Joe DiGiacomo was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1940. He graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1958 and bummed around for two years before taking a position as a surveyor. In 1963 Joe joined the Army National Guard and spend one tour in Viet Nam before he left the Guard in 1976.
Joe went back to surveying after his discharge until his retirement in 1990. In 1964 he married Emily, a registered nurse at St. Rose Hospital. They have two children, a girl and a boy, and now have three grandchildren, a six-year old granddaughter, a five-year old grandson, a three-year old granddaughter and a grandson due next month. After Joe's retirement, he and his wife packed up and moved to Las Vegas. The move was Emily's idea even though she's not a gambler she loves the 24 hour life style and of course, the weather.
Joe took a job as a surveyor upon arriving in Las Vegas but that only lasted three months. He was forced to quit after the June, July and August heat of the desert. That experience led him to dealing school in late 1990. His introduction into the world of gaming came in 1991 as a poker dealer at the Primadonna in Primm, Nevada.
In 1995 Joe left the Primmadonna to deal poker at Texas Station and in 1997 he transferred to Sunset Station.
In 1998 he opened the old Reserve poker room, now the Fiesta of Henderson, as a Supervisor. Within six months they shut down the poker room and Joe decided to take some time off and just relax.
In 2000 Joe went back to work at Texas as a Dealer/ Supervisor.
In 2004 Joe opened Harrah's poker room as a Day Supervisor but left shortly after for a position with the Gold Coast as a floor supervisor on day shift.
In December of 2005 Joe was appointed Cardroom Supervisor for the newly opened South Coast Casino.
DB: How many poker tables are in the South Coast poker room?
JD: We opened with eight and planning to expand the room in April.
DB: How many tables will the room have after the expansion?
JD: That's still being discussed but it could be as many as 25 tables.
DB: What live games are offered in the South Coast poker room?
JD: We are currently spreading $2-$4 and $4-$8 limit hold'em and two versions of no-limit hold'em, one with $1-$2 blinds that has a $100 minimum and $300 maximum buy-in and the other one has $2-$5 blinds with a $200 minimum and a $500 maximum buy-in. Our no-limit games are very popular and they have been running around the clock on the weekends.
DB: Are you offering any daily tournaments?
JD: Yes, we will be starting our daily tournaments on Monday, January 16 and will run everyday. The events begin at 10:00 a.m. with a $37 buy-in and players will receive $1500 in chips. These events offer no rebuys or add-ons.
DB: What incentives does the South Coast offer it's poker players?
JD: We comp our live players $1.25 per hour for the first four hours and .50 per hour up to $9.00 per day. Tom Albert came from the Orleans, my Swing Supervisor, Kelly Phung and my Graveyard Supervisor, Bobby Ling came from Wynn and I have two relief Supervisors, Steffaine Ming that came from the Riviera and Jason Ky that came from Wynn.
DB: Who is responsible for making your job a little easier?
JD: The Director of Poker for Coast Casinos, Garrett Okahara, he let's me run the room my way, which definitely makes my job easier. The upper management gives me whatever I need to make the room work. I also admit to being computer illiterate but luckily I have several computer savvy dealers that have come to my rescue. Of course my wife, Emily because she puts up with the long hours and endless phone calls. And last but not least, my staff, they bring a tremendous amount of experience and that certainly makes my job easier.
DB: Any last comments?
JD: I believe the room has potential to be a great room. The area is good for customers and is growing by leaps and bounds. If your in the neighborhood please stop by and see me.
