John Colville, Director of Poker for the Golden Nugget, reports the signing of a contract with Poker Player Newspaper to sponsor a new annual tournament— the 2012 Poker Player of the Year. The event will be held on July 4th, Independence Day, at the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas, as part of their Grand Poker Series. The total Buy-in and Entry fee is to be $600, with no re-buys. Seating is limited to 700 players, so early sign-ups to guarantee your seat are recommended. The event is scheduled just before the main event of the WSOP begins, so a large number of poker tournament players will be in town.

By Barbara Rogers
 
The Deepstacks Poker Tour and the Western New York Poker Championship will play out from February 14 through 19 at the actionpacked Seneca Niagara, in Niagara Falls, NY. Hosted by Seneca Gaming and Entertainment this series promises to be a big winner as part of the Deepstacks Poker Tour, and will be the first ever televised event in Western New York.
 
After Seneca Allegheny had to turn people away because of its popularity on New Year’s Eve, poker room boss John Wood decided the couples-only tournament should be offered on Tuesday, February 14 at you and your valentine for $100+$25+$10 with $1000 will be added to the prize pool.
 

by Ashley Adams
 
Read Part 1 and Part 2
 
On Wednesday, my friend Andrei and I left the magnificent 65 table Winstar Casino poker room in southern Oklahoma ready to head back toward Kansas City, but wanting to play some more poker before our Friday morning flight. By Wednesday afternoon we had arrived at the major poker room in the Oklahoma City area—the beautiful, 24 table, Riverwind Casino (1544 W State Highway 9, 405.322.6000) just south of Oklahoma City in Norman.

by Ashley Adams
 
In my first part of this three part series I covered the journey with my friend Andrei to poker rooms in eastern Kansas. I continue my account in this second part with our Oklahoma poker adventures.

 Oklahoma is full of poker rooms—including some of the largest and best in the United States.

by Ashley Adams

I have my biases against the Plains States of Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. I’ve been conditioned with movies like The Wizard of Oz to think of this part of the United States as flat, gray, and … well, boring. Even so, the large number of poker rooms begged for a visit. So my friend Andrei and I set out for six days of exploration.

I’m happy to report that in just about all respects my biases were ill-founded and flat out wrong. Eastern Kansas, western Missouri, and northeastern Oklahoma are filled with rolling hills and scenic beauty. And the poker is at least as exciting in these states as anywhere else I’ve played. There is variety, action, and a lot of money to be won. I’ll spend the next three articles writing about my experiences.

Get in on the Poker Action at Sandia! The Play with the Big Dogs tournament is scheduled for January 21, 2012. The buy-in is $150, players start with a 10,000 stack, and Sandia is adding an additional $2,500 to the prize pool. The tournament starts with 30 min levels which will change to 40 minute levels during final table play. Players can win their seat through $35 one table satellites with first and second place finishers winning a seat.

by Ashley Adams

Part I of this article covered my trip to the Colorado town of Black Hawk and its five poker rooms. [Read Poker in Colorado, PART 1 OF 2 now] My trip continues with the adventure in Central City and Cripple Creek, Colorado.

 Central City is only about two miles northwest of Black Hawk. It was also a mining town back in the 19th century. But unlike Black Hawk, which now has little in it but large casinos, Central City has preserved much of its mining town character. The casinos are smaller— and they are interspersed with other small store fronts.

by Barbara Rogers

The poker room boss at Connecticut’s famed Mohegan Sun must love it because he has devoted his entire career to the Mohegan Sun organization. Although not quite a year into his new position as poker room manager, Ricky Landry brings a wealth of knowledge and more than twenty years experience to our game.

by Ashley Adams
 
When you think of great poker destinations in the United States you probably don’t think of Colorado. But you should. I’ve just gotten back from a trip there. It was filled with poker. Let me share with you what I experienced.

by Debbie Burkhead

 Play 25 hours of live poker at the Palms to qualify for their $20,000 freeroll. Pro Football Cash Bash & Squares: Play poker, watch football on Sunday and Monday for a chance to win up to $200 each time a team scores. Flirting with flushes: Make a flush in all four suits and win $400. For more information on poker at the Palms see their ad in this issue of Poker Player Newspaper.