Revel Poker, Atlantic City Poker hype thread

[layemdown]

This will hopefully be the starter for Revel poker which should open in April or May 2012. There are many rumors regarding the size of the Revel poker room which will perhaps range from 70 to 110 tables. I have talked to Revel public relations, but there has been no confirmation from management on the precise number of tables planned at this time.

I expect they plan a first class room, but Revel will have difficulty hosting a national major tournament series since it’s doubtful that the “World Poker Tour” could hold a world class event at Revel because of its affiliation with the Borgata. Also, the “World Series of Poker” series is owned by Caesars and does not seem to be a viable option for Revel. In any event, the Revel poker room will be a major room addition to the region and the opening of this room is enthusiastically anticipated.

I'll post updates once I know more and when I hear any official annoucements.

[sgm04001]

If pokerstars ever has any plans to revive the NAPT, not that I can see that happening, Revel would be a good fit for the AC market.

[layemdown]

Lately, rumors have heated up that the resort may open sooner than the scheduled May 15 grand opening. Kevin DeSanctis, chief executive officer of Revel Entertainment Group said construction is about a month ahead of schedule and the company is considering pushing the opening up to an earlier date. Executives will make a decision in January on the specific timetable, but a VP of Table Games has already been hired and positions are being filled for the job of Director of Poker Operations and other less senior management personnel are in the process of being interviewed. Construction and organization of such a casino hotel is a challenging and complex proposition and it appears executives will wait to change the date of official opening until such time that the timeframe can be definitively planned. Right now, it looks like Revel might open in early April.

[layemdown]

VP of Table Games, Joe Nicosia will not comment on the poker plan at this time. Still a secret

[P0nzi]

what affect on the games in ac do people think this will have?
will it just siphon some games away from the borg of will it increase the overall player pool?

[Eponymous]

Originally Posted by P0nzi

what affect on the games in ac do people think this will have?
will it just siphon some games away from the borg of will it increase the overall player pool?

I think it will increase the overall player pool just like the effect the Borgata opening had on AC. It brought in a lot of younger and more affluent people than the people that were typically coming down on the bus with their roll of quarters. And the hope is that Revel and other changes in AC brings an even different demographic -- more families that come to AC as a vacation destination. Some guy who wants to play some hands at poker while his family is at the beach is the kind of player we want at the tables.

[layemdown]

Recently asked about the prospects of Revel changing the landscape of Atlantic City, Kevin Desanctis CEO said, ““There are 47 million adults within a six-hour drive of Atlantic City. About 40 million of those currently don’t consider Atlantic City to be an option”.

Tapping into that market and drawing in additional visitors who are not inclined to visit Atlantic City will likely be the key to the success of the Revel and if prosperous, quite possibly may ensure the salvation of the Atlantic City casino market

[StackerBA]

A 100 table room would likely be a failure IMO. How could they possibly fill it?

[anti1987]

I remember reading somewhere on 2p2 that the majority of the 100 tables are for tournaments only and only like 20-30 are for cash.

[mxp2004]

I hope that opening Revel will bring down room rates in AC. Now that there are poker rooms in southeastern PA, it is hard to get motivated to make the drive to AC to play poker on the weekends, even though the atmosphere and games are so much better there IMHO. With room rates at the Borgata exceeding $350 a night on most weekends (and over $250 a night at many Harrahs properties), there is not a lot of incentive to make a weekend of it. If the prices come down, however, playing poker at nice new properties like Revel would make a great alternative to the poker rooms that are now located in such dreary places as Bensalem, PA; Chester, PA.; and Christiana, DE.

[blah45]

Originally Posted by Eponymous

I think it will increase the overall player pool just like the effect the Borgata opening had on AC. It brought in a lot of younger and more affluent people than the people that were typically coming down on the bus with their roll of quarters. And the hope is that Revel and other changes in AC brings an even different demographic -- more families that come to AC as a vacation destination. Some guy who wants to play some hands at poker while his family is at the beach is the kind of player we want at the tables.

wouldnt they just stay at Revel and take more business away from other boardwalk hotels. Im sure it will make other boardwalk hotels cheaper in hopes to combat Revels pull. I do believe this summer will bring more revenue than in the past 3 years turning the economy in the right direction

[layemdown]

Originally Posted by anti1987

I remember reading somewhere on 2p2 that the majority of the 100 tables are for tournaments only and only like 20-30 are for cash.

I talked to Revel yesterday and the VP of table games is not ready to release the plans for the poker room. I've heard 25 and I've heard 225 and just about everything in between. I sent them an article that I wrote which is way too long to post here. In that article I did say, "In poker operations there are abundant rumors regarding the size of the Revel poker room which will perhaps range in number from 70 to 110 tables". They responded that the article on Revel did not have any factual errors

The Revel will be a top of the line hotel mega resort and as few as 25 tables would surprise me. The success of the resort, however hinges on the ability of the lure to bring people into Atlantic City. People not already going on a regular basis. I got an email from them yesterday that said they'd let me know when plans were finalized...... I don't think they actually will without me asking, but when the time table for opening the resort is complete in January, then we'll hear the true number. I expect a April 1 thru 15th opening.

They are advertising now for a "director of poker operations" That title alone says many more than 25 tables. Stan is a "director of poker operations" The rest are "poker room managers"

[layemdown]

Yesterday, I spoke with a person who has reason to know. He indicated to me that with only 1100 hotel rooms, he believes that Revel will open with about 40 tables in their poker room. That's a prediction based on what it takes to comp rooms and have weekend availability to maintain the bigger limits and non hold em games which in a mega poker room setting is the backbone of building diversity. Diversity brings in people. Good poker room rates bring in players. Weekend good poker room rates bring in players. If the place is sold out, what can they do? Of course Revel has another tower planned, but will open with only a fraction of the 3000 rooms at the Borgata. Don't get me wrong, I'm don't think anything is small about what Revel has planned, but the thought process made sense to me. Without that hook, so to speak it may be just another 2/4 Limit, 1/2 or 2/5 nl room. The success of Revel poker will be dependant on big games and other non holdem tables.

[R8D1P]

Originally Posted by P0nzi

what affect on the games in ac do people think this will have?
will it just siphon some games away from the borg of will it increase the overall player pool?

My guess is that it is going to close the Showboat room and put either Bally's or Caesars room, and the Tropicana room on life support. It is hard to predict which one between Bally's and Caesars. Caesars is the better room, but the monthly gross revenues reports for the past three months show Bally's is slightly out performing Caesars.

[cockpit]

A former AC poker floorperson, who is in the middle of the interview process at Revel, was told that Revel will have 37 poker tables. This sounds right.