So this journey covers 22,000 miles by plane, 2,500 miles in
cars and 500 by train. It took my from Plymouth to the USA and involved
travelling to or through; New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, California,
Kentucky, Indiana, Washington DC, Quebec (Canada), Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut,
New York, Delaware and Florida. It also means I will be visiting Heartland
Poker Tour Las Vegas, World Poker Tour Montreal, The Venetian Deepstacks Extravaganza,
Deepstacks Tour Mohegan Sun and Sands Deepstack Extravaganza.
It was a crisp winter afternoon in Plymouth when the first
stage of this 2 month marathon business trip began. With a wallet full of
dollars and expenses at the ready, I made my first big nitty decision to walk
to the train station. As I dragged my suitcases toward the station, thinking of
all the stops and meetings I had planned, from Nevada to Pennsylvania and
California to Canada, saving 10 quid in the big scheme of things was not my
best idea.
Flying Virgin Atlantic is probably the best way to get to
the US these days. The American airlines have given up with free alcohol and
their in-flight entertainment systems leave a lot to be desired. Automated
check in makes things easier as well, you click some buttons and hand in your
bags then wander through security at your leisure. As I wandered upstairs in
Terminal 3, ready to stroll onto VS001 which was departing in 45 minutes, I
smirked at the thought of my mother still living in a world where, “You need to
be at the airport 3 hours before an international flight”.
US immigration is always a bit of a ball ache, and the lines
at Newark didn’t fail to disappoint. Throngs of international travellers that
are tired and in need of nicotine, sleep and desperate to reach their final
destination is never a good mix when having to deal with red rape at its most
extreme form.
The Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem Pennsylvania was my final
stop, at least for this initial part of the journey. They had kindly sent a
Limo to pick me up, and as quickly as my bags dropped from the reclaim belt I was
sitting in comfortable leather seats with a beer in my hand driving through New
Jersey.
Perception is a huge part of poker, as it is in the real
world. 12 hours after that long walk to the train station, I am being whisked
towards a resort casino by a driver who thinks I am some High Roller that the
casino is looking after. I know it would confuse the shit out of him if he only
knew how this started today, so I play the jet lagged, “I am working there for
a few days” line. Realising if he played poker, he could take that either way,
but the answer seemed to pacify him.
If you have never been to the Sands in Pennsylvania (and I
know most people haven’t), it really is a different world. Carved out of the
old Bethlehem Steel plant, it cuts an imposing sight in the night sky. Casinos
outside of Las Vegas and Atlantic City were never as impressive as their
cousins in America’s two gambling meccas, but times have changed. The Sands has
over 3,000 slots, 120 table games and a 30 poker room. While not posting the
numbers of its sister properties, they still manage in excess of $400 million
in revenue, with 92% of that coming from gaming. Mini Baccarat tournaments run
on a daily basis with 36 tables’ crowded tables that can be 3 bodies deep
craning to see the cards. Over 2,000 Asian gamers are bussed in every single
day from New York and New Jersey to add to the eclectic mix of customers.
The Poker Room is always busy, with never less than 6 tables
running and getting close to its full complement of 30 tables every night with
plenty of $1/$2, $2/$5 NLH and $2/4, $4/$8 limit. There is normally a $10/$25
running most nights so plenty of options for all. The sands have only recently dipped
its toe into the tournament arena, why would you when you have a full suite of
table being used for cash? In recent months the room has expanded and they are
keen to expand their offering to include tournaments, so they now host 3 a week
and are about to launch the Sands Deepstacks Extravaganza, using their sister
property in Las Vegas successful template.
I will be returning here for this series in December, but
after a couple of days here, it is time to continue the journey and head for
Sin City……..
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