Poker Interviews

Interview With Ken Lambert Jr.
By Jan Fisher

I have known Ken Lambert Jr. for many years and I have watched him grow from a virtual unknown in the industry into a major force with whom to be reckoned. Lambert was a security guard when I had my first encounter with him. Linda Johnson and I were waiting in the invited guest line at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas during the WSOP (World Series of Poker) back in about 1984 and a security guard stopped us to tell us that this line was for poker players only. We still get a chuckle out of reminding him of that story.

Needless to say, not only have women in poker come a long way since that time, but so has Ken. He now is the Cardroom Manager at Jack Binions's Horseshoe in Tunica, Mississippi. Directing poker operations ran in his family so it doesn't seem odd that he would wind up doing the same. Catching up to Ken the week before his second annual WPO (World Poker Open) proved no easy task, but I did manage to get a few words out of him before he was off and away again.

Jan Fisher: Please tell us a little bit about your background and your personal life.

Ken Lambert Jr.: I graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1981 and have been married to Carole for 13 years now. We have three children, Jennifer, 14, Christopher, 11, and Brandon, 9. In my free time I like to go hunting and fishing, although it is seldom that I have that time. My father, Ken Lambert Sr. was active in all areas of poker, from player to cardroom manager and everything in between. He was and is my idol and I always wanted to follow in his footsteps. In 1984, I worked as a floorperson during the Frontier Casino Poker Tournament but I started my dealing experience at Vegas World. I was the assistant tournament coordinator at the America's Cup (also at Vegas World) for two years and one year as the coordinator. From there, I opened the Mirage as a brush person in 1989. Later, I was promoted to assistant shift manager. Then, in 1994, I became the poker room manager here in Tunica at Jack Binion's Horseshoe. I have arrived!

JF: That is just great. That is a long way from the years when you were hassling women in the comp line! What things in poker are most important to you?

KL: It always is my intention to increase upper management's awareness of the importance of having poker at the property. Many owners have the vision to recognize that while poker seats are occupied, the spouse or significant other of the player is out at the tables or the machines, Poker is a good way to get locals into your casino, and to give options to those who prefer that game to the tables. Poker has long had a bad reputation and it is time for that all to end. Jack Binion has the vision for that and I am very content in my job here.

JF: What are your goals in the casino business and who has influenced you the most along the way?

KL: My real ambition is one day to become the general manager of a casino property. Jack Binion is the industry leader whom I admire most and it is my goal to increase the attendance at the annual WPO each successive year. I am very proud to be involved from its inception and to bring such a huge tournament to this part of the country. We are not exactly in the middle of a population center, so having our event take off like it has is just phenomenal. I have a great crew and support from within.

JF: Do you still enjoy playing poker, and if so, how do you find the time?

KL: Yes, I like to play although it is generally when I travel that I get to do so. I am a die-hard hold'em player and I like to play anything from $4-$8 to $15-$30.

JF: What do you want to see happen to poker in this part of the country and of what are you the most proud?

KL: I want to improve the poker here at Jack Binion's Horseshoe. I want the WPO to grow and ultimately, I would like to host another poker event here at a different time of year. But the thing of which I am the proudest has nothing whatsoever to do with poker. It is my family. There is nothing like going home to loved ones. And it seems that even on the worst of days, going home and getting and giving hugs to my wife and kids seems to put everything into perspective and make it all better!

JF: What about specific things you would like to see changed or rules you would like to see implemented? Also, how about the 3 percent that was withheld last year at the WPO for the dealers. Have you comments on that?

KL: There really is no one thing that I could say that I would want to change. I hate abuse at the table, but have found that down here in the South, things really don't tend to get as rough as they do in some other venues. I have instructed my floor personnel to intervene when necessary, but that does not happen very often. The main trigger point here is the smoking issue. This is a part of the country where a large percentage of the population smokes. Even taking that into consideration, I believe that we can all coexist, but I do support the no-smoking tournaments. People are getting more polite, and we do our best to please everyone; not easy tasks, as you know. Last year at our event, we were the first tournament to withhold the 3 percent and it seemed to work out very well. It was the right number for the size of our buy-ins. I think that it should be adjusted up or down at other events, but it worked very well here, and we will continue to do it. Each property should evaluate its own hold-out percentage based on the expected prize pool of that event.

JF: With the tournament just around the corner, I don't want to keep you. Just tell me quickly how you keep your employees motivated. I have been a guest at your property several times, and I always see the same faces. You seem to have very little turnover, so you must be doing something right. What is it?

KL: A manager should always provide his employees with good working conditions and be receptive to their needs. We adhere to the notion that Southern Hospitality is unique, and we extend that courtesy to our guests and employees alike. We allow for exchange of ideas and utilize the employees input whenever possible. Have promotions that can benefit the home team as well as open lines of communications at all times. We try to be very flexible with time-off requests and grant as much personal time as an employee may want or need. This all helps to create a happy environment.

JF: Well, I have to agree. I have seldom been to a friendlier cardroom than I have here. It is very tough for a West Coast girl to get used to being called ma'am so much. And some of the folks being called sir just really crack me up.

Voice on the intercom: "Miss Jan, your seat is open".

JF: Isn't that what I was just talking about? Guess I'd better go play. Thank you sir!