fgk42
New Member
I have to give credit where credit is due. This weekend there was a 100K BJT held at the Imperial Palace (IP) in Biloxi. The registration fee was 299.00 for people like me, who had never been to the IP. For their rated players it was 199.00 and I believe some of their Elite players may have had the full entry fee comp’d.
Registration was on Friday from 5-9 and there was a LONG line. Upon registering all participants received a complimentary short sleeved silk shirt with embroidery on the front: Imperial Palace 100,000 Blackjack Tournament. It was a very nice shirt. The staff seemed a bit overwhelmed but they had the written rules ready to go. In the lobby they had a welcome reception for the BJT guests with a live band, food, etc..
The tournament was a TBJT. The difference is that the BJT was held in their convention area and NOT on the casino floor. While at first I thought this a bit strange I actually liked this set up. The staff of the IP had 10 players BJ tables with 6 per table. There were plenty of other tables on the side for observers/guests/players not playing. In fact they had a cash bar there and the whole region was nicely decorated to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
The first round had 2 people advancing with re-buys available for $50! The 2nd round has 2 people advancing also. In the semi-final round it was a single person advancing and they had a wild card drawing right to the final table.
The staff was very nice and personable – there was some good ole Southern Hospitality. They were very clear about the rules and strict about the betting.
What impressed me what the prize fund and the buy-in and the number of players that registered – over 300. In fact I believe that IP was surprised at the response that they had to the event. They shouldn’t have been. With a very reasonable buy in, a good format, low re-buy and high prize pool this is the recipe for success.
This, in my opinion, is the correct way to hold these BJT. There were several things that IP did right:
1. A fee that allows plenty of participation.
2. Comping the players that the casino wants and allowing outside participation in order to get “new faces” into the mix.
3. Providing the shirts was a nice touch
4. Having the BJ tourney with areas for observers – in their conference region was very well thought out
As a player who hadn’t been to Biloxi before I would be very inclined to return. The only suggestions that I would make to the IP staff: have some “background” music in the tournament region – it was TOO quiet. Have some wild-card drawings into the semi-final round too. There were only 4 people per table. You could have had 5 people – therefore 5 wild card drawings and it would have sweetened the pot for the attending players.
Having the tourney over a Sat and Sunday, in my opinion, is the SMARTEST way to do this. Why? It increases the possible number of players coming to play. Let’s face it when you come to play and the tourney is a two-day event what are you going to do AFTER your 1st round? Plus you get players who are NOT retired. Yes, it’s great for retired people to have less competition but this TBJ needs new blood. I’m sorry but when I’M one of the youngest players something is definitely wrong. Look at poker. It’s DOMINATED with younger players and lets face it once you’ve played poker or BJT it can get kind of habit forming.
I would HOPE that any tournament director would look at how the IP handled this tournament as a template in how to host an event. This is my personal opinion but there are several things that I look for when picking and choosing which event to attend:
1. Convenience – have it over a weekend. One or two days preferably.
2. Good prize pool – 30,000 minimum. Over 50,000 is preferable.
3. Friendly people/staff who make the registration process fast, easy and enjoyable.
4. Great value. By staying at the IP I spent over 8 hours at their tables. I gave them plenty of side action. During my time at the tables several dealers made comments about how it was “extra” crowded that weekend.
5. Gifts/Promotions. Now this may sound stupid but the silk shirt was a really nice touch. In fact I would be more likely to wear it at the next BJT that I attend in order to make THAT establishment aware of what’s taking place out there.
After talking to my wife and discussing the various tournaments that I’ve played in this year we both agreed that this was the best value for our money spent. In fact she was a little perturbed because she said, “you went to Aruba, spent 2,700 and had to PAY for a shirt. Here you go to Biloxi, pay 299 and they GAVE you a shirt.” Hmmm, makes one wonder.
I know that I said I was not going to post for a month but in this case I felt a shout out needed to be given to the Imperial Palace for a job well done. In fact I would like to see them hold this event on a semi-annual or a quarterly basis. Given the facilities that IP has this could become a premier event in the Southeast Region and with proper promotion could eclipse the $250,000 event held at the Horseshoe in Tunica.
At a time when Biloxi is attempting to “return to normal” after Hurricane Katrina this BJT, in my humble opinion, is a great step in the right direction.
I'd give this 4 1/2 stars out of 5
On a side note: Barona changed THEIR UBT qualifier from June 8-10. This is a perfect example of STUPID MARKETING. I read earlier where TedinNaples had made flight plans to be there and now it's changed. I too was about to make flight plans to go for the weekend. Now I find it's changed. This is the second time that Barona has done this, the first being in April so it wouldn't overlap with The Palms event.
There aren't THAT many UBT circuit events available and now Barona f****s up another one with their scheduling. That 10,000 buy in for the 1,000,000 prize is begining to look like a good EV event. Hey Mr. Rubin, please talk to the IP people PLEASE. Or at least have your scheduling department get their act together.
Registration was on Friday from 5-9 and there was a LONG line. Upon registering all participants received a complimentary short sleeved silk shirt with embroidery on the front: Imperial Palace 100,000 Blackjack Tournament. It was a very nice shirt. The staff seemed a bit overwhelmed but they had the written rules ready to go. In the lobby they had a welcome reception for the BJT guests with a live band, food, etc..
The tournament was a TBJT. The difference is that the BJT was held in their convention area and NOT on the casino floor. While at first I thought this a bit strange I actually liked this set up. The staff of the IP had 10 players BJ tables with 6 per table. There were plenty of other tables on the side for observers/guests/players not playing. In fact they had a cash bar there and the whole region was nicely decorated to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
The first round had 2 people advancing with re-buys available for $50! The 2nd round has 2 people advancing also. In the semi-final round it was a single person advancing and they had a wild card drawing right to the final table.
The staff was very nice and personable – there was some good ole Southern Hospitality. They were very clear about the rules and strict about the betting.
What impressed me what the prize fund and the buy-in and the number of players that registered – over 300. In fact I believe that IP was surprised at the response that they had to the event. They shouldn’t have been. With a very reasonable buy in, a good format, low re-buy and high prize pool this is the recipe for success.
This, in my opinion, is the correct way to hold these BJT. There were several things that IP did right:
1. A fee that allows plenty of participation.
2. Comping the players that the casino wants and allowing outside participation in order to get “new faces” into the mix.
3. Providing the shirts was a nice touch
4. Having the BJ tourney with areas for observers – in their conference region was very well thought out
As a player who hadn’t been to Biloxi before I would be very inclined to return. The only suggestions that I would make to the IP staff: have some “background” music in the tournament region – it was TOO quiet. Have some wild-card drawings into the semi-final round too. There were only 4 people per table. You could have had 5 people – therefore 5 wild card drawings and it would have sweetened the pot for the attending players.
Having the tourney over a Sat and Sunday, in my opinion, is the SMARTEST way to do this. Why? It increases the possible number of players coming to play. Let’s face it when you come to play and the tourney is a two-day event what are you going to do AFTER your 1st round? Plus you get players who are NOT retired. Yes, it’s great for retired people to have less competition but this TBJ needs new blood. I’m sorry but when I’M one of the youngest players something is definitely wrong. Look at poker. It’s DOMINATED with younger players and lets face it once you’ve played poker or BJT it can get kind of habit forming.
I would HOPE that any tournament director would look at how the IP handled this tournament as a template in how to host an event. This is my personal opinion but there are several things that I look for when picking and choosing which event to attend:
1. Convenience – have it over a weekend. One or two days preferably.
2. Good prize pool – 30,000 minimum. Over 50,000 is preferable.
3. Friendly people/staff who make the registration process fast, easy and enjoyable.
4. Great value. By staying at the IP I spent over 8 hours at their tables. I gave them plenty of side action. During my time at the tables several dealers made comments about how it was “extra” crowded that weekend.
5. Gifts/Promotions. Now this may sound stupid but the silk shirt was a really nice touch. In fact I would be more likely to wear it at the next BJT that I attend in order to make THAT establishment aware of what’s taking place out there.
After talking to my wife and discussing the various tournaments that I’ve played in this year we both agreed that this was the best value for our money spent. In fact she was a little perturbed because she said, “you went to Aruba, spent 2,700 and had to PAY for a shirt. Here you go to Biloxi, pay 299 and they GAVE you a shirt.” Hmmm, makes one wonder.
I know that I said I was not going to post for a month but in this case I felt a shout out needed to be given to the Imperial Palace for a job well done. In fact I would like to see them hold this event on a semi-annual or a quarterly basis. Given the facilities that IP has this could become a premier event in the Southeast Region and with proper promotion could eclipse the $250,000 event held at the Horseshoe in Tunica.
At a time when Biloxi is attempting to “return to normal” after Hurricane Katrina this BJT, in my humble opinion, is a great step in the right direction.
I'd give this 4 1/2 stars out of 5
On a side note: Barona changed THEIR UBT qualifier from June 8-10. This is a perfect example of STUPID MARKETING. I read earlier where TedinNaples had made flight plans to be there and now it's changed. I too was about to make flight plans to go for the weekend. Now I find it's changed. This is the second time that Barona has done this, the first being in April so it wouldn't overlap with The Palms event.
There aren't THAT many UBT circuit events available and now Barona f****s up another one with their scheduling. That 10,000 buy in for the 1,000,000 prize is begining to look like a good EV event. Hey Mr. Rubin, please talk to the IP people PLEASE. Or at least have your scheduling department get their act together.
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What shall I do?
