Card Room Roundup: The Poker Lounge at the Hard Rock

In February 2007, Morgans Hotel Group and DLJ Merchant Banking Partners acquired the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Following the purchase, an $800 million expansion was planned and the poker room was just a small part of that endeavor. Upon completion the Hard Rock will increase the number of guest rooms to almost 2,000 and the casino floor will double in size and be able to serve 4,000 guests. A new convention center will be 60,000 square feet. Parking will not be a problem either, with the expansion of the new underground valet that will accommodate close to 300 cars.

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has always been proud of their innovative spirit, and the new ownership is no exception. The soft opening on August 14 rolled out their innovative Poker Lounge. Amenities include 10 televisions for sports viewing and 10 more on the way in the near future, luxurious bathrooms offering valet service, and cocktail/food servers. Hard Rock is the only poker room providing sports runners in the room.

The room is slated to have five video poker machines installed for those who need a break from poker or who want to play while waiting for a seat. Smoking is not permitted in the poker room but smokers are able to smoke in the big comfy chairs located in the lounge area at the front of the poker room. There are six individual rooms for private parties and high limit games with music piped in that can be controlled separately from the casino.

To celebrate the grand opening of the newest concept in card rooms Hard Rock brought in Billy Idol and the Black Crows to perform on Sept. 12 and 13 at the Joint.

The 18 table Poker Lounge uses the latest version of the Genesis Tracking system that contacts your cell phone when your seat is ready. No more waiting around to hear your name called.

They delight in possessing two 114 inch poker tables, the largest in North America, which are reserved for private parties and games of $5-$10 and higher. There will be no more cramped feeling with eight feet between tables and state of the art chairs. The tables and chairs were designed by card room manager Houston Waldie.

The Poker Lounge offers a wide variety of games. In keeping with the innovative spirit of the Hard Rock they are spreading a new game called hard rock straddle. Normally in hold 'em the big blind has last action, but with this new version the button has true last action unless multiple action occurs, then it reverts back to the big blind. Hard rock straddle is a $1-$2, $2-$5, or $5-$10 no-limit hold 'em game with buy-ins ranging from a minimum of $100 to a maximum $2,000.

"The players love it and the game is designed to create action," said swing shift manager Jim Miller. Another version of hold 'em that the Poker Lounge is spreading is $1-$2 and $2-$5 "no-river hold 'em." The players are dealt three cards and all three cards play. There is a pre-flop bet, a flop bet, and a turn bet-but no river card is dealt.

The Poker Lounge is also spreading ROE (a round of each) a round of no-limit hold 'em and a round of pot limit hold 'em with limits ranging from $5-$10 and $10-$25.

Tournaments are available seven days a week: Monday through Friday at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., with buy-ins ranging from $65-$125 and starting chips of $5,000. Tournaments begin at noon on Saturday and Sunday with a $175 buy-in and there's a 3 p.m. event with a $330 buy-in and $10,000 in starting chips. All events are no-limit with 30 minute levels.

Casino host Steve Cyr is also taking on the title of Poker Lounge marketing manager. Cyr is available to assist in private parties and is presently taking registration for poker leagues. Leagues of all levels are available and players may make up their own team of four players.

Player tracking cards will keep track of hours played. Players earn comps at the rate of $1.00 to $2.00 per hour based on game limit. Comp dollars can be used anywhere in the casino. Waldie stated, "We will spread whatever the players want to play and we have a very professional staff of dealers and floor supervisors with the knowledge to do that."

According to Waldie, "President and COO, Randy Kwasniewski and VP and General Manager, Mark Gore truly understand the value of a poker room and barred no expense to provide a novel poker room."