While I was in Vegas for the AEE convention, I decided to checkout some of the poker rooms in Vegas.  A guy at a tournament in LA told me to go see the Hard Rock poker room so I did.

Even during a big convention weekend, there were only about 4 or 5 tables open so it wasn’t very busy.  However, there were a lot of action players throwing money around.  They have $1-2 and $2-5 no limit tables. The $1-2 is $100 to $300 but the $2-5 is $200 to $2,000.  No, that’s not a typo.  $2,000 with $5 blinds.  This makes for some really interesting poker when a guy walks up with $2,000, while other guys are playing with $200, and the $2,000 buy-in raises to $100 pre-flop every other hand.

Another interesting rule is their “Hard Rock Straddle.”  This is a live straddle on the button, who will act after the big blind, if there are no raises.  However, if the big blind were to raise, all the others go in turn, all the way around back to the button.  It’s very strange but it gives the button a huge advantage.  Many people raise on the button just to inflate the pot for themselves, but people often get suspecious.  You don’t have to worry about that because you are blind raising before you see your hand.

Basically, unless there are super aggressive people at the table, you should always do this straddle on the button.  Even if somebody raises out of position, you can flat call and still try to flop something and be in position to take advantage.

While I was there, most people bought in for $500, but a few came in for the maximum $2,000.  Be ready for action, especially when drunk people come to the table.

According to an article on the Vancouver Sun, Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas now offers topless strippers at their pool. This area is separate from the regular area and there is a cover charge from $30 to $50.

The strippers work at Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club in Las Vegas and work at the Rio pool on a part time basis. They get some free food and drinks and sun. The article did not reveal if the strippers are paid to work there by Rio or are there for Sapphire as promoters.

All this is in keeping with Vegas’ move away from the “family” entertainment center to more “adult” entertainment with their “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” slogan.

Technically, it is not illegal for a casino to have a strip club but the Nevada Gaming Control Board has refused to hand out permits to allow this. However, topless poolside areas are not prohibited and several casios in Vegas has created areas for guests to be topless. Rio is the first casino to “hire” strippers to lounge around the pool topless.

This trend is what I’ve been waiting for. Vegas is getting back to it’s roots again. Sin city here I come.

While the World Series of Poker 2008 is going on at the Rio, Microsoft has put their Surface OS tables in the lounges there. This video shows some “applications” for the Surface, iPhone-like operating system, like games and ways to pickup on the ladies, or vice versa.

Frankly, I’ve never seen attractive chicks like these playing video games, or even touching anything geeky, other than the iPhone. Maybe the iPhone will finally bring in the good looking people into the world of gadgets and geeks. One can dream.

Today, a shark sat to my left so I had to move seats 2 times.  Actually, I think he realized I was trying to trap him so I don’t think he minded me moving.  Almost anybody that was live straddling (where you bet double the big blind before the cards are dealt and get to act last) would pump it up to $60 or so to get all the money.  On one hand, there was a straddle and I woke up with pocket aces.  I wanted to trap the straddler, so I limped in.

Unfortunately, the straddler does not raise and now I have 5 players going to the flop. Oh well. I know how to get away from this hand if needed. The flop is A – J - blank with two <diamond> s.  I check my set, and there’s a bet of $40 and a call. Normally, I would pump it up here with the flush draw and straight draw but since I played this hand so weird, I decided to simply call, hoping that no <diamond> comes or paint.

This hand is going down the drain as 9 <diamond> comes on the turn. Check, check, and the last guy only bets $60. Clearly, he has the flush and wants to get a caller. The other guy folds. I do have the Ace <diamond> and he made it cheap to suck more money out of me, and I call.

The river brings another 9, giving me the dream boat. The only problem to solve here is how much to bet. He doesn’t have the nut flush because I have the ace, so he can’t call all-in. The pot is big enough that he should be able to call $200 but I play conservative and bet $120. He thinks for only a short time and calls with a Q high flush.

So a hand that went down the drain, came back to life this time. I don’t think I’ll be getting that cute again anytime soon though.

On a side note, Ramus, the Danish guy that I met at the MGM told me that he got knocked out at the ESPN table playing against Chris Moneymaker. He said being on TV was nerv wracking and made him nervous. I can only imagine.  I’ll watch him on TV when the show goes on ESPN.

Back again for day 2 of the Gaming Life Expo to see pro poker players. Click on the thumbnails to see a bigger version of the picture.

First picture is of Guns Hansen signing autographs. It’s amazing how poker players are treated like real celebrities at the WSOP.

The next set shows the Seamless Gentlemen’s Club’s dunk booth, one of 3 real dancers who work there looking scared about getting dunked into the water. A few seconds after this picture, she goes int0 the cold and murky water.

Mark Seif was at the PPT booth.

The next picture is a booth for a Xbox 360 WSOP game. There didn’t seem to be too much interest. I think the people at the Expo want to see live people.

Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari playing on a heads-up computerized poker table against Phil Gordon.

Next pictures is of 10 time WSOP bracelet winner Johnny Chan signing autographs. During his break from one booth, he went over to yet another booth for more signing. There was a long line at both booths. Here at the WSOP, the poker pros are treated like big time celebrities.

Phil Gordon playing against Phil Laak on a heads-up computerized poker table. I read Phil’s “Green Book” that my friend Deana gave me. Good info and a quick read.

Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari signing autographs. I don’t know him, but he didn’t seem to want to be there all that much. Maybe that’s the way he always is. He did comply with all the stupid requests from people. One guy wanted his picture taken with Antonio holding 7-2 offsuit and the guy holding pocket aces.

One of the few hot ladies of poker, Vanessa Rousso signing autographs at a booth. She’s also super smart and graduated from Duke in only 2 and a half years and I think just finished law school, according to her myspace page. How does she finish law school and play pro poker, and do promotions? I have no idea. She’s dating Chad “Downtown” Brown, a fellow poker player and commentator. She’s done pretty well for herself.

One of the Pro Player Drinks girls poses for me, only after I agreed to taste the drink. It tastes like orange soda. Hmmm. Energy drink specifically marketed only to poker players. I don’t think so. Nice try though.

“Real” celebrity Jennifer Tilly and boyfriend and poker player Phil “Unabomber” Laak shown playing on one of the computerized poker tables. Phil gets knocked out first with AQ.

Olympic Garden girls posing on their booth’s stage. Nice shot, right?

Hall of Famer, “Amerillo Slim” Preston in the halls. Not sure if he was playing or promoting something but he joked that I could use this picture like a scare scrow to get rid of birds.

Chris “Jesus” Ferguson giving an interview in the halls. He was wearing a Matrix type black trench coat.

Last shot is Daniel Negreanu taking pictures with a fan.

On a side note not related with the Expo, I was playing a live game at the MGM and met Ron, the president of Lightning Poker which has a booth at the Expo. They also make those computerized tables and Ron told me that they will have a few of their units at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles.

I really think these computerized tables will become the norm in the future. Old timers won’t like it but the online 20 something players are going to love it. The casinos save money by not having to have chips, dealers, or cards. Players won’t have to tip the dealer or deal with mistakes, or people playing out of turn. But for now, the units might be too expensive, even though they are leasing them to the casinos. When the price goes down, this will be the future of live poker playing.

As promised, it’s not going to be all WSOP reporting. Let’s see what’s going on at the “Gaming Life Expo.”

To demonstrate that this expo isn’t all about gaming, and they have indeed added girls to the roster, Saphire Gentlemen’s Club had Lexi (shown here) dancing on a micro-stage. Another dancer named Summer was giving away 2-for-1 drink passes.

On a less purient nature, Mark Seif (pro player, and now commentator) was representing the PPT booth.

At the same booth, the more exciting news is G4’s Layla Kayleigh (she does the “Feed” on “Attack of the Show”) is the new World Poker Tour hostess for 2008.  She’s a hottie with a British accent, and very possibly lesbian or bi. Nice. Don’t want to start rumors but I’ve been around the block and I know these things. Well, okay, I’m just making it up but one can dream. With heels, she must be about 5′ 4″ at the most. A real spinner.

There were more than one booth with computerized poker tables. Hollywood Park, and now Hustler have these but I’m not sure they are talking off yet. I have to think that the casinos would love to have them because it would eliminate the dealers, which must be a large part of their overhead. One company custom makes them for the home. I was too scared to ask for the price. No way I could afford one.

There were a bunch of booths giving away poker magazines, selling books, posters, seats, pillows, and of course, playing cards, poker chips and on and on. The only mild standout was a poker dealer button that has a built in tournament timer with an LCD on it for only $15.95.  I just use my laptop but I guess if you don’t have a watch with a timer, or don’t have a laptop, this might be for you.

The only thing that I actually bought with real hard earned (or poker playing) money was this “Hold’em Shades” (see picture) from bestpokerstuff.com.  No, it’s not sunglasses.  It’s a pair of poker glasses. There is no dark shading, just flash mirror coating. I tried them out and it’s what I’ve been looking for and never found. Also, the side is thick so the guy sitting next to you can’t see your eyes either. I think I’ll use this at the WSOP main event final table.

From the exhibitor list for this year, it looks like a few Vegas strip clubs will be representing their wares. Among the listed are Library, Olympic Garden, Saphire, Seamless, and Treasures. On the floor plan, there was a “Rhino Vegas Basketball,” but I don’t think that’s the Spearmint Rhino. Too bad.

I don’t get the impression that it will be like the AVN expo or even the old CES, back in the day but I’m ready to see what stuff they have since I’ll be at the World Series Main event anyway.

Look for my double report of this expo and the goings on at the World Series of Poker 2007 Main event.

Gaming Life Expo 2007
July 5-8, 2007
Rio Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada