Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown host Phil Gordon is preparing to defend his world poker title.
Gordon made a fortune by age 26 as a computer programmer, traveled the world, then turned to his passion -- becoming a professional poker player, the San Jose Mercury News reported Tuesday.
Five years ago, people would laugh at such a description. But today, Gordon hosts Bravo's third highest rated program and has become a celebrity in his own right. He is credited with a nationwide rise in the popularity of poker.
His Bravo show begins its new season Tuesday night and Gordon travels to San Jose Monday to defend his title in the World Poker Tour Shooting Star Tournament.
Gordon told the Mercury News the thought processes in computer programming and playing poker are the same.
It takes an analytical mind, Gordon told the newspaper. If you can apply an algorithm to figuring out the technology of your opponents, you're one step up.
In 2004, Table Mountain Casino Celebrated Over $4 Million in Payouts
FRESNO, Calif., March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Only three days apart, two Valley residents took home a combined total of $547,604 and a Harley Davidson Motorcycle. This is proof positive that Table Mountain Casino is the perfect place to take a "Lucky Break."
Guests need only travel 15-minutes outside of Fresno to enjoy 2,000 popular slot machines from five cents to $5 a play, as well as over two dozen table games including Blackjack, Texas Hold 'Em, Three-Card Poker, Let It Ride, Pai Gow and other favorites as well as bingo, award-winning dining and live entertainment.
Ireta Sims of Hanford sat down at a Harley Davidson machine for five minutes and hit the jackpot for a whopping $280,714.15 and a Harley Davidson Motorcycle.
"I honestly thought something was wrong with the machine. I couldn't believe it," said Sims. "I've been going to Table Mountain Casino for about two years now because I enjoy the atmosphere; they have good food and people are so nice and friendly. I usually play on the poker machines, but thought I would try out the Harley slots. I'm glad I did."
Isidra Hernandez of Fresno decided to take a super "Lucky Break" in front of her favorite machine Wheel of Fortune. After three or four hours of playing she thought she had won about $400, when she was informed that her total winnings were $266,889.24.
"I never thought I would experience something as big as this. I never dreamed that I would earn so much money," explained Hernandez. "This is truly a once in a lifetime experience I will cherish for the rest of my life."
While both guests are still trying to comprehend their wins, Hernandez plans to first take her family on vacation and then make a down payment on a new house and invest the rest of the money for the future of her children's college education.
These guests, like thousands of other Table Mountain Casino winners, have confirmed Table Mountain's reputation as the Central California casino with the most winners and the hottest 24/7 gaming action.
Since 2001, Table Mountain Casino has given away nearly $14 million in progressive jackpots alone.
Located on Friant Road just 15 minutes from Fresno, Table Mountain Casino is owned and operated by the Chukchansi-Mono Band of Indians. To learn more about Table Mountain Casino and the current promotions, visit www.tmcasino.com.
CONTACT: Jennifer Borba, +1-559-252-2500, or jennifer@thielenonline.com, for Table Mountain Casino
What do ESPN, department stores and Shuffle Master have in common? They are riding high on the popularity of poker – ESPN broadcasts poker tournaments, department stores devote floor space for at-home poker paraphernalia and Shuffle Master – maker of card shufflers – is an odds-on hot stock.
This year poker is everywhere. It is huge. It's played in neighborhood games, in local bars, online and on television.
Some people have said watching golf on TV is not as exciting as watching paint dry. So for a card game to take off and become a popular fixture on TV, there must be excitement and big bucks to be made.
Who is making them? ESPN for one.
ESPN spokeswoman Keri Potts argues watching poker is a lot more interesting than watching paint dry. ESPN broadcasts the World Series of Poker and has televised poker for 11 years.
What's the allure?
"There's lots of colorful people, great characters," Ms. Potts answered.
Viewers can relate to players who look like ordinary people and not elite athletes, and compete against the best in the world, she said.
Then there's the money. Greg Raymer, a patent attorney, not a professional card player, won $5 million and the world title last year. Chris Moneymaker, an accountant, was the 2003 champ and the winner of $2.5 million.
Unable to uncover hard data on profitability for the network, I then spoke with Gary Thompson, spokesman for Harrah's, ESPN's partner in WSP.
This year WSP will have a $50 million final event payout, Mr. Thompson said.
"There's not another single event on the planet where participants can make $50 million," he said.
Poker is popular because it is an American game, it's been around since cowboy days and, Mr. Thompson said, it has a romantic cachet.
Up until about five years ago, though, casinos were removing poker tables in favor of slot machines. Nine slot machines fit in the same floor space it takes to hold a poker table.
The average take from a single slot machine on the Strip in Las Vegas, Mr. Thompson said, is between $350 and $500 a day; the average payout is about $140.
Today, the poker tables are coming back.
But how do casinos make money on poker? In a casino poker game, the house takes a portion, or rake, from every pot.
A poker table, when in play, yields between $50 and $60 an hour. Dealers need to be paid a salary and medical benefits, and that raises the cost for the house.
But, the big payoff for the casinos is the amount of attention a poker tournament causes, and the thousands of non-players who come to watch – and spend money. In the early days of poker tournaments, the audience couldn't see much – except when a player raked in the pot or showed his hand when called.
It was a high-tech invention that revolutionized the game for television. The lipstick camera, inserted into the table next to each player, removed the paint-drying analogy from watching a poker match.
Now viewers can see cards players are holding – adding a tremendous amount of nuance to the game, Mr. Thompson said.
Cameras give viewers the inside scoop, Ms. Potts said. They're in the know, and everyone else at the table is in the dark.
Fame and fortune have lured many to the game. "Anyone can win," Mr. Thompson said. That's what may be fueling the poker phenomenon.
Participating in a national event gives players the opportunity to earn a life-changing amount of money.
Unlike professional poker players who can earn as much as $6 million a year, the average poker player doesn't need a lot of money to play. But to play with the big boys (and girls), players need to ante up $10,000 for the WSP event.
The poker tournament is a powerful lure, Mr. Thompson said, for those who want their 15 minutes of fame.
Fame's fine, but in the end, it's probably the money.
Bonnie Eksten is the business editor. She can be reached at 343-2329, or by e-mail, bonnie.eksten@starnewsonline.com
The Ongoing Debate Will be Settled ... The World's Finest Poker Players Call Each Other's Bluff's and Aim to Prove Who is the More Skilled Gender...Monday February 28, 6:00 am ET
SANTA MONICA, Calif., /PRNewswire/ -- The name calling has been done, sarcastic punches thrown, and the men have won every single previous match in the series -- it all comes down to the final table of six players in GSN's POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES where on Friday, March 4 at 9:00PM ET/PT one gender will prove once and for all who is better skilled at No Limit Texas Hold'Em. Will the men blitz the women, or can the ladies strut their stuff and walk away with the title of the stronger gender and a cash prize of $130,000?
The men took the $10,000 pot in all of the previous six episodes. Now based on their performance in those episodes, the top three point leaders for the men and women will face off for the championship. The players who earned those spots are Kathy Liebert, Evelyn Ng, Karina Jett, Antonio Esfandiari, Layne Flack and Amir Vahedi.
According to Liebert, "Men think women can't play poker! Well, they're going to discover that under-estimating women is a big mistake. The male ego is going to be their downfall." She continues, "These guys think women are easy to read but we women know how to deceive them and they will fall right into our web. The guys are going down."
Layne Flack says, "If poker relates to anything like it does in life, then I am sure the women will beat us down far enough to where they may pull into the lead once in a while."
POKER ROYALE: BATTLE OF THE SEXES is hosted by radio personality Tom Leykis, along with co-host Kennedy, and color commentator and poker pro, Robert Williamson III. The previous six episodes winners include: Amir Vahedi, Antonio Esfandiari, Layne Flack, Paul Wolfe, Amir Vahedi (again) and Greg Raymer.
GSN, the Network for Games, is the only U.S. television network dedicated to game-related programming and interactive game playing. The network features game shows, reality series, light sports, documentaries and casino games. GSN is the industry leader in interactivity and as such allows viewers a chance to win prizes by playing along with GSN's televised games via GSN.com. Reaching 56 million Nielsen homes, GSN is distributed in the U.S. through all major cable systems and satellite providers. The network is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation. For further media information, visit GSN's press website at corp.gsn.com.
February 28, 2005
