At least two feature length documentaries are currently being made on poker. Rovin' Gamblers, directed by Rebekah Sindoris, chronicles the lives of six young professional poker players with an unparalleled obsession for the game. Sindoris follows their lives from the tables to the nightclubs to family dinners as they struggle to stay on top of their game. [...]
In addition, MM Publisher Tim Rhys' Taking a Shot takes a look at high-stakes poker players, moviemakers and other mavericks who have successfully gambled on themselves to achieve the American Dream. Rhys interviews stars and analysts from the world of high-stakes and tournament poker, as well as celebrities and entrepreneurs who have unique personal perspectives on risk-taking and its relationship to achieving success, American style. The doc is being shot over a six-month period, and chronicles the fortunes of Rhys' partner and producer, Susan Genard, as she competes in a series of high-stakes tournaments to try to win enough money for her company to produce an independent film!
bellagio poker room expanding?
This hot off the presses of the CardPlayer newsletter:
The CardPlayer.com rumor mill has learned that poker is so hot at Bellagio that the poker room will be expanding with the addition of 10 more tables soon. It's just a rumor, but we'll keep you posted.
I called the Bellagio poker room, and asked the manager there if there was any truth to it. He said "I wouldn't know the answer to that question, but I heard that rumor too."
So it seems likely and is great news for poker players. I would guess that they would be expanding into the sportsbook area where the private horse monitors are, which is underutilized anyway. In related news,slot CardPlayer reports that the weekly Friday night $500 buyin NLH tournaments at the Bellagio have been getting an average of 119 players! That's huge for a weekly big-dollar tournament.
rfb limits raised at MGM Mirage properties
For those of you who high-roll in Vegas, you should know that the MGM Mirage properties just increased their minimum average bet for attaining RFB (room food and beverage) status.
TI - $200 (was $150)
Mirage - $250 (was $200)
Bellagio - $300 (was $250)
These figures are average bet, minimum 4 hours per day of play.
These are really significant increases, especially at TI -- $200 is much higher than $150 average. Also note that the minimums for RFL (room, food - limited) status are $50 less than the RFB minimums, so those have all increased by $50 as well.
Those numbers above came directly from a casino host. I don't have the figure for the MGM Grand but I think they slot the Grand around the TI, which would make it $200.
When asked for the reason for the increase, the host said "inflation". (Maybe he meant "price inflation" :)
Thanks to loveandcasinowar.com senior casino comp correspondent Jules for the investigative research work.
(Update: I had the amount for TI incorrect; it is now corrected.)
