Called "Lost Wages" and the current line is 1000-1 that this place will NEVER open...

OMG.....I just realized the whole point

This will be the "final countdown" and the day after March 31...it will say "APRIL FOOL'S"

fake sign directing you to scammers telephone # ???

hmmmm...i think a trip to Webster is in order

anyone up to join me?

Their website looks like something my ad blocker should be blocking.

lets recap - not what is there...but what has DISAPPEARED

SUPERB OWL EVENT
PHIL HELLMUTH APPEARANCE
City approved
any mention of the word SECURITY
Houston's first......
tables went from 12-15-20
rate went from $10 per hr to $5/half hr...which I will say is a better deal


that's about it so far

I do find the "official sponsor of the Texas Championship" really funny - $600k isn't even close to the largest prize pool in Houston let alone in this state.

here are pics of their chips
https://www.facebook.com/MintPoker/p...type=3&theater

I thought the 25 boxes of chips would be the tournament chips because i can't begin to believe that they would order that many (ugly) cash chips - but no mention nor 1 picture of a single tournament chip....

lol.....sister mary - it's a miracle - my entire milk came out my nose

You should just go yourself and then, like in this thread, have essentially a conversation with yourself about what you find.

Anyone with common sense could see from the start this made no sense, and those without any common sense tend to learn that lesson the hard way eventually.

We get it - scammy place run by scammy people in a scammy world etc etc etc.

If you are going to continue to bump this thread with chats with yourself, can you at least do it when there is something new to report? The cash chips being potentially ugly is not really important to the rest of the world I suspect, but have fun on your quest.

All the best.

good advice...ty

trip report?

everyone in town convinced me it is never gonna open...


but I will attempt to go out tomorrow....

There is a sign on the building now that indicates Mint Poker will actually be opening there. While Michael Eakman may be a little shady, it's hard to see where the scam is when they are not asking for any upfront money. The basic business model they are using is the same as a card room in Austin that has been running for two years. I am willing to give the cash games a shot.

You sound like one of those folks that deposited on Ultimate Bet after the scandal.

Once a scammer, always a scammer. Stay away from scammer's businesses or get burned.

I just don't see any significant risk. I show up, buy some chips, play and then cash out. Do you really believe they're going to refuse to cash me out? If not, where's the risk? I suppose there's a minimal risk that the place will get raided while I'm there and I could lose my buyin but that seems unlikely.

I don't intend to play any tournaments and certainly won't give them any credit information.

Their rake (by whatever name they call it) is certainly less than any other public game in this area.

So you are ok with supporting a known scammer and his business. I now question your values and ethics. SMH

And I wonder what ax you have to grind. Anyone who plays in any of the local underground poker rooms is supporting known scammers. For that matter, casinos are scams. Choose your poison.

The home page is very well written, e.g., "There are four basic types of odds you need to acknowledge yourself with."

Ah, yes, the good old "but they're all scammers" justification for supporting a scammer.

If you don't believe Eakman is a scammer, that's one thing. But comparing outright stealing money from people (if I'm correct that this is what Eakman is accused of) with a casino in order to justify playing at Eakman's poker club is laughable. And if everyone who runs a Houston-area underground poker room has also stolen money from people, you probably shouldn't be playing at those rooms either.

Also, LOL @ "what ax you have to grind" - yes, many people have an ax to grind with those they believe to have stolen money. Is that surprising to you? Perhaps the question shouldn't be why someone else has an ax to grind, but why you don't.

They now have a countdown clock on their site. Less than a month until the scheduled opening. Also claim they are offering "1000" free memberships.

Will be interesting to see if they get this place off the ground. Will post once the day comes if no one else does with report on the place.

While this is a great thing rake wise for avid players, you all are missing
an important detail. This place IS GOING TO GET ROBBED....glass everywhere, terrible line of sight and a parking lot a long way from front door. 1 guard with a pistol has little chance against 3 guys w AK 47 throwing a brick though the glass. If you doubt this , just ask Donald Leonetti's widow. Is this place gets going it is way too juicy a target. I knew Donald personally and that was a reason I quit playing underground. 15 dollar rake also reason. Just saying....

Just came across this thread when I was researching the owner a little bit more. I live about 2 minutes away from this place and drive by it daily. This is what I know thus far..

They just put up a temporary sign about two weeks ago, that's when I first noticed it. The building they're in is directly across the street from a fire station and has never had many businesses in it. Also, there is a Security company in the building next to that strip mall (Top Gun Security). The security parking lot is a common place you'll find cops sitting and clocking people late at night - especially cause the bar is right there. Also, this is close to the lake so there is a stream that runs in the back of this strip mall. You can really only access it from the front. Scout bar is also in their building and that bar has been there for a while. That bar also fills the parking lot anytime a decent band is there (they get a variety of bands/artists there). I could see parking being an issue on some days. There used to be a tattoo shop next to the bar but that went out a few months back. Aside from those 2 businesses the upstairs suites have been empty for years now ever since before I moved over here.

My guess is that the strip mall they're in was recently acquired by a new property company, or the current property company is under new management. They've been doing allot of updates around the strip mall for the last month or two and they're actually giving it a much needed makeover. I'm guessing the new company (or management) is wanting to fill spots since they've been empty for so long. Mint actually may have scored a good deal on their space. I noticed a new pool supply store bought 2 or 3 units further down the strip mall that were also previously vacant a month or two back. Keep in mind, this strip mall is pretty long. The building Mint and Scout bar are in is actually separate from the normal strip mall stores that you would expect to see. There is a long strip mall, then it breaks off to another building where Mint and the Bar are. Both are owned by the same property company and both have been getting make-overs.

Last week they posted a job offering on Facebook looking for dealers. Their website (even if you visit now) says they are looking for experienced dealers and to send them your resume. But, their FB job fair post said no experience required (paying $15-$17/hr). The job fair was last Thursday for potential dealers. I drove past about 30 minutes after they were suppose to start and saw a dozen or so vehicles in the parking lot. Looks like they had some people show up, but I don't think it would be anywhere close what they would need to fill the 20 tables they advertised on their site.

They were also offering free 30-day memberships if you joined their mailing list. I joined and received an email Saturday morning stating they were having a "home game" at the location later in the evening ($1/$3 NL $200 buy-in). I wanted to get over there to see the location inside but already had plans and couldn't go.

As of today they are suppose to open April 28th according to their site. There is definitely activity in the spot and I would imagine they're permanent sign will be up very soon. Games appear to be getting started so I would expect this room will be open for action on the date listed now. I'll post updates as I see more..

One other interesting thing I forgot to mention - If you visit their website now you'll notice they have a big sign saying ESPN radio 97.5 is the official radio station of Mint Poker. Does anyone listen to ESPN radio here in Houston? I listen often and have never heard the room advertised. But, there is a guy on there who has his own show called "The Blitz." His name is Fred Faour and he's written poker books in the past (he's also been successful with horse betting). I wonder if there could be ANY type of correlation here? I'm not saying there is and I have ZERO proof there is (so please nobody quote me on this)..But it is kind of interesting... They are now stating they are the official poker of the ESPN radio station, and there is a pretty legit poker guy who has his own show on that radio station. Maybe someone here knows Fred Faour?

Wish I knew about this thread earlier. Still haven't been paid the $10k Michael Eakman owes me from the Aces and Angels event at the Playboy Mansion, as linked in OP. If you're going to give money to this guy, just understand you're not dealing with an honest person. He has been dodging me for years now.

I don't listen to it often (signal sucks north of Houston) but I know that the HD Show had at least a brief period of connection with Club333. However, I do not believe the on-air references were free...it was paid advertising.

There is a big difference in asserting a station as the 'official station' of XYZ business and the station reflecting they are the primary sponsor of XYZ business (or in this case, Mint Poker is the poker home for ESPN 97.5). When I have a pool party, I can claim that any station is the 'official station' of my party simply because that might be the station I chose to play. Does not mean the station knew who I was or condoned any of the activity taking place during the party...

Nice post, Very interesting. So basically, because of how they worded it they can use ESPN's name and station identification, and call it official?