SPL Presents : News from Las Vegas

The Set Up

Many local poker rooms run promotions for their regular or local players called a 'Bad Beat Jackpot'. Over time, poker players at the tables put money into a shared pot designated for the Bad Beat Jackpot - this money comes from the players as they play day after day, and is accumulated until someone triggers the 'bad beat'. When triggered, the Jackpot is shared amongst the players at the tables, with the lion share going to the person who 'lost'; a large portion to the 'winner' of that hand and then distributed among the other players at the 5 casinos in the Station Casinos group. In the story below, the Bad Beat Jackpot was won by a man named Avi, who had his straight flush beat by a higher straight flush held by poker player Len.

Our hero Avi at 83 years young (I wonder if he knows Tuck?) got a little excited at the end of the hand and flipped his hole cards over before the final betting round hand finished. As his accidental show did not result in action, the jackpot should have been awarded. However, the casino decided to invalidate the jackpot.

The Fight

By law, the casino turned the matter over to the Nevada Gaming Commission for investigation. The commission sent an investigator who reviewed the tape and concluded that all the players should be paid; the technicality the casino was attempting to exploit did not affect the outcome. Instead of awarding the poker players with the money that they themselves had raised, the Station Casino decided to take the case to a hearing with the Nevada Gaming Commission. Even though the gaming board has almost never disagreed with the recommendation of the investigative arm of the commission.

Bad Form

The question deserves asking; Why would a casino want to do this? Especially when the bad beat jackpots are funded by the players in a totally separate pool of funds? Of course it boils down to money. Casinos historically see revenue loss from local players after a large bad beat jackpot is paid out.

This jackpot had an envy payout to over 80 players in total, mostly local players. They were all taken advantage of by the casinos decision and some showed up for the hearing. Michael Bluestein, a local poker player who attended the hearing had this to say:

“It’s pure greed. They don’t care about locals. They say they do, but they don’t.”

Obviously the actions of the casino backs up this statement.

The Good Guy Wins For Once!

Thankfully, after postponing the hearing in January, the Nevada Gaming Commission determined at a meeting last week that Avi Shamir will be awarded $62,126 for his share of a $120,000 bad beat at Red Rock Casino.

Moral of the Story

First, and soley on principal, stay away from Stations Casinos when you go to Vegas. I don't think they're the only casinos out there that would do their players so dirty, however they did, so shame on them!

Also; never turn your cards over early. Bad beats are rare and awesome to be a part of I am sure. Thinking about being put in this situation by some greedy casino executives makes me angry and I am happy to hear that the Nevada Gaming Commission did the right thing and ordered the casino to pay out all the winners!

Thank you for your support of the SPL Community!!

xo, @bethalea

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