Poker room manager Jason Newman, formerly of the Horseshoe Hammond, is no stranger to big games, and he brings his talents to Cincinnati in the new 31-table World Series of Poker-branded room making it the second biggest room in the state. Newman has a proven track record of success and will give players the action they’re looking for and then some.
“We will provide our players with a world-class experience with the widest variety of games and buy-ins available,” he said.
On the room’s second day there were three $5-$10 pot-limit Omaha games running for more than 10 hours. Newman opened the room with a meaty supply of $2 chips to foster the $6-$12 Omaha/8 game. So it’s clear Omaha is going to be big for Cincinnati players, who used to be forced to play across the river in Indiana. Players have to be happy to be able to play closer to home.
HOLLYWOOD TOLEDO: This room still offers the widest selection of games and options within games. Manager Peter Lau has made the button straddle part of his big Tuesday night PLO game and his room is the only one in Ohio spreading pineapple. Tournament options remain the widest of any room in the state.
HORSESHOE CLEVELAND: There continues to be a full board and plenty of hold’em and PLO action. There are plans for more tournaments at the Horseshoe, but no formal plans have been made public.
BUCKEYE CHARITY POKER, CLEVELAND: Buckeye continues to grow its tournament fields, buy-in levels and PLO action. The Saturday no-cap PLO game is routinely hosting $20K or more on the table. The room added a Thursday night $150 tournament and monthly $300 event in the middle of every month.
HOLLYWOOD CASINO COLUMBUS: It has began offering a weekly 11-tournament schedule in its 36-table room. February saw the property’s first Chris Moneymaker appearance as the room’s ambassador. He will appear monthly in Columbus (see its website for events and times). Action in Columbus continues to be the biggest in the state. Manager Matt Dodd’s policy of a 100 percent buy-in to the biggest stack at the table has created some deep and exciting play.
• Earlier this year, it seemed to be a sure thing Ohio would see its first circuit event this fall. Ty Stewart appeared on ESPN Cleveland’s Division of Poker Podcast and said the “WSOP Circuit and OCCC are still getting to know each other and work through the technical issues” relative to putting on a world-class poker event in Ohio.”
This is exactly what we’re hearing out of Hollywood Casino regarding its signature brand the Hollywood Poker Open. These events are huge income generators and tremendous opportunities for players to participate in major events and at the same time show our state off to thousands of players that would surely make the trek for these event generating hotel, food and entertainment income for our state.
— Dan Harkenrider is Ante Up’s Ohio Ambassador. He hosts the Division of Poker and Chris Moneymaker radio shows. Email him at anteupdan@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @DivisionofPoker.
