Poker News

Mike Palm - Card Room Manager for the Tuscany

Mike Palm was born in Dubuque, Iowa in 1973. His introduction to poker began at a very early age when his father’s friends would come to the house every Saturday to play, among other games, poker, spades, hearts, and euchre. Mike continued thefamily tradition, organizing card games on the weekends with his high school buddies.

Since Iowa allowed legal gaming at age 18, Mike began playing cards at the local riverboat, Dubuque’s Diamond Jo. He continued his poker hobby in college at Mesquawki Casino, just an hour’s drive from Iowa State University.

After taking a job teaching in a Catholic Elementary School, Mike decided to supplement his income by dealing poker part-time. He began as a dealer at the Miss Marquette riverboat casino in Marquette, Iowa in 1996. He moved to the larger President Casino in Davenport, Iowa in 1997.

When legalized poker began in the Chicago-land area in the summer of 1997, Mike moved to Northwest Indiana and took a job as a dealer at Showboat Casino in East Chicago. The Showboat was purchased by Harrah’s Entertainment in 1998, and Mike was offered a floor position in the poker room. He parlayed that into a shift manager’s position, and later was named Poker Room Manager in 2002.

While at Harrah’s Mike also served as a property trainer, using his teaching background as well as his operations experience. He taught seminars in customer service as well as excellence in supervision. One of Mike’sproudest accomplishments is training current Harrah’s Las Vegas Poker Room Manager Mike Soto when he was a break-in dealer and floor back in Indiana.

In 2003, Mike moved to Atlantic City to be a part of the opening team at the Borgata. In 2004, Mike reunited with his first poker room manager Joe Willi, moving back to the Midwest and Milwaukee, Wisconsin to open the poker room at Potawatomi Bingo and Casino, where he served as Swing Shift Manager. While there he met Mike Vento, former Director of Poker Operations at the Orleans in Las Vegas. In March of 2005, Mike moved to Las Vegas to work with Mr. Vento in opening the poker room at the MGM Grand.

In June, Mike took a position as Swing Shift Manger at Tuscany Suites and Casino. He trained the 25 dealer staff for the August 1 room opening. Mike was named Poker Room Manager on September 27.

DB: Why did the Tuscany want to open a poker room?

MP: With the increasing popularity of poker, the Tuscany wanted to offers its patrons a total gaming experience. We also wanted to capture a growing gaming demographic and introduce them to the wonderful amenities the Tuscany has to offer.

DB: What makes you believe the room will be successful?

MP: The entire management team, from General Manager Tom Guth to Director of Casino Operations Kevin Beaton, is totally committed to the success of our poker room. They are willing to invest and re-invest in our players. The staff we have assembled is also top notch. I truly believe we have created an extremely friendly and fun atmosphere for our poker players.

DB: How long has the room been open and has business been what you expected?

MP: We have been open 7 weeks. We are extremely optimistic about business levels. We have seen a steady increase in play week-over-week. We are getting a great deal of return business.

DB: What live games does the Tuscany offer it’s players?

MP: We regularly spread $2-$4 hold’em with a single $2 blind, $4-$8 hold’em with $1 and $2 blinds, $1- $2 no-limit hold’em with a $40 minimum/$200 maximum buy-in, and $2-$5 nolimit hold’em with a $100 minimum/$400 maximum buy-in. We will also spread any game upon request

DB: Are you running daily tournaments?

MP: Yes, Monday- Thursday at 10 a.m. we run a no-limit hold’em tournament limited to the first 40 players.There is no qualifying period and no buy-in, registration begins at 8 a.m. On Sunday at noon we have a no-limit tournament with a $37 buy-in and $10 rebuys that includes a complimentary breakfast at 10 a.m. We also have $40 no-limit hold’em Freeze Outs at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

DB: Where is the poker room located?

MP: Within steps of the front door, valet, and self parking. We are not a large casino, so we are convenient to everything, the pit, the sports book, Marilyn’s Caf?, and the Mexican Cantina. We are also within steps of Tuscany Gardens, our gourmet Italian Restaurant.

DB: Is there anything unique about the Tuscany poker room?

MP: Our poker room area was converted from a comedy lounge. The entire bar was kept in tact, and is located inside our room. We have several plasma TVs for viewing sporting events. Complimentary danish are served every morning with finger sandwiches offered in the evening hours.

DB: What promotions does the Tuscany offer their players?

MP: Every Friday from 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. we are giving away $800 in cash drawings. Players earn a ticket in each pot they win in a live game during the week. Sundayand Monday we offer football pools. Players earn squares by making a straight or higher during the week. Each quarter and the final score pays $50. If winners are absent, the payouts roll over. Any player who gets beat with pocket aces between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. receives $25.

DB: What incentives does the Tuscany offer their players?

MP: Live poker players earn $1.00 per hour of play with no daily maximum. The comp dollars can be used in any of our outlets or the hotel. We have a Badbeat Jackpot. We are currently in the process of implementing high-hand progressives.

DB: Does the Tuscany offer special room rates for poker players?

MP: Yes, each one of our hotel rooms is beautiful suite with a kitchenette. Poker rates vary from $45 to $65 depending on the time of year and day of the week.

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