Gary W. Casiday, 54, from Santa Maria, who has spent the past two years battling a heart condition, outlasted 490 competitors to claim first place and win $15,777 in the Central Coast Poker Championship at Chumash Casino Resort. This was a $50K guarantee that had a $180 buy-in and each entrant started with 10K chips.
Casiday, who uses a walking cane and has a mobile defibrillator strapped to his chest, persevered through more than 12 hours of no-limit hold’em action and won a heads-up showdown with Lawrence Ramos, 61, of Bakersfield. Ramos took home $10,624.
Third through 10th paid between $5,949 and $1,928, and they were: Ronald Freeman of Ventura, Nicholas Ronyecz of Goleta, Lakhamsor Cavanh of Santa Maria, Johan Dewitt of Nipomo, Shari Schubot of Santa Barbara, George Cannon of Goleta, Fredo Perez of Oceano and James Schindel of Lompoc. The top 70 won prize money.
PECHANGA: After two days of competition, Dustin Skarra of San Diego emerged the winner ahead of 409 contenders at the RiverCard “Quest for the Cup” tournament April 25-26.
Skarra took home $22,140 from the $50K guarantee that sported a $235 buy-in. Skarra, a flight paramedic, told the staff this is the most excited he has ever been playing poker. Frank Lewis of Anza took home $11,890 for second.
Also at Pechanga, in June and July, two players will drive home with the grand prizes in the “Cruzin’ with Cash” giveaway. From 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on June 29 and July 31, the room will hold drawings for $200 cash every 30 minutes. Cash winners will qualify to win a new Toyota Prius at 11p.m. on both days. Players who do not win the car will have the chance to win $500 and $1K. Players can earn tickets by playing in any live game Monday through Friday in June and July. Players earn double entries by playing between 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on June 25 and July 30.
AGUA CALIENTE CASINO: The $70K Ticket to Ride promotion is running through June 22. From 10 p.m.-11 a.m. each day, players earn one ticket by making a full house or better in a hold’em cash games or queens full or better in Omaha.
Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. players earn double tickets with a qualifying full house.
Each week there will be cash drawings every Friday and Sunday through June 15. The barrel for the cash drawings each week will be emptied into the grand prize drawing barrel.
The grand-prize drawing for a BMW is June 22. From noon to 6 p.m., there will be prize drawings every 30 minutes.
— Email Kittie Aleman at anteupkittie@gmail.com.
