The Tropicana Hotel and Casino has re-opened its poker room, nearly a decade after closing the poker room. I was one of the regulars at the earlier poker room located just outside the Trop's famous buffet. The room was managed by Satellite Sam, one of the true innovators of poker room marketing. They called him Satellite Sam because it was his idea to host low buy-in poker tournaments offering a seat in a major tournament as the prize. The idea really caught on when satellite winners begin doing well in some of the major events and then in 1983 Tom McEvoy won a $10,000 WSOP main event seat in a satellite and went on to win the World Championship. Satellite tournaments have found a permanent place in the world of tournament poker and are part of reason for poker's current popularity.

The Tropicana's new room is located just inside the north entrance on the casino floor. Easy access to self-parking and valet, without a long walk, should appeal to most poker players. The room has six tables arranged to give players a feeling of comfortable spaciousness. Early photos of Las Vegas cover the walls, quite fitting in this Vegas centennial year. The room opens into the casino so players have a good view of all the gaming action without the roar of the crowd. The games currently spread in the room are all hold'em, just like on TV. You can find $1-$3 and $2-$6 Limit Hold'em games running around the clock. A $40-$100 buy-in No Limit Hold'em game will appeal to even the most serious poker player. Evidence of the popularity of the Tropicana's poker room is no empty seats on weekends, every seat taken and players on the wait list ensure full games. The crowd is primarily made up of tourist with few locals in the games, a definite plus for anyone new to Vegas poker. The staff is friendly and accommodating with all skill levels of player welcome, from the "I've never played before" to the "I just won the WSOP."

The Tropicana poker operations are managed by long time Trop employee, Mark Karoll. He can always be found in the poker room watching over the action. Mark said the room will be offering single table SNG Hold'em tournament in the near future. As an added bonus two large screen plasma TV's are being installed so players can follow all the sports action. The Tropicana Poker Room is a welcome addition to the Las Vegas poker scene. We are proud of their sponsorship of this blog. They help us to bring to you all the Las Vegas and Poker news, so stop in and enjoy their hospitality and play some poker, Tropicana style. The toll free number to the Tropicana Hotel and Casino: 1.888.826.8767

And finally, continuing the Satellite Sam story, the most probable reason Satellite Sam left the Tropicana was a result of his own creativity. Riding on the crest of popularity from his satellite tournaments, Sam continued to find new and unorthodox ways to promote the poker room. Combining various competitive sporting events with a poker tournament was well received and kept the poker room full. You might find yourself bowling one day and playing poker the next or maybe trap shooting and poker or a marathon and poker. Sam finally found the perfect combination for Las Vegas when he combined a golf tournament with a poker tournament. Unfortunately, the only open dates were in August and anyone that has been in Las Vegas in August knows the outside temperatures can be so high you can use any of your irons to brand cattle. Apparently Sam's tournament kept the local paramedics busy treating heat stroke victims. Goodbye Sam.

My visit to the new Tropicana poker room got me to thinking about poker room ideas and promotions that just haven't worked out. The Nines this week covers the least popular poker room ideas and promotions. This week's Nines...

9. Play fifty hours receive three free days trapped on the malfunctioning Insanity ride.
8. Friday nights are bring along your handgun nights.
7. Playing cards the size of TV trays.
6. The button is a live coiled rattlesnake.
5. Make a royal flush win a lifetime Circus-Circus buffet pass.
4. All poker room televisions tuned to TV evangelist's channels.
3. Monday nights are strolling accordion musician nights.
2. Singing dealers.
1. Melting chips!

That's it for today. Tomorrow has the Week in Review and J. Santos' "Muck It" cartoon.