Grand Casino, Gulfport, MS $100K (OPEN)

After talking w/ a host from this casino at a local restaraunt; I was told this tournament would be held 9/9/05-9/10/05 @ Grand Casino G-Port. I was told the entry fee is $150. or comp. and it comes w/ two nights accommodations. Earlier this year in Jan. it was $100. for the entry. Casino Jim was told the entry is $125. This buy-in issue should be squared away today. My host has my entry and payment info and I am expecting a confirmation directly.

$100 K Overall
$50 K First
$125-150 Entry *?*
Guaranteed Prize Money *?*
Format *?*

*These dates are also the grand opening dates for the Hard Rock, Biloxi.*

*Be advised that players have called and some hosts aren't even aware of this event yet.*

*If you decide to call for info/entry ask for V.I.P. services @ 1-800-946-7777.

*This is a 'heads-up' message and will be updated as info. becomes available.*

Stay Tuned,

Jim

 

Good info - updated as of Fri. Aug 12

Jim P. was right on. Here are the details:

Sept 9,10, and 11th.
$100,000 total - 1st - 50K, 2nd - 20K, 3rd - 12K, 4th - 8K, 5th - 6K, 6th - 4K.
I don't know what is guaranteed.

Must register Friday from 3pm to 10pm.

First round begins Fri. night and Sat. morning (I think that includes rebuy rounds).

Quater-finals begin Sat. night

Semis have 16 wildcards added to the 20 that made it by winning. The wildcards will be drawn on Sunday morning at 10am. The semis start at 10:30, and the finals are at 12pm.

Entry is $150.00 which includes 2 room nights. I am booked with a confimation number. Jim P. has the phone number on the last post. Just press '0' when the call is answered and ask for VIP services in Gulfport.

I talked to Tasha, who had no idea about the tourney, but she does now!
She read to me all of the info I have just passed on.

It a great overlay, but this property is notorious for being totally clueless about running a tourney. Last year they had your minimum bet set so high that even with minimum bets you could be knocked out before the last hand. They also give you no time to make a bet, and the dealers aren't used to a button, since they only deal 3-card poker tourneys and they don't use a button (can you believe that?).

Anyway, the money makes it well worth it, especially with the rooms.

I strongly suggest you call and get set up very soon, before something changes!

jimmy

 

Get-er-Done.......

Just received my confirmation #'s....
Good job on the info Jimmy....

***Sign-Up QUICKLY....These Rooms Go Fast!!***

 

EMail from VP Table Games,Grand Casino GPT

Dear Jim,

The "Fall into cash" Blackjack Tournament will take place September
9th-11th. 2005. This event is open to the public for a $150 non-refundable
buy-in. The First prize will be $50,000, Second $20,000, Third $12,000,
Fourth $8,000, Fifth $6,000. Sixth $4,000. The Prize structure is based
on maximum participation - $50,000 is guaranteed. Call 1-800-283-9121
to make reservations.

Good Luck

Richard Henderson
VP Table games
Grand Casino Gulfport

 

Signed up. No problems. Thanks Jim!

 

Pretty Open right now

I called today and was told that only 10 players have signed up. Now thats a deal $150.00 entry with room for two nights included and even better a guaranteed $50,000.00 1st prize.

This is the type of tournament I hear players screaming about wanting to play in, where are you now?

 

I signed up three players myself today. They called VIP and made the reservations right there with my phone. This is really an unbelievable deal.

 

Ain't this the way it always goes? I have been waiting for this tournament since we played the one in Jan. Instead of holding it during the summer when I was off, they wait until I have a home football game to announce to hold it.
To aggravate me even more, we play on the road the weekend before and after. Either of those dates would have allowed me to play.
As mentioned earlier, this is a good tournament value and I hope a lot of people have better schedules than me so they can play in it.

 

Enjoy them while you can

From what I am hearing Harrah's is about to start using their tournament formats with all their new properties. The Grand casinos are part of that group.

I was told today that changes are already going into effect at the Tunica location. If this is true we may not get to enjoy this Gulfport tournament with room and guaranteed prize money for only $150 anymore after this event.

Guess we better enjoy it while we can. I'm planing on signing up today.

 

gulfport

Thanks Jim
I Have Signed Up To Play In Tourny For Myself And My Wife See Yall There

 

Grand Casino Gulfport Tourney

I tried to signup for this tourney today and they told me you must meet certain criteria to play.

No one seems to know anything about this.

Can anyone help?

We want to play and cannot seem to get entered into tourney

HELP !!!

Thanks, Lou

 

I'm trying to find out Henry

Damn Gulfport may set a record for the most times I have been transfered without anyone knowing anything about whats going on.

My first call this week I signed up for the tournament with no problems, but today when I called to find out while other players are being told the tournament is not "OPEN", I was transfered 6 times before getting the poker room....LOL. Why is it they always end up sending you to the poker room these days...LOL.

Well I finally got someone (in the shift office) that gave me the phone number of the man in charge of the tournament, (finally). I called up only to get the head of marketing for Ceasars Lake Tahoe, (I thought I had got someone that knew what they were doing...LOL).

My second call back to Gulfport I only got transfered three times before getting "Daniel" in VIP services. He was able to help me and get me to the right people, he is also who you want to ask for when you call should you still want to play in this event.

Daniel transfered me to Danny Bass and events manager Michelle ?. It was there I found out they are looking for up to 750 players in this event. Up to 500 comp-ed players and 250 paid open players.

It gets better, we will be playing 7 players per table and only one advances from each table. Even better yet, NO RE-BUYS! And it is elimination, they think!

Great I signed up for an event with 750 players, 7 players per table, only one advances, no re-buy's, and there not sure what format they are going to use yet and i'm having to drive 8 hours each way to get there. I guess I know why they made it a $150 non-refundable entry fee.

Still all in all $150 to play in a tournament and get up to three free nights included is not the worst deal I have ever seen.

I guess I need to check all the details myself before bragging and promoting an event next time.

 

Gulfport Bj Tourney

Finally after several attemps, we were able to sign up for the BJ Tourney.
Yes, it was 3 nights instead of 2.
We were able to talk to a gal named Pat who was very helpful.
She seemed to know what I was talking about.
Alas, we are finally signed up for the tourney.
Thanks Rick, for such a quick response!

I think those people don't know what the heck is going on!

Thanks again, Lou

 

What the hell. 750 players? Are they planning on making us win 8 rounds to get to a final table? For that much work (and luck) the stakes should be a lot higher. I'll play the tournament for the free rooms and a visit to the Hard Rock. Is it still opening that weekend? I heard it got pushed back.

And I only got two nights hotel. What gives.

 

What a Deal

Justlsuteddy,

I have planned to attend this event for 2 weeks and thank Rick (not God) the real truth emerged, this is not an overlay tournament as previously indicated by member posts on this site but rather a "Chasing a Rainbow" tournament, at least for me that would have to fly 7 hours each way to attend which I planned to do.

The free rooms mean nothing to me, this was going to be a BJ tournament for me not a vacation, I have a free room every night in my home and it's only 20 steps not 7 hours away. I called VIP services at the casino 3 times for information and the only information I got was entry fee and date, I asked for Tournament format information and neither VIP services or the hosts I talked to had a clue.

I think Rick (TXtourplayer) deserves a standing ovation for the time he spent in our behalf (not his) to fully investigate and inform us of the real format.

 

Is the Grand Gulfport even set up for tournaments? All of the tournaments I've been to have been at the Grand Biloxi and while their operation is very efficent and smooth if Gulfport doesn't have experienced tournament dealers we're going to have a serious cluster****.

 

No Problem

Hey guys I didn't do anything that any of ya'll wouldn't have done for any of us on this site. I just glad I could get hold of someone and get the entire story before some of ya'll traveled long distance to this event.

Like I said I am already paid my entry so I am going, but I did find out I maybe entitled for a comp entry. I was told to call back on Monday to find out it I will be comp-ed.

Also those of you that only got two nights when you signed up, don't feel bad that is what I got at first. Just call back and talk to Daniel and tell him you want the third night comp as well. That is what I did and he took care of me, now I have the third night. Daniel is in VIP at 1-800-946-7777.

Also remember this, they may want 750 players, but how many will they really get? Stardust as an send out 1,000 or so invites and only get about 200 - 250 players. Maybe only 200 or so show up for this one (I hope...LOL).

 

Complaints

Rookie 789:
Real format? Misinformed? You were informed previously regarding the evolution of this tournament and it's irregularities. I provided the email sent to me by VP table games at the Grand GPT...Did you call him?......They write and change the rules @ will. The 'Free Rooms' are important to those of you who fly in and are not normally comped....two or three nights @ over $100. a night added expense to your trip...??? None of us can walk 20 steps and play a Blackjack tourn. at a land based casino for this kind of money at this price!
You have been informed about a tournament that brings $100K to the playing table for a $150.00 entry w/ rooms! This tournament was originally held as an invitation only tournament. They opened it up to 'buy-in' players like us to recoup some of the money invested in a $100K promotion...by doing so we are given a shot at big money for a very small risk.
Format-quarterfinal-one player advances to the next round. The number of players in the tourn. dictates the quarterfinal format. Some tourn.'s do have more than one advancing from early rounds but not w/ this many players. Remember....nothing is trully known in reference to changes etc. until gameday and we are playing. This casino changed the # of players advancing from a preliminary round while we were actually playing. It was a smaller tourn. and "****" happens. I'm not even sure about wildcard drawings held for positions in the semifinal and final rounds (historically they do have several wildcards)....this should add to the 'Chasing a Rainbow' Fodder!
Last January was the first time this tourn. was held at at the Grand GPT with this kind of money and an 'open to the public' status. We had players complaining last year about the large minimum bet and quarterfinal format...they have a ten second to bet rule that is also a major pain in the ass. You were never told through my prior post that this tourn. was perfect or even close to it.....As a 'Player Advocate' my emphasis has always been on value for your dollar.
The room situation at this casino is also going to be part of 'THEIR' game. As time to tourn. day approaches and request for buy-in entries intensifies; people start getting told they must have rated play or some other kind of variable to get the room. The Grand BLXI is famous for this. They are guarding their rooms. Usually w/ perserverence you will be accommodated. With minimal play you will also be put into a low priorty status re: rooms. I don't have hardly any playing time at this casino. I also only received two nights for my entry. I was only informed of two nights being comped as per my prior post. The three night variable was probably reserved for their invited guest originally. If you can get three nights more power to you.
***This is one of only a few examples I have ever seen in regards to casino protocol that represents a win-win situation for player and casino. The only reason this tournament exists is because their 'Drop' (money spent by gamblers at the tables) last Jan. during the tournament time period exceeded the drop over the 'New Years Eve' holiday (Info. from VP Table Games: contact info in prior post). Add this to the money they take in from buy-in players w/ their rebuys and you'll understand how and why this tournament is being held twice w/in one year. On our side... "YES", we may have to endure some legitimate frustrations to get to the final table and play for $100K in prize money for a $150. buy-in!***



:flame: Please do us all a favor and don't play this tourn. if your only going to complain. The only 'Perfect' thing about this tournament is going to be the $50K in cash that someone will have in front of themselves for first place,and, the $50K that will be spread out to the remaining players at the final table!:flame:

Good Luck!

Jim