Poker Articles

Grand Poker Room

MARGE 2000
By Jan Fisher

The second annual MARGE (Mississippi Autumn Recreational Gaming Excursion) is under way at Grand Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. There are about 65 attendees representing 13 different states registered for this three-day event held Nov 2-5. In addition to three tournaments (professionally run by Grand Casino Tournament Director Debbie Manuel), several other group events are being held such as a "smoker" dinner and an awards banquet with guest speaker Lou Krieger.

Debbie Manuel

There are six "ARGE" events around the country including BARGE (Las Vegas), ATLARGE (Atlantic City), FARGO (Foxwoods), MARGE (Biloxi), SARGE (Tunica), and ESCARGOT (Los Angeles area). Once you have attended one of these events, you will be back for more. Those of you who haven't ventured out to an ARGE event, you don't know what you are missing! Each year, the attendance for these events has increased. In fact BARGE, the original ARGE event, has hundreds of attendees. The $25 registration fee to participate in MARGE entitles attendees to the following: badges, trophies, hats, seminars, miscellaneous gratuities, and of course, lots of annoying e-mails.

Tony Collins

Randy Collack and Steve Jewett, who are the co-organizers and promoters of MARGE and SARGE explained that the purpose of these events is to have fun and to meet people who are active in the RGP Internet newsgroup. Collack stated, "There will definitely be a third MARGE and I believe it will always be the first week of November for as long as people want to come. Tony Collins, VP of Mississippi Poker Operations, provides us with a very pleasant, well-run event for which we are grateful. It's true what they say about Southern hospitality. They make us feel welcome and special." Jewett added, "There was no sandbox to play in and we wanted one, thus the ARGE events. The poker rooms in the South seem to be disappearing and we believe that if nice people don't patronize them and bring some action to the casino, they will cease to exist altogether."

Steve Jewett & Randy Collack

Results of all MARGE events can be found in the tournament results section. Also, a full report on the Grand Casino poker room and the cardroom manager will follow.