Travel Agent - June 23, 2008 - (Page TA-36) DESTINATIONS LAS VEGAS Steve Wynn’s passion for poker shines through in his poker rooms POKER REIGNS In Las Vegas Texas Holds ‘em in Nevada BY GLENN HAUSSMAN IN LAS VEGAS, POKER IS ONE OF the most favored games on the casino floor. Its popularity is indelible, having seemingly forever altered the way people think about casinos. It’s also the only casino game where top players have transcended the game to become the equivalent of rock stars. Players like Doyle “Texas” Brunson, Phil Hellmuth and Chris “Jesus” Ferguson have become household names. And the payoff for poker can also be immense for those at the top end of the game. In 2006, the World Series of Poker awarded its highest-ever grand prize for its signature event. The $10,000 36 | TravelAgent June 23, 2008 no-limit Texas Hold’em paid an astounding $12 million to first-place winner Jamie Gold. Such a high payoff was due to two main reasons: poker’s stunning rise as a highly rated TV event and its growth through play on the Internet. Playing poker on the Internet for money is now illegal after Congress banned it this past year, but the trend lasted long enough that the game has become permanently entrenched in millions of lives. Many casinos on and around the Strip have a variety of games designed for all skill sets. “The exposure of poker on TV has grown the field by leaps and bounds, as has the exposure on the Internet,” says Deborah Giardina, director of poker operations with Wynn Las Vegas. “Since players don’t play any longer on the Internet, it’s pushing people into brick-and-mortar facilities.” Poker is also one of the most social games in town. Each table—which can sit eight to 10 people at peak times—is a natural setup for good-natured conversation. “People come to socialize with others and because they are playing against each other and not against the house, it makes it a better game,” says CONTINUED ON PAGE 38
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