Commerce Casino to Make Dreams Come True for L.A. Poker Classic Players

Where would we be without dreams? Without our hopes or goals, we would be like ships adrift in a vast sea without wind to propel our sails. There would be no route to chart, no need for a compass, no purpose to venture forth, and no vision for the future. Everything would remain the same, never changing, never growing, and never moving forward.

As evidenced by decisions and developments over the past two decades, those at the helm of Commerce Casino dare to dream. The L.A.-area casino, which will be celebrating its 20th year of operations this year, is a testament to the power of dreams, and the determination to turn dreams into awe-inspiring realities. All one has to do is look to the L.A. skyline, immediately adjacent to the Santa Ana Freeway. There's some dream power at work. Forward-thinking individuals have cleared the way for a new nine-story luxury hotel where there was once a parking lot. In other words, the L.A. horizon has been forever changed, and the future of California gaming has been forever enhanced due to decision-makers who sit on the board of Commerce Casino. Without the vision and support of individuals like Chairperson Jasmine Mgrdichian, President and Chief Executive Officer George Tumanjan, Vice President Harvey Ross, and board members Haig Papaian and Sal Federico, Commerce Casino would be where it was 20 years ago - a quarter of its present-day size, a shadow of itself, a mere slip of a ship aimlessly cast adrift in the competitive world of gaming casinos.

When one looks at the history of Commerce Casino, dream-quest thinking is not surprising. In 1983, the power of dreams erected a new card club east of the old Gardena gaming mecca. Expansions and innovations continued through the years as Commerce Casino built a loyal customer base and grew accordingly. In 2001, a luxurious new Crowne Plaza Hotel became the property's crown jewel. Boasting a romantic "ancient civilizations" theme, the lavish Vegas-style hotel features 200 guest rooms/suites, "Splash" full-service day spa, fitness center, and swimming pool, "Moiselle" men's and women's boutiques, "Solitaire" fine jewelry and sunglasses, "Lucky Dollar" gift shop, Arena Sports Bar & Grill, Eden Restaurant, nightly entertainment, expansive meeting/banquet facilities, and plenty of free parking as well as valet service. Since the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Commerce Casino opened, the convenience of on-site accommodations, allure of first-class amenities, and an expanded gaming area have transformed Commerce Casino into a world-class gaming destination.

Last February, casino management dreamed of elevating Commerce Casino's signature L.A. Poker Classic tournament to the rank and stature that comes with mega-million dollar prize pools. The dream paid off handsomely, especially for those who participated in the largest limit hold'em event in the history of poker. With a prize pool of $1,539,000, this event set an unprecedented expectation level. In fact, more than $6.2 million in total prize money was awarded to L.A. Poker Classic winners last year.

Scheduled for Jan. 30-Feb. 24, 2003, Commerce Casino's upcoming L.A. Poker Classic will once again showcase two $1 million-guaranteed events: a $1 million-guaranteed limit hold'em event on Feb. 8 and a $1 million-guaranteed $10,000 no-limit hold'em event with World Poker Tour television coverage on Feb. 22. Other tournament highlights include $50,000 in high-point prize money, a new $50,000-added seven-card stud championship event on Feb. 6, a $25,000-added limit hold'em event on Feb. 12, and three $250,000-guaranteed limit hold'em events on Jan. 31, Feb. 15, and Feb. 21. To kick off this year's tournament, Commerce Casino also has created a new event for all casino employees. Anyone who works at a casino is eligible to play in the L.A. Poker Classic's exclusive "Casino Employees Only" limit hold'em event on Jan. 30. In addition to record-breaking prize money and participation numbers, this year's L.A. Poker Classic is expected to draw a strong player base to the casino's main poker floor and top section due to the busy swell of side action that normally accompanies the tournament. The action officially gets under way when one-table satellites commence on Jan. 27 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; plus, there's a special $20,000 supersatellite points race that qualifies players for the tournament's $10,000 no-limit hold'em event.

Executive Poker Host Jerry Stensrud stated, "Last year set the wheels in motion for the biggest L.A. Poker Classic to date in 2003. We're prepared to bring in extra tables if we have to in order to accommodate the side action in the next few months. Now that we have Super Jackpots with up to $100,000 guaranteed, players have even more opportunities to cash in with qualifying hands in our poker jackpot games."

He added, "As the largest poker casino in the world, Commerce Casino is also known and respected in European circles. Since we built the hotel, our international appeal has been significantly broadened. Once we get players to come here, they always come back. We have become a true poker destination."

Stensrud, who is recognized and respected in international playing circles as well, is known throughout the industry for his love of the game, not to mention his extensive "hands-on" knowledge of poker. As Commerce Casino's executive poker host and "official poker guru," Stensrud cultivates the steady growth of poker action at Commerce Casino while personifying the casino's reputation for friendliness at the highest competitive levels. He is also largely responsible for promoting the legendary side games that dominate Commerce Casino's poker action before, during, and after the L.A. Poker Classic.

Stensrud commented, "Much of the success of the L.A. Poker Classic is largely due to our dedicated tournament staff, including Tournament Director Cheri Dokken and our dealers. They work amazingly long hours in order to keep everything running smoothly during the entire month of February."

When all the chips are counted, this year's prize pool is expected to exceed $8 million. What's more, the 2003 edition of the L.A. Poker Classic has been slated to be part of the World Poker Tour circuit with WPT television coverage and a special $200,000 WPT Invitational Freeroll hosted by Commerce Casino on Feb. 25-26, 2003.

"We're very excited about being a charter member of the WPT, and part of the World Poker Tour circuit. The WPT television coverage will spotlight the L.A. Poker Classic while paying homage to the skill and excitement that characterizes high-stakes poker. It will be like watching a casino-based version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, especially when you consider the prize money that's at stake," added Stensrud.

Yes, dreams do come true. Given a little luck, determination, and support, the dreams of a lifetime can become reality-based achievements and tangible measures of success. With a mega-million dollar prize pool up for grabs in the L.A. Poker Classic 2003, Commerce Casino is sharing the wealth of dream power, and giving poker players a chance to make their million dollar dreams come true.