World Poker Tour Coming to Lucky Chances Casino By Jan Fisher

Lucky Chances Casino in Colma, California, recently celebrated its fourth anniversary and is ready to move forward with some very new and exciting plans for the year. Located in the beautiful San Francisco Bay area, Lucky Chances boasts 43 table games (both poker and Asian games), as well as two restaurants. This very player-friendly, nonsmoking casino has always operated with a no-abuse policy.

Casino Host Scott Fiedler, casino shift managers Dustin Chase and Roger Rogge, and Tournament Director Matt Savage recently answered some questions about upcoming events at Lucky Chances Casino.

Jan Fisher: How did it come about that Lucky Chances Casino became a charter member of the World Poker Tour?

Matt Savage: About six months ago, I received a phone call from an associate in the industry in which I was told about a great opportunity that existed for Lucky Chances to receive worldwide recognition via the World Poker Tour, and that a gentleman by the name of Steve Lipscomb would be calling me with more information. Upon hearing that respected people like Linda Johnson and Mike Sexton were involved, I eagerly awaited Steve's call, which came just 15 minutes later. Of course, for a tournament director, this was a no-brainer; the chance for your casino to be on TV and the area in which you live to be highlighted is a dream. The shift managers had many concerns, but once they realized how well-prepared and professional the WPT staff is, their questions were answered and their enthusiasm was intense. We are fortunate to work for Rene Medina, an owner who has great confidence in his staff to make decisions that are in the best interests of his casino, and we knew that when we approached him with the WPT proposal, he would approve of it.

JF: Lucky Chances shares some very elite company with other WPT host sites, including Bellagio, Partypoker.com, Commerce Casino, The Bicycle Casino, the Horseshoe and Gold Strike in Tunica, Mississippi, the Reno Hilton, Foxwoods, Casinos Europa in Costa Rica, Ultimatebet.com, and the Aviation Club in Paris. What are some exciting things that Lucky Chances Casino has to offer?

Scott Fiedler: Lucky Chances is just five miles south of beautiful San Francisco, and five miles northwest of the airport in the peaceful town of Colma. Colma is the final resting place of famous poker player Wyatt Earp, and answers the question, "Where did you go, Joe DiMaggio?" While visiting us, you can see some of the great things the Bay Area has to offer. Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz Island, cable cars, and great nightlife are just some of the things to see and experience here.

In our cardroom, we currently host one of largest no-limit games in the world, and our jackpots are routinely more than $50,000. Our weekly tournaments feature guarantees of more than $20,000. Tournament Director Matt Savage is comfortable with big-time tournament poker after returning from 40 days at the World Series of Poker and being one of the co-founders of the Tournament Directors Association.

JF: When is your World Poker Tour event?

Dustin Chase: The World Poker Tour event will be the final event of our annual Gold Rush tournament, Nov. 2-11. It will be a $3,150 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament, and will last two days and feature a $300,000 guarantee - the largest in Northern California history. Seating for the WPT event will be limited to 200 players, and we anticipate that it will be sold out. Each player will receive a special WPT jacket and hat, and will be treated to a fabulous brunch buffet in Rene's Fine Dining gourmet restaurant.

JF: What are some of the other tournament events during the Gold Rush?

MS: The schedule includes two $220 limit hold'em tournaments, a $220 partners bounty hold'em event, in which players can eliminate designated bounty teams and claim $200 bounties, a $220 Omaha eight-or-better event, and a $220 seven-card stud tournament. The weekend will begin with a Friday night $530 no-limit hold'em shootout. A unique twist to the shootout is that if you finish second at your original table, you have a 10 percent stake in the player who beat you. On Saturday morning, Lucky Chances will host a poker seminar in Rene's Fine Dining restaurant with guest speakers Linda Johnson, Mike Sexton, and Jan Fisher. All are accomplished players and writers for Card Player. Following the seminar, the $1,050 TOC (Town of Colma) tournament will be held. This mixed-game tournament format will rotate between limit hold'em, Omaha eight-or-better, and seven-card stud through the first 12 levels, and then will change to no-limit hold'em.

JF: When will satellites begin?

MS: We have just begun qualifying players for two separate $10,000-added supersatellites in our weekly tournaments, and will start $500-added no-limit qualifying tournaments in the near future. In addition, we will have a full schedule of single-table satellites and supersatellites beginning on Oct. 1. Players with questions can contact me at (650) 758-2237, Ext. 139, or ask to speak with a shift manager.

JF: What do you think is behind Lucky Chances' success?

Roger Rogge: We understand that we're in the customer-service business. We are accessible to our customers and act on issues that concern them. We don't manage from "upstairs"; we are on the floor greeting and talking to players every day.

SF: I agree. We are always looking to improve and are never satisfied with the status quo.

JF: Do you have any ongoing promotions and special offers for players?

DC: We serve free hors d'oeuvres three times a day and offer a players menu with reduced prices. Also, all games $20-$40 and higher have a $7 time collection, regardless of how high the limit is. Two hours per day, twice a day, in our $3-$6, $6-$12, and $9-$18 games, players who get aces beaten win a rack of chips for that game. In addition, Lucky Chances has a wide variety of games and limits to suit just about everyone.

We also have live entertainment daily and karaoke twice a week, and a disc jockey spins records for dancing five nights a week.

JF: Thanks for your time. I look forward to my return visit to Lucky Chances for the Gold Rush tournament.