Poker News

Chris Eggers Director of Specialty Games for Bally’s / Paris

Chris Eggers was born in Santa Barbara and at the tender age of eight years old her family relocated to Las Vegas due to her father’s career.

After graduating from high school in 1983, Chris began working for the transportation industry. She held positions with both Mayflower and United Van Lines.

In 1989 Chris left the transportation industry to pursue a career in the gaming industry. Her introduction to the gaming industry began at the Frontier as an Administrative Operator in the Race and Sportsbook. Lenny Del Genio was her supervisor at the Frontier and when he left to take the position of Director of Race and Sportsbook at Bally’s, Chris went with him.

When Lenny left Bally’s John Avello was promoted to Director of Race and Sportsbook and Chris was promoted to Race and Sportsbook Manager.

In early 2004 Bally’s opened a poker room which fell under the supervision of the Race and Sportsbook. In 2005 Avello left Bally’s for the position of Director of Operations for the Race and Sportsbook at Wynn.

After Avello’s departure Chris was appointed Director of Specialty Games under Howard Greenbaum, Regional Vice President of Specialty Games.

The position of Director of Specialty Games oversees Poker, Keno and the Race and Sportsbook so when Paris opened a poker room in September of 2005 that added one more department for Chris to supervise.

DB: How many poker tables are their at Bally’s and Paris?

CE: Bally’s and Paris combined totals 21 tables, there are 13 at Bally’s and eight at Paris.

DB: Along with supervising the Race and Sportsbook and Keno how do you manage two poker rooms?

CE: I have a terrific staff of dealers and floor personnel. They are amazing.

DB: Your work history doesn’t show any previous poker experience, does that pose a problem for your staff?

CE: No, it’s true I knew nothing about poker but my staff has been very supportive and they are wonderful teachers. Because of my lack of knowledge I enrolled in dealers school to learn to deal poker and learn more about the game. I’m also teaching myself to play poker and really enjoying the game.

DB: Now let’s talk about the two rooms, what live games are offered at Bally’s and Paris?

CE: At Bally’s we spread $2-$4, $4-$8, and $6-$12 limit hold’em, $1-$2 blind no-limit hold’emwith a $100 minimum and a $200 maximum buy-in. At Paris we spread $3-$6, $4-$8 and $6-$12 limit hold’em and two no-limit games, one with $1-$2 blinds and the other is with $2-$5 blinds. The first has a minimum $100 and a maximum $300 buy-in, the later has a $200 minimum and a $500 maximum buy-in.

DB: Are there any plans to expand either poker room?

CE: Our President, Marilyn Winn, has plans to do many things on both properties which could include an expansion of the poker rooms or a complete renovation.

DB: Are you running any daily poker tournaments?

CE: Yes, at Bally’s and Paris on Monday through Friday we run a $65 buy-in no-limit freeze out. At Paris the event begins at 9:30 a.m. with a maximum of 40 players and the Bally’s event starts at 11:30 a.m. with a maximum of 50 players. We also run one at 7 p.m. on the same days at Paris with a $110 buy-in.

DB: Are there any plans for a major tournament in either location?

CE: Yes, now that we are a Harrah’s property we are holding a WSOP Circuit event on November 9-22 at Bally’s in the Pacific Ballroom. We are running single table satellites now and will be running them throughout the entire event atboth Paris and Bally’s. There are three no-limit satellites to choose from: a $70 buy-in for one tournament buy-in chip and $100 cash; a $130 buy-in for two chips and $170 in cash; and a $180 buy-in for three chips and $170 in cash. We will be offering these 24/7.

DB: What incentives are offered to poker players at Paris and Bally’s?

CE: We offer a casino room rate to poker players and we will be instituting a comp policy in the near future that will include all Harrah’s properties. We have the fastest cocktail waitresses in town, their service bar is literally in the poker room. We also offer our regular players a VIP parking pass that provides them their own parking space.

DB: Are most of your players locals?

CE: No, most of our players are tourists. Bally’s is known for it’s friendly laid back atmosphere and Paris is a fun spot made up of a younger group.

DB: Are you offering any promotions at this time?

CE: Starting December 1 we will have a high hand jackpot at Paris. Eventually we will be adding Bally’s and doing a combined progressive.

DB: What is the location of the poker rooms?

CE: Bally’s room is located in the center of the main casino next to Sully’s Bar and convenient to the Bally’s-Paris parking garage and valet. The Paris room is adjacent to Gustav’s Bar with easy access to VIP parking for qualified players.

Filed under: Poker News