Memorable Defunct Poker Rooms (Live And Online)

[David_Sklansky 1,903]

I guess I'm guilty of following the screenwriting rule of never worrying about spelling or grammar when writing. That can usually be fixed when proofreading. But I guess the grammar and spelling police will always be lurking online.

 

Maybe people in the industry don't read anything into the grammar and spelling of a screenwriter, but when you are trying to work outside the studio system and attract private investors like wealthy poker enthusiasts, you probably want to make sure all your ducks are in a row so you don't look unprofessional and queer someone off who doesn't know any better. McGee might not be a prescriptivist, but Paul Philips sure is...all it takes sometimes is a simple "to"/"too"/"two" mixup to land yourself in the reject pile when it comes to eccentric intellectuals.

[Spademan 94]

Poker. Stars.

[Spademan 94]

Also, based upon this thread and the fact that someone has failed as a writer, I have decided to become a writer.

 

Just like that.

 

And I'll be successful after having decided to take it up on a lark, because of course I will.

 

So funny.

 

Sorry, guy who probably worked at it for a long time.

[Vegas Knights 54]

deleted

[Vegas Knights 54]

...Sorry, guy who probably worked at (script) for a long time.

Don't be sorry for me, be sorry for those in the poker community who might never get to see a poker themed movie made from a 3x honored script. Also, be sorry for those who have been waiting for "Rounders 2" for 18 years. If Rounders 2 can't get made even after Rounders 1 made 70 million from DVD sales, And it can't get made even with Matt Damon and Harvey Weinstein saying they want to make it, then the odds aren't good with my script--- even with 3 honors. That's why it's probably going to take a very wealthy poker enthusiast like an Andy Beal, Guy Laliberte, Toby Maguire, or Jennifer Tilly to make it happen. If people like that aren't interested then I guess we'll have to keep waiting for Rounders 2 and hope the plot doesn't have MIke McDermott entering the WSOP Senior tournament to pay for Worm's nursing home bills. You might laugh but right now Matt Damon is 5 years away from being eligible for the WSOP Senior tourney.

[CobaltBlue 662]

I liked Crazy Pineapple on Paradise Poker.

[Vegas Knights 54]

I also liked the defunct Gold Coast poker room. The Gold Coast is a meat and potatoes type casino---nothing fancy, just a no nonsense gaming establishment. Their poker room was a simple, relatively quiet place with good daily tournaments. Also had close free parking. I once played at a table there against former world champion Bill Smith. He's deceased now, and was one of the few pros who drank alcohol while playing (even at the main event). He liked to play in their tournaments back in the days when few knew what they were doing in tournaments.

 

TJ Cloutier (paraphrasing) said Bill Smith, after drinking 2 beers, was the best player he ever played against; and was the worst, after drinking 4. TJ said when Smith had that little hop in his step (like when walking to the restroom) TJ knew he was gone.

 

Here's an interesting article on Smith:

 

https://www.pokernews.com/news/2016/01/turning-point-showdown-bill-smith-23861.htm

[Vegas Knights 54]

Another defunct room was the Las Vegas Circus Circus room. Back in the 80's it was the only room in Vegas where a checkraise was not allowed. Actually that created some interesting strategy. You could be super aggressive in late position without worrying about being checkraised. You were also more likely to induce bluffs (from your early position) by simply checking and calling with a decent hand.

 

I also remember that room because it was the only room where I ever hit a royal flush. Lol they gave you an official looking certificate back then that said something like on this day you did officially wit a Royal Flush at Circus Circus.

[Vegas Knights 54]

The Plaza Hotel poker room closed in March of this year. It was the only room in Vegas that had digital poker tables (which I actually like). The Plaza Hotel (formerly the Union Plaza) had low buy-in poker tournaments back in the 80's. I read somewhere that the Union Plaza tournaments was where Johnny Chan honed his tournament playing skills before his two consecutive WSOP wins.

[Vegas Knights 54]

We've talked about some memorable defunct poker rooms. Here's my list of un-memorable defunct poker rooms. I only bring these rooms up because they might never be mentioned again on the internet for eternity and thus this post is some written history that there was a time when these rooms did exist. Btw, most of these rooms disappeared for reasons other than the recent downturn in poker (e.g. the hotel was sold, torn down, etc.)

 

Continental hotel poker room.

Paddlewheel hotel poker room

Frontier hotel poker room (although might be memorable to some)

Silver Slipper poker room

Castaways poker room

Tropicana hotel poker room (might still be in existence but didn't feel like looking up)

Showboat hotel poker room

Dunes hotel poker room (this room is probably memorable to others but I only played in it once)

Imperial Palace poker room

4 Queens poker room

Fremont hotel poker room

[BigDMcGee 3,352]

You are a truly prolific railbird

[Vegas Knights 54]

You are a truly prolific railbird

Wrong, I was playing against world champions like Tom McEvoy and Bill Smith when you were probably still in diapers.

[BigDMcGee 3,352]

Sick, sick brag.

[SuitedAces21 2,722]

jokes on you, McGee wears diapers to this day. for fun!

[Vegas Knights 54]

Anybody have any stories about the Taj Mahal poker room (home of the famous Johnny Chan scene in the successful poker movie Rounders)? The Taj closed yesterday, while in the midst of a labor strike.

 

http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/9b49f5ff466b4ce3b2588995eec3ad68/shuffled-once-destination-taj-mahal-poker-room-folds