's; gift certificates to Grandpa's restaurant; four $25 gift cards and jai-alai memorabilia.

The fronton also will draw names to try to hit the jai-alai wall with a serve. Do it and you get $100. If you go to the sports card and memorabilia show from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, you get an extra drawing entry for every $20 you spend.

For info, call 954-927-2841 or email jaialou@betdania.com.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0) | Share: