CasinoGaming.com


	Sundays: Inside Gaming Tuesdays: Video Poker Wednesdays: Off the Shelf Fridays: Richard Eng, Player's Edge Saturdays: Pocket Aces

POCKET ACES

Columns

• Back to Maryann's index

• Back to columnists' index

Maryann Guberman has been a writer and editor with many gaming publications, including Sports Form, Card Player, Poker World, Player's Panorama and Systems and Methods. She also has written and edited numerous books on gambling.

March 10, 2007

Hooray for Harrah's

Sometimes old things need to go away. That way, we have room for the new things that come into our lives. -- Randy Milholland

If you've worked for a big company, a huge corporation, or a mom-and-pop outfit that operated from the seats of their respective pants, you know that management always falls victim to criticism. In fact, you might have been part of the garrulous crowd spewing forth those words of woe. Sometimes, maybe even often, the critics have valid arguments; sometimes, perhaps quite often, the naysayers are merely disenchanted worker bees who would rather be eating honey than making it.

With that in mind, we know that Harrah's, the owner and producer and huge monetary beneficiary of the World Series of Poker, has taken a lot of flak over various aspects of this mega event. They've heard complaints and protests about extra chips appearing at the final event, about the ludicrous need for electrical tape over dot com words on T-shirts, hats and life-style show booths, about the controversy over taking cash or notes from offshore sites that provided thousands of eligible contestants in the last couple of years, about tips and tokes for dealers, about obnoxious behavior.... I'm guessing we could come up with even more incidences of acrimony but the point is clear. Harrah's has taken a lot of heat. I know because I lit a few matches.

Now, while it's true the big corporation has sucked some of the old-time, Benny Binion flavor out of the event, it's also true that they have created a controlled monster that is part of every poker's players dream - to rise to the top and be recognized as the best. That's the best of thousands rather than hundreds. But it's also true that while Harrah's is probably consciously trying to take advantage of every "advertising" opportunity possible, they deserve credit for the way they are accomplishing their goals because their methodology does reward players.

Case in point: They sponsor their circuit tournaments at various properties around the country. Unlike the WSOP, these events don't last a month or consist of as many events but they do give the winner of the championship event the first place money and an automatic entry into the World Series of Poker championship event plus $1,000 for expenses.

Case in point: The company instituted the Tournament of Champions which also, by the way, involved some heavy-hitter type corporate sponsorship. This by-invitation and by-win-record only competition to showcase the skills of the very best players has become a poker mainstay in just a couple of years.

Case in point: Harrah's now markets the World Series by coming up with novelties that Benny Binion might never have imagined. These include games for your cell phone, logo wear, posters, WSOP logo chips (no, you can't sneak these into a tournament), commemorative coins, and the like.

Case in point: The casino now hosts poker lessons. These aren't your typical old-time casino lessons provided by someone whose job it is to deal house games and convince you to play them. Nope. These are intense boot camp type get-togethers taught by the top players in the world. . The first WSOP Academy took place at Grand Casino Tunica in January. The second kicks off at Caesars Indiana April 7-8. The third - a ladies only camp, taught by the woman who won $2 million in the 2005 Tournament of Champions -Annie Duke - will take place on June 8-9, just before the World Championship Ladies No-Limit Hold'em tournament at the 2007 World Series of Poker. Prices seem somewhat steep but I think they include accommodations. But what the heck, who wouldn't want to spend lavishly to get no-nonsense advice from the people who wear those gold bracelets! (Schedules and other information are available at http://www.wsopacademy.com/).

Just in case readers are wondering, the answer is no. I haven't returned to being a mouthpiece for hire. I just think credit should go to those who promote the game, even if said promotion lines said pockets directly or indirectly.