Poker News

JC Targon: Cardroom Manager at the Rivera

JC Targon was born in Los Angeles, California in 1953. He graduated from Monroe High School in the San Fernando Valley in 1971.

After graduation from high school he enrolled in Pierce Community College in Woodland Hills, California. After a couple of years he decided to leave his education behind and entered the restaurant industry. He spent a couple of years in restaurant management before he decided to take the plunge into the gaming industry.

In 1980 his introduction into the world of gaming came when he was hired to work the board at the Bell Club in Bell California. He eventually worked hisway up to a floor position for both Pan and Poker.

JC made another decision in 1982 when he packed up and left California and headed for Las Vegas in pursuit of furthering his career in the gaming business. His first job in Las Vegas was dealing pan at the Sahara.

A year later, in 1983, JC was offered a Pan dealer/ floor position at the Plaza under Bob Dunning, now the cardroom manager at the Stratosphere. While JC was working as a Pan dealer he taught himself to deal poker and in time became a poker dealer.

In 1986 JC left the Plaza and moved uptown to the Dunes for a poker dealer/ floor person position.

In 1991 JC received a call from Steve Baker, cardroom manager at the Flamingo asking if he would like to deal poker at the Flamingo and JC immediately said, “Yes.” In 2000 JC was promoted to a floor position.

In 2004 he was asked to assist in the opening of the new Bally’s poker room and take a position as a dealer in the new room.

In 2005 JC left Bally’s and on October 10 he was appointed Cardroom Manager of the Riviera poker room.

DB: How many poker tables in operation at the Riviera?

JC: We have six tables at the moment with possible expansion in the future.

DB: Where is the Riviera poker room located?

JC: Presently we are located next to the Sportsbook but we are moving the poker room to a more convenient location for our poker players within the next few weeks. We will be positioned next to the main casino cage on the main casino floor. We will be closer to the rest rooms, valet and self parking and near the snack bar.

DB: What, if any, changes will take place with the new move?

JC: We are in the process of instituting high-hand jackpots and we will soon be offering comps for our players based on hours played. We also have poker room rates for our out of town players.

DB: What live poker games does the Riviera offer poker players?

JC: We spread $2-$4, $3- $6, and $4-$8 limit hold’em on a daily basis. We also spread a $1-$2 blind nolimit game with a $40 minimum and a $200 maximum buy-in. I understand there are a lot of seven-card stud players out there looking for a place to play and we are more thanwilling to spread that as well, all they have to do is show up.

DB: Are you planning on running any daily poker tournaments here at the Riviera?

JC: Yes, starting in November we will be running two daily no-limit events, one at 1 p.m. and again at 8 p.m. both with a $55.00 buy-in. We also spread daily sit and goes with a $55 buy-in.

DB: Are there any plans for a major tournament to be held at the Riviera?

JC: No, not at the moment but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen.

DB: Are most of your players locals?

JC: No, we have a good mix of locals and tourists. We invite everyone to come in and check out our friendly staff. We’re like the bar, Cheers, where everyone wants to know your name.

DB: Who is responsible for making you job as Cardroom Manager a little easier?

JC: My staff and the upper management here at the Riviera. Frank Delletto, Director of Table Games is very pro poker and is beneficial and helpful in anything I need. Cindy Fields, Director of Gaming Administration is also one of the best in helping us gain whatever we need to make the room a successful one. With that kind of support it can’t help but make my job more pleasant and a little easier.

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