Casino San Pablo - Where Dreams Can Come True!

Little boys may dream of hitting a homer to win the seventh game of the World Series. Little girls may dream of ice skating their way to a gold medal. Golfers may dream of walking the 18th fairway of a major tournament while challenging Tiger Woods for the championship. However, poker players who dream of matching their skills against other players and winning a tournament title will have a chance of their dreams coming true as Casino San Pablo prepares for another great poker tournament. The June 30-July 8 San Francisco Open at Casino San Pablo, on the shores of San Francisco Bay, will provide a dreamlike setting for top poker competition with a total guaranteed prize pool of $180,000. Moreover, if the sixth annual San Francisco Open is anything like its predecessors at the opulent, Moroccan-style casino located in San Pablo, California, the guarantee will be merely a suggestion, as it has always been exceeded. Last year, a total of 1,400 entrants vied for $227,300 in prize money during the eight-event tournament. The top points winner last year was Rohnert Park's Bob Sissa, with San Jose's Danny Layog and South San Francisco's Benny Wan finishing second and third, respectively.

"People come from all over Northern California and several other states to play in our tournaments, because we put so much planning into our events and really pay attention to details," stated Casino San Pablo President Rick Reichow. "We also have a very hard-working staff that fulfills our mission of satisfying our customers."

Helping to make the tournaments so successful is Vice President of Marketing and Casino Operations Walter Shui. Prior to the casino's opening in December of 1995, Shui traveled to every casino in California surveying poker tournaments. "I saw what worked and what didn't, and from my research compiled what I thought would work best for us." As evidenced by the record-breaking attendance at the casino's major tournaments, Shui's research paid off.

Poker Room Manager Danny Twitchen commented, "The action's always great during our tournaments. Players from out of the area come to Casino San Pablo because we offer a great chance for players to show their skills at seven-card stud, Texas hold'em, and Omaha high-low split. We keep the cost low and the rewards high. And, of course, our locale and customer service are tops."

Poker player Leopoldo ("Pol") Conge agreed with Twitchen: "I love playing at Casino San Pablo in the tournaments. You play against good players, and the price is right." Conge also jokingly praised the casino's energetic Tournament Director Ronna Glandt: "She's small, but tough. You know the games are always organized, well-run, and free of problems." As tournament director, Glandt gets a lot of experience, since Casino San Pablo is also home to the Golden Gate Classic, Thunder by the Bay, and the Northern California Championship. In fact, Reichow pridefully stated, "We offer more major tournaments than any other casino in our part of the state." Glandt added, "Our tournaments are the best deal around. I continuously look for changes that will make them equally fun for everyone. I'm a firm believer in fairness for everyone."

Casino San Pablo, which also offers low buy-in games and progressive bad-beat jackpots that appeal to all customers, doesn't forget its regulars. Conge, for example, looks forward to the early-bird tournaments that are held Mondays through Saturdays at 11 a.m., and the evening tournaments on Mondays and Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Similarly, Rey Villanueva likes the East Bay casino because "it's close to home." He also said, "I like to test my skills in the tournaments, playing Texas hold'em and sometimes Omaha."

The San Francisco Open will offer some added perks to contestants. Those who enter three events will receive a free buy-in to the culminating $25,000-guaranteed limit hold'em event on July 7. Best all-around player awards will be presented immediately following this event. The first-place winner will receive a specially designed ring and $1,000. But the action won't end with the final event. On Sunday, July 8 at 3 p.m., there will be a player appreciation dinner catered by the casino's fine Broiler restaurant, and high-hand giveaways will take place throughout the day.

The tournament's first event, limit hold'em, will kick off at 2 p.m. on June 30. Last year's first event featured 310 entrants, 477 rebuys, and 275 add-ons, resulting in a prize pool of $53,100. This year's opening event will feature a $40,000 guarantee and $50 buy-in. Players will be doing some California dreaming at Casino San Pablo, where dreams can come true.