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There's a new game coming to
the Creek Bingo Palace in Atmore -
Texas holdem
poker. Work is
underway to begin running poker games at the bingo
palace starting in late November.
Arthur Mothershed, CFO
of the tribe's gaming operations, said it plans to
hire as many as 50 employees to work the poker
games. A room is being constructed in the bingo
palace for the games and operations will start with
9 tables for seven to 10 players at a time.
Texas holdem
Poker has increased
in popularity in recent years with the success of
such shows as the World Series of Poker and
Celebrity Poker.
That popularity led the
gaming branch to look at running the games. "Its an
area where we thought we were authorized to enter,
but we weren't real sure we wanted to, until
recently" Mothershed said.
Because the state's
gaming rules don't allow players to play against the
house, the games will have what is called a
non-banking house. The house will receive a certain
percentage from each game up to a certain amount.
Mothershed said the charge has not yet been
determined.
Initially, three types
of games will be offered, Texas holdem, Omaha and
stud poker. "One of the players has to win the
game," Mothershed said.
Each of the nine tables
will hold between seven and 10 players, depending on
the game being played. There could be tournaments in
the future, but the palace will hold off on holding
those, Mothershed said.
Of the Poarch Creek
entertainment centers in Alabama, Atmore will be the
first test site for the poker games. If they are
successful here, they may well add the games at the
tribe's other facilities in the state. |
