Home / Casinos
Casinos
Published: Thursday, May 29, 2008
Trump Plaza debuts automated poker, low-limit blackjack

If you love playing poker but don't like to deal with people and their sometimes intimidating personalities, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino thinks it has the answer with PokerPro.

The casino debuted 12 automated, 10-seat computer-driven poker games on Memorial Day weekend along with 11 low-limit ($5 and $10) blackjack tables in its recently renovated East Tower, which also saw the return of its popular poker bar that now includes new embedded video poker games as well as lounges and food and drink service. The room will also soon feature a Big 6 wheel.

But the big news is the automated poker tables. PokerPro, which has seen great success in other markets, including Illinois, Connecticut and Canada, finally gives the Plaza the ability to offer poker, an amenity its players were clamoring for.

The tables debuted and are still in demo mode since they are pending Casino Control Commission approval. Interested players can currently use the machines to get used to them and try them out for free.

"The beauty of the automation is that we can go ahead and operate tournaments around the clock," says General Manager Jim Rigot. "There are no concerns regarding staff. It is also error free. There is no worrying about pushing pots to the wrong customers. In the case of split pots, the computer instantaneously rewards the pots to the respective winners. There's no threat of a card being taken out of the game. It's just an all-around winner."

Most players will also enjoy the fact that there will be 40 percent more hands played per hour as well as a maximum $3 rake, which is a $1 less than most other casinos in town.

The PokerPro machines come in 10-seat and head-to-head format. Currently, the casino is only offering Texas Hold 'Em, but the poker room manager can easily offer other poker games, including Omaha. In addition to the 12 10-seat tables, there are two head-to head tables.

"This is the first time PokerPro is being offered in a major gaming jurisdiction," Rigot says. "No one else has it in town, and Vegas is just introducing it next month. During our demo run, people are really gravitating toward it. Because of business model, we will also have the advantage of offering $1 and $2 games in the city, which no one else does. So it will have its advantages."

Players interested in playing at the PokerPro tables will need to first have a free Trump One card. Then, they will be given a PokerPro account on their Trump One card. Once the account is established, players can use their Trump One card like a debit card, placing money on it through the cashier located in the East Tower.

"There is no bill changer or ticketing," says Vice President of Casino Operations Dave Polizzi. "You will have a pin number for security. Once you put money on the card, you insert it into the machine, validate the card with your pin number and the withdraw the funds from the card to the machine. Your winnings get put right on the card, and at the end of play, you can keep the money on the card or draw some or all of it out."

Rigot says PokerPro fills a void at Trump Plaza.

"We aren't foolish enough to think that everyone will love this and won't want to play in the live environment," Rigot says. "But for people who like to play on the Internet, it's the next logical step. Even avid poker players were loving it last weekend. You learn how it works in seconds, and it's a lot of fun. It's a whole new amenity. If there were four people getting in a car from Philadelphia or New York or wherever, and three of them were slot players and one wanted to play poker, they weren't coming to Trump Plaza. Now they can come here.

The nonsmoking East Tower's renovation also included new carpeting, two lounge areas where players can wait comfortably for spots at the PokerPro tables, additional foliage, plasma televisions and more. And the poker bar's new menu offers everything from sandwiches to burgers to appetizers to seafood.

"Poker players love the convenience of food and drinks and bathrooms and a place to watch the games all in one location, and we now provide that," Rigot says. "We really concentrated on offering everything a poker player wants. And we think we have it."

Rigot says he hopes the PokerPro tables will receive CCC approval by mid-June.

Celebrity sightings

R&B legend Patti LaBelle celebrated her 64th birthday last weekend at the House of Blues' Foundation Room at Showboat. Guests included Teddy Pendergrass, Natalie Cole, Deborah Gibson and Sarah Dash, who was a member of LaBelle's original group. Cole sang "Unforgettable" a capella, and the shy Dash reluctantly sang "Happy Birthday"

LaBelle also made a big fuss over gossip columnist and frequent VH1 guest Michael Musto when she saw him at Showboat. She even started dancing with him when she heard a popular Beyonce tune.

LaBelle also hit The Pool at Harrah's on Saturday night, where Gibson also made an appearance.

By the way, I was told that Jerry Seinfeld, who performed two shows at Caesars Atlantic City on Saturday night, didn't leave town before getting a delivery of White House subs and Tastykakes.

Courtyard Marriott opens in A.C.

If you like to stay in Atlantic City and are looking for an alternative to the casinos, Courtyard by Marriott recently opened, the first new non-casino hotel to open in the city since 1996. The hotel is located at South Carolina and Pacific avenues in the former Quality Inn location.

The Courtyard went through a massive renovation. The 100 percent nonsmoking property features 206 deluxe guest rooms and suites, each with flat-screen LCD/HD televisions, free HBO, a refrigerator, free Internet access, alarm clock with iPod docks, and Marriott's exclusive "revive" bedding.

For conventions and meetings, an executive Board Room seats 12, and the Shore Room hospitality facility accommodates up to 30 people.

The new lobby boasts a floor-to-ceiling fireplace, crystal chandeliers, and other amenities include a business center with Internet access, a lobby bar, complimentary fitness center with whirpool, laundry facilities, and the Courtyard Caf, which offers the "Bountiful Breakfast" daily.

For reservations, call 866-456-7853 or go to www.courtyardac.com.

Race car

at The Walk

If you're a NASCAR fan, take a break from the casinos and stop by The Walk on Saturday, May 31, where the No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion will be on display from noon to 6 p.m. in front of the Nike Factory Store between Arctic and Atlantic avenues. Fans will be able to have their picture taken with the car.

Morton's contest

Morton's The Steakhouse is searching for "The Best Recipe Anywhere" from its guests, aspiring chefs and anyone who shares Morton's passion for food.

The steakhouse, located inside Caesars, will award the best recipe winner inclusion into Morton's second cookbook and an all-expense paid trip for two to Chicago and a special dinner at the original Morton's steakhouse. To submit a recipe, go to

www.morton's.com/recipecontest.

Promo Power

The Tropicana is currently featuring its "Ultimate Summer Vacation Cash Sweepstakes. Players can accumulate entries on their Diamond Club cards by playing slots and table games through June 21. On June 22, the Trop will award $50,000 in cvash prize sin hourly drawings from noon to 5 p.m. At 6 p.m., one winner will take home the $100,000 grand prize.

Calendar