Casino Profiles

Reno Hilton
By Jan Fisher

As the winter Pot of Gold Tournament at the Reno Hilton winds down and the inaugural World Poker Challenge quickly approaches, I managed to get a few moments with two of poker’s best kept secrets. Mike Gainey, poker room manager, and Dave Lamb, tournament director, are both happily employed by the poker-friendly Reno Hilton Hotel and Casino.

As cardrooms continue to fall by the wayside and tournaments fail right and left, the Hilton is adding a new event to its already busy calendar. Gainey and Lamb are two of the guys who made it all happen. They have been friends for more than 10 years and have worked together for about two. They share a mutual respect and speak highly of each other.

Dave says of Mike, when asked how this new tournament came about, “He had the vision, the idea, and the guts to give it a try.” Mike says of Dave, “He is our problem solver and decision making expert.” Talking to these two, it was hard to figure out just who was telling me what. Following is an account of a recent conversation we three shared.

Jan Fisher: How is it that this new World Poker Challenge (WPC) came to fruition, and how is it that way up here in the Reno area, you are able to bring big poker action to an otherwise small poker community? And where will you get the staffing to pull it all off?

Dave Lamb: For many years, we have been looking to host a major poker event in the Reno area. The cardrooms here cooperate beautifully with each other and so the thought of conflicting dates or shortage of key personnel was never going to be a factor. The other properties support us, and we support them. Jocelyn Treadwell used to be our tournament coordinator before moving up to the Northwest to pursue some other new business opportunities. She once said, “If any casino could ever get Mike Gainey, Dave Lamb, and Billy V (Peppermill Hotel and Casino tournament director) together under one roof, they could rule the poker world.” Well, we have done just that. Billy V. will be coming on board during the WPC, along with other tournament notables such as John (Scof) Sheffield, Jack Slatter, Tom Elias, and many, many more.

Mike Gainey: The upper management at the Reno Hilton is very supportive of poker and is willing to gamble with us on some of the things that we want to try.

JF: Is that how you got the great room rate of $25?

MG: Exactly! By keeping the player’s rates down, we have achieved such a great turnout for the events that the poker room is not thought of as a loss leader as it is in many venues. Upper management here is willing to gamble with us and on us as well.

JF: So, what allows you two to oversee such an event?

DL: In addition to playing poker professionally for 14 years, I have become a student of the industry. Mike has allowed me the latitude to travel to many of the different events to work alongside the experts and see firsthand how things are done. I have taken away a piece of every tournament I have worked, in an attempt to come up with the perfect equation, thus leading me to the right solution.

JF: Where have you worked and what was your favorite place and why?

DL: I have been onboard at the Carnivale, Sam’s Town, and the WSOP to name a few. The best on-site learning had to be at the WSOP as their super satellite director. I encountered every possible scenario that was ever goin g to come up and I had to figure out a solution. That is one of the things that I think I do best. I learned so much there. Of course, after watching Jack McClelland in action, I also worked under the wing of Steve Morrow, another class act.

JF: That brings me to the question that I have been dying to ask. How did you get Steve out of retirement? We all joke about Jack’s (McClelland) retirement being only temporary, how did you persuade Steve to return?

DL: I approached Steve, knowing that he was the right man for the job. I asked him, “What would it take for you to come out of retirement, come to Reno, and be a tournament director for the inaugural WPC?” He answered me and I immediately shot back at him “No, you can’t have that, but would you come for this”? He agreed.

JF: Mike, you have been awfully quiet; what have you to say about all of this?

MG: I try to run a room with respect. That transfers to the customers, the employees, and the key staff members. I hired Dave to do a job. He has done it very well!

JF: I have to agree with you there. Also, getting the services of Steve Morrow will be quite a draw for your event. How many players are you expecting?

MG: Initially, we blocked off a few hundred rooms. They were gone in days. So we got some more, and some more again. So far, we have over 400 confirmed reservations and the calls are coming in daily. We have 600 rooms set aside at the rate of $25 and hope that we are able to get more. Those of you who are considering coming up for the event should book soon, or risk being disappointed.

JF: I am impressed. What makes this Northern Nevada event different from the Southern (Las Vegas) Nevada tournaments?

DL: The total atmosphere of the poker room is different from any that I have seen in Las Vegas. Here, everyone and I mean everyone, staff and customers alike say please, thank you, excuse me, I am sorry, etc. There is a respect here that is contagious. It is a very laid back poker community normally, and the guests who attend the events do not disrupt that nice aura, they become a part of it. We treat all of our guests with dignity and we get the same in return. The penalties are almost unheard of up here, and players who have misbehaved in other venues know we will not tolerate it and so they act accordingly. I just can’t figure out why they can do it here but not elsewhere!

JF: So what is on tap for the WPC? I know you guys are up to something. How will this event stand apart?

MG: In addition to the strong staff and support crew that we will have working, we have the total support of the casino. We will be a non-smoking event, have satellites and super satellites, withhold 3% of the prize pool for the tournament staff, and award beautiful and unique trophies. They are globes, very original and well worth owning. We will be utilizing Linda Johnson as a hostess and to help with final table commentary. Also, we will again be utilizing Tex’s TEARS tournament structures. We have been using them since the summer and they seem to have really caught on. The players want it, so they shall have it! This may very well become the Northern Nevada event to reckon with!

JF: I’ll say. I am very impressed with your entire operation as well as your staff. The recently concluded Pot of Gold (POG) was the nuts and I am eager to return in January for the “hosted” events. Who all will be here?

DL: Who won’t be here? I couldn’t even name all of the poker notables who will be in attendance. There will be many WSOP bracelet winners here, as well as the regular tournament roadies. This will be an event to remember.

JF: That about sums it up, I would say. Best of luck for this premier event and I will see you in January!

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