Casino Profiles

Interview at Peppermill's during the Fall Poker Tournament

The Peppermill Fall Poker Tournament at the Peppermill Hotel and Casino in Reno, Nevada, is in full swing. Tournament entries are up about 25 percent and the live games are full of action. Poker Room Manager Charlie Bates and Tournament Director Billy Vuchetich were available to answer a few questions for Poker Pages.

Poker Pages: Charlie, tell us a little bit about yourself, your casino background, and your current position at the Peppermill.

Charlie Bates "CRM"

Charlie Bates: I have been in the industry for about 25 years and have worked in many different departments. In addition to being the cardroom manager, I also am the day shift assistant casino manager. I divide my time between the responsibilities of the pit and the poker room.

Poker Pages: What about the tournament staff and the casino's commitment to poker?

Charlie Bates: The cardroom staff have been here a long time; there is not much turnover and the players really find comfort in that. Also, the dealers and support staff that travel the circuit to work these big events are as fine as you will find anywhere. I am happy that Billy V. is our tournament director and that he has such a great rapport with the players. He is well known and liked in the Reno area and his name is synonymous with tournament poker in Reno. His integrity is without question and players continue to make the Peppermill one of their primary tournament destinations as they have such confidence and find such comfort here.

Poker Pages: Speaking of comfort, what are you doing to make things better for the players?

Charlie Bates: We always are striving to make things better for both the players and the staff, and we are open to all suggestions and try to consider all input. We polled the players at the beginning of this event and found that the overwhelming majority favored no-smoking tournaments so this change will be implemented beginning with the spring 2001 tournament. For the time being, this will be on the tournament side only. We will see how it works out and then take it from there. We trust that this will add to our players' comfort and enjoyment of the Peppermill property.

Poker Pages: Billy, where do you see the future of Reno poker tournaments?

Billy Vuchetich: There has been an enormous growth in the turnouts of these events and I think that this is due in part to the tremendous cooperation between the area's major cardrooms. As you know, the Reno Hilton and the Peppermill host several annual events and both properties are careful about not overlapping their dates. We work closely together to ensure that both casino's events will be successful and we strive to support one another. We share staffing, which helps to achieve consistency with all of these events, and provides for ample shift coverage in a small poker town like this.

Billy Vuchetich "Tournament Director"

Poker Pages: What is the tournament schedule and do you have ample satellite opportunities for these tournament entries?

Billy Vuchetich: Yes, we run one-table satellites every morning beginning at 8 a.m., and they are held right up until the noon start of each event. There is also a super satellite each night about 10 p.m., depending on the finish of the day's event. In addition to each noon tournament, there is a second-chance event every night at 6 p.m. where we seat from 50 to 60 players, space permitting.

Poker Pages: How is it that you are able to be sensitive to the needs of the players while you are so busy running the events?

Billy Vuchetich: This year, we are encouraging players to fill out our questionnaire asking what they would like to see, what they think we are doing right, as well as how they think we can improve. This is one way that we were able to find out how they felt about the smoking issue, which, as Charlie stated, will change our smoking policy commencing in the spring of 2001. We are in a recreation-based industry and it is important to make our guests' experience fun and positive.

Poker Pages: Thanks for all of the input gentlemen. This Peppermill Fall Tournament is certainly one of the finest events going on now. In addition to the tournament action, the cardroom also is spreading plenty of live action and is willing to spread any game that is amply requested. While visiting, the primary games were hold'em and Omaha/8, with an occasional mixed game thrown in. Limits played were $4-$8 up to and including $40-$80 and pot limit.

The hotel offers many amenities for poker players including health club, beautiful guestrooms, newly refurbished buffet, a wide selection of fine restaurants as well as a food court, and an expanded casino area.