It’s the end of an era as Stan Strickland has resigned as Borgata’s director of poker. After seven years, Strickland quit managing the 85-table poker room, which opened in 2006. Since Strickland’s reign, the Philadelphia-Atlantic City region has modified its tournament style to match the Borgata’s competition with perpetual readjustments in tournament structures and up-to-date poker experience. Since 2006, Strickland has refined the poker room, including the high-limit section called the Boardroom, targeted for the players to capitalize on the brick-and-mortar experience.
Strickland has managed the Borgata poker room’s acclamation by adapting to the changes the game has experienced in the past decade, such as poker media and field demographics. Some of the changes include the addition of a World Poker Tour partnership, double plays, timed rakes, addition of razz and the beginning of re-entries and high guarantees in the Borgata Poker Opens. Strickland always has maintained true professionalism while the Borgata poker room has consistently upheld its popularity as the highest attraction locale for the players in the area.
The most recent Borgata Spring Open proved its growth by meeting its expected guarantees. The first event drew 1,631 entrants and the numbers continued its impressive turnout throughout the series. Strickland plans to continue his work after accepting an offer from Isle Casino in Pompano Beach as the new director of poker. His new position goes hand-in-hand with his performance as the Florida market is growing in poker. He replaces Mike Smith, who accepted a position with Maryland Live in Baltimore.
SHOWBOAT: The poker room has made some improvements to its daily tournaments and there are guarantees for the weekend events, including the $5K guaranteed on Friday and Saturday nights with unlimited re-entries until the end of Level 6. First place can take home a guaranteed $1,800 with a $65 entry fee.
— Jo Kim is Ante Up’s Atlantic City-Philadelphia Ambassador. Email her at anteupjokim@gmail.com.
