Million $ Tourney @ Sands - How Are They Going To Pull It Off?

I posted this earlier at the NV&G forum and decided to re-post it here to possibly get more opinions:

It's been widely circulated that The Sands in AC will be hosting a GUARANTEED $1MM first prize NL tourney this coming November. Carl Icahn, the flamboyant billionaire who own Sands, hired Matt Savage to run the tourney and Barry Shulman to handle the promotion and publicity. With his billions and these 2 guys running the show, it appears that this project is a no-brainer. However, there are quite a few logistical factors to be considered:

Because Sands' poker is very small (I heard they have only 7CS and rarely HE games), they do not have the equipment and personnel. With Icahn's bankroll, I am quite sure equipment and facilities are no problem.

But what about the expereienced dealers and personnel? In my wildest guesstimate, it will require 60+ competent and experienced personnel to successfully run an event of this magnitude. They won't be able to get dealers on loan from the other AC casinos. I'm sure Taj will not do it as confirmed by their Poker room manager. I don't see why Trop's and Borgata's rule would be any different. Although Icahn can import dealers from outside of NJ, I believe they still have to be licensed by the NJCCC, a dumping ground of indecisive political appointees. Consider some of the commission's past rulings:

1) They used to limit the number of tables, thus entries, Trop can use for their weekly tourneys.

2) They refused to approve a bad beat jackpot funded by players just like other jurisdictions. Instead, they approved a casino-funded BBJ at Trop which, for obvious reasons have been discontinued.

3)They have yet to decide on the "buy-the-button" rule.

So, how can it be expected that they will quickly decide on this more pressing issue?

I also heard that Sands are now in the process of training some of their BJ dealers to deal poker. What??? This sounds like training pilots in simulators and then sending them directly to combat!! Even Borgata who hired experienced Taj and Trop personnel had problems when they first opened!

While I root for the success of this event for the sake of expanding poker in the East Coast, I can't help but wonder how Icahn will pull this off.

Any input, comments, news out there?

[slamdunkpro]

The 4 Queens doesn't have a poker room either but they manage a tournament every year. Granted they don't have to deal with the NJSGC.

I imagine the Sands will use a ball room and just rent equipment and tables.

As far as dealers go I'm sure it will be a repeat of the Borg open where some are good, some not so good.

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As far as dealers go I'm sure it will be a repeat of the Borg open where some are good, some not so good.

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It is not the quality of dealers I am asking. It is more like 'quantity'. Borgata has its own dealers but the Sands does not have that kind of human resources. It is where and how Sands will get them.

[slavic]

The tourney will be run by party poker, each player will be furnished a computer station, all equipment is comming from Rentsys.com

[slamdunkpro]

Cocktails by Virtual-DD.com????

[bigfishead]

How do you think the LV Horseshoe comes up with 150+ dealers
for the WSOP.
How does the Horseshoe in Tunica come up with 150 dealers for the WPO?

Circuit dealers. Dealers that travel the major tournament circuit. It's not a big deal really.

I hope you're right. But AC is not LV and the NJ commission is noted for indecisiveness. Perhaps, the lure of fame and $$$ big poker may bring to AC will make those guys wake up.

[Copernicus]

How hard can it be for an experienced 21 dealer to learn to deal HE? Move the button, hit the table before you deal a card so players can scream "not yet" at you, keep your mouth shut, shuffle and deal.

I e-mailed Barry and got this reply. I quote:

"Thanks for writing. For quite a while The Sands has been very diligent in working towards having a well trained staff for the tournament. You are correct that things are tougher in N.J. But they know how to factor that in and deal with the legal peculiarities."

Barry

Looks like this tourney will be very interesting. Stay tuned.

[M.B.E.]

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I posted this earlier at the NV&G forum and decided to re-post it here to possibly get more opinions:

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Please don't "cross-post" like this. If you really think it's necessary, just post a link to your original post, instead of retyping the whole thing.