Hello,

My name is Jennifer Campbell and I am the tournament coordinator at Binion's in Las Vegas. I just wanted to make you all aware of an event that will take place at Binion's from May 31 to July 4. This event is for those who DO NOT have thousands to spend on tournaments and would like to get to play in a large field for large prizes with a reasonable buy-in. Here is the schedule:

# Date Time Event Buy-in Starting Chips
May - 31 2pm No-Limit Hold'em (Casino Employees Only) $65 2,500
June - 1 2pm No-Limit Hold'em $150 4,000
June - 2 4pm Pot-Limit Hold'em $150 4,000
June - 3 4pm Limit Hold'em $150 4,000
June - 4 2pm Limit Omaha 8 or better $150 4,000
June - 5 2pm No-Limit Hold'em $200 5,000
June - 6 2pm No-Limit Hold'em (six handed) $150 4,000
June - 7 2pm Seven Card Stud $150 4,000
June - 8 2pm H.O.R.S.E. $250 6,000
June - 9 4pm Ladies No-Limit Hold'em $100 3,500
June - 10 4pm Seven Card Stud 8 or better $200 5,000
June - 11 2pm No-Limit Hold'em Shootout $150 4,000
June - 12 2pm No-Limit Hold'em $500 10,000
June - 13 2pm Pot-Limit Omaha $150 4,000
June - 14 2pm No-Limit Hold'em $200 5,000
June - 15 2pm No-Limit Hold'em $150 4,000
June - 16 4pm Razz $150 4,000
June - 17 4pm No-Limit Hold'em (six handed) $200 5,000
June - 18 2pm Seven Card Stud $200 5,000
June - 19 2pm Limit Hold'em $150 4,000
June - 20 2pm No-Limit Hold'em $150 4,000
June - 21 2pm Pot-Limit Hold'em $200 5,000
June - 22 2pm No-Limit Hold'em $100 3,500
June - 23 4pm Mixed Hold'em (limit/no-limit) $150 4,000
June - 24 4pm Pot-Limit Omaha 8 or better $150 4,000
June - 25 2pm Limit Hold'em $200 5,000
June - 26 2pm Limit Omaha 8 or better $200 5,000
June - 27 2pm Seven Card Stud 8 or better $100 3,500
June - 28 2pm Limit 2-7 Triple Draw $100 3,500
June - 29 2pm No-Limit Hold'em $150 4,000
June - 30 12pm Pot Limit Omaha $1,000 20,000
July - 1 4pm No-Limit Hold'em w/rebuys $100 3,500
July - 2 2pm Limit Hold'em $150 4,000
July - 3 2pm No-Limit Hold'em $500 10,000
July - 4 2pm No-Limit Hold'em $500 10,000

Binion’s 2pm tournament Monday thru Friday will be suspended June 1st thru July 4th.
Saturday and Sunday 2pm tournament with a $10,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
will continue as scheduled - $70 buy-in with (1) $40 rebuy.
Binion’s other daily tournaments will be running as scheduled:
10am - $50 buy-in --- 8pm Sun-Thurs & 2am Daily - $70 buy-in with (1) $40 rebuy
8pm Fri & Sat $150 buy-in with (1) $50 Rebuy.
Binion’s management reserves the right to change, cancel, or amend this schedule at any time with or without notice.
Must be 21 or older to enter. Know When To Stop Before You StartTM Gambling Problems! Call 1.800.552.4700

Poker room rates will be available during the event with sufficient play. Please reserve your room in the “Poker Classic” block and we will take care of the rate adjustment after you have played in cash games or tournaments. The poker room rates are $29.95 - Weekday and $45 - Fri & Sat.

The rake for our tournaments are as follows:

1st Annual Binion’s Poker Classic

Buy-in Prize Pool Entry Fee Rake % Return
$65 $52 $13 20% 80%
$100 $83 $17 17% 83%
$150 $126 $24 16% 84%
$200 $170 $30 15% 85%
$250 $215 $35 14% 86%
$500 $455 $45 9% 91%
$1,000 $940 $60 6% 94%

The structures should be added to Binion's website in the next couple of days. The $65 buy-in has 20 minute levels, the $100-$250 has 30 minute levels, the $500 buy-in has 40 minute levels, and the $1000 PLO has 45 minute levels.

If you have any questions, feel free to post them here and I will be more than happy to respond. I hope to see many of you there! Good Luck

Jennifer

Nice idea, Jen. Hope it works out well. I'll be down for some of these.

What is the number next to the buy ins? I assume it's the starting chip count or is it the guaranteed prize pool?

Have you thought about awarding a prize for best overall player based on a point system? Perhaps a seat at the WSOP main event which starts after yours is finished. Or, if you don't want to promote the WSOP, perhaps some other valuable cash prize/car etc. I think that would go a long long way to attracting media coverage for Binions poker.

Read the line directly above the first date listed. Yes, it's the starting chip count.

Maybe I'll plan my trip to hit one or 2 of these. If you hit any of the early ones let me know how they go.

We are going to consider that for next year's event. This year we are just going to run the tournaments as stand-alone tournaments. This year we are going to see how they do individually, as that may discourage some players from playing if they are only able to play in 1 or 2 events. Usually money is taken out of the prize pool for a "grand prize" and players who do not think they will get enough points to win will not play if they are not going to be in town or at Binion's for the bulk of the event.

Jennifer

what a great place for PAYBACK!

some time ago, i stayed a week at Binions. i just want to say what a fantastic place. everyone was very friendly and treated me great. it was my plan to check out lots of poker rooms while i was in vegas, but i always ended up spending most of my days and nights right at home at Binions. it was almost like the dealers were trained to make it all about having fun. they were all great.

i could go on and on...

but the people at Binions often seemed to go above and beyond good service and this post/endorsement is a small way for me to say thanks.

the tourneys look fun, i wish i could participate

have fun

Just wanted to let you know that the event structure sheets are now available at binions.com under the Binion's Poker Classic link. If you click on the event name, a structure sheet will pop up. Thanks and good luck.

Jennifer

Thanks for the positive comments about Binion's team members. We try to make sure everyone has a GREAT experience.

Jennifer--not sure why you'd have to take additional money out. I'm sure that a couple thousand wouldn't eat too much into the entry fees collected over the course of these events. Or, preferably for you, I don't see why a local business or businesses might not want their name affiliated. That will go a long way toward publicity for the event, too, get you on radio stations etc. Could make a nice feature piece for Binion's on ESPN during WSOP coverage.

Many other tourneys like the WSOP, foxwoods world poker finals etc. offer a nice prize to the winner and that never detracts from entrants, only encourages more media which leads to more entrants. Business-wise, it seems like a no-brainer to try to get some sponsorship(s) if Binion's doesn't want to put it up out of some of the entry fees.

I'll even start you off, I'll offer a candlelight dinner and a free massage to the best female player!

On another note, will it be held up in Benny's bullpen area like the old WSOP or down on the main poker room?

Hmmm......I was seriously considering making my summer trip include 1 or more of these events. I will probably have to be in St. Louis on 6/30 but the 6/28 and 7/2 events definately interest me. I am discouraged by the roughly 20% fee though. I agree with Murf that it would seem that this sort of event could get sponsors to absorb most if not all of that. If the fees were 10% or less my flight would already be booked and I'd stay a week at least. No matter what though I have to use my freebie ticket by 7/28 so give me call Murf and we'll hook up. I'll probably be coming solo this time.

Thank you so much for the input, I really do appreciate feedback. The juice on the $100 event is 17% and the $150 is 16%. There is no staff withhold after the juice is taken out (most places take out an additional 3-5%.) I'm not sure where you live, but this is very low juice for this buy-in
in Las Vegas.

Ceasars Palace 7pm tournament - $120 buy-in 20% rake + 3% for staff
MGM Grand 6pm tournament - $125 buy-in 20% rake + ? staff
Mirage Tues 7pm tournament - $130 buy-in 26% rake + 3% for staff
Venetian 8pm tournament - $130 buy-in 16% rake + 3% for staff

The Binion's Poker Classic Events:
$100 buy-in 17% rake - 0% for staff
$150 buy-in 16% rake - 0% for staff
$200 buy-in 15% rake - 0% for staff
$250 buy-in 14% rake - 0% for staff
$500 buy-in 9% rake - 0% for staff
$1000 buy-in 6% rake - 0% for staff

I don't believe merf was talking about sponsors coving the entry fee. I believe he was referring to getting sponsors to put money/prizes up for the best player based on points. Even the events that have multi-million dollar sponsors don't use that money toward reducing the juice. Good luck in whatever you chose to do, just please realize that these events are some of the lowest juice events you will find in Las Vegas.

Jennifer

merf, we are discussing the possibilities of sponsors. Thanks for the great idea!

I didn't mean to infer that the rakes were higher than other casinos and I apologize if that's how it appeared. My comment that if the rake was 10% I'd already be booked was more of a tongue in cheek comment than seriously expecting that to be reality. After re-reading my previous post I see how I didn't state it very well. I realize what you're saying about how the sponsor money would, in theory, be used and that in essence is what I was saying also. By increasing the prize pool through sponsors you are reducing the percentage of that pool that players are paying in rake overall. Even though I would not be around enough to participate in any type of point total competition, if it were paid for by sponsors and didn't affect the regular payouts it would increase the number of participants and make the individual events even more attractive. It looks like I'll be in Vegas sometime during this event and I'm sure I'll participate in at least one of the tournaments if for no other reason than to knock Murf out

Is this Jen (Adrian's fiance) Jen?

Just got back from the first event, knocked out around 75th. It was set up well and run nicely. Registration was smooth. Tables were set up nice, it started on time, chips were nice, and the casino overall has been improved greatly since last time I was there. And a nice turnout (280 players). Nice car show on Freemont Street today, too.

One small complaint is that the tournament clock was not visible to about 25% of the field. Other than that, a big thumbs up!

I look forward to playing more of these.

Greater detailed report on my blog.

Murf,
If you want to play in the event on 6/24 or 6/26, let me know and I'll join you.

Cool. I'll definately play the one on the 24th. I'm playing the WSOP event on the 25th so hopefully I'll still be in it on the 26th. What day are you coming? Call me when you get into town.

I'll be there in the morning of the 24th, leaving late night on the 27th.