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Many of today’s top pros got their start
down at the Bike. Sure, they’re superheroes today,
but back then, Robert Turner, Marsha Waggoner, Humberto
Brenes, David ‘the Dragon’ Pham, Men ‘the
Master’, Johnny Chan, Mel Judah, and a host of
other top-level pros were regular rounders here. In
the 2003 Legend series, The Dragon won the Limit Hold-em
event and The Master won the mix event. Who says there’s
no home field advantage in
"When I walk through the doors it’s just
like coming home,” says Mel Judah, who first got
on the Bike back in 1987: a powerful statement from
a man who makes his living playing in card rooms all
over the world. “It’s where poker started,”
he adds, referring to the fact that the Bicycle Casino
established the poker standard in Los Angeles. We all
know there’s no place like home when it comes
to that feeling of acceptance and comfort, so it’s
no surprise that Mel came home to win over $575,000
in the WPT main event here in 2003.
The Bike is a pioneer in game development and in spreading
some of the more unusual games that players want to
play. I often hear at other casinos, “No, we don’t
spread that game.î Not so at the Bike —
I always find it fascinating to walk up to a game here.
I remember once asking a table of guys what they were
playing: “Padugi,î came the reply. Well,
I couldn’t resist pulling up a chair and learning
how to play. It cost me $600, but it sure was a lot
of fun.
THE PEOPLE
There are so many good people at the Bicycle Casino
and that goes right to the top. Hashem Minaiy is the
chief operating officer, the master tactician who put
into position all the talented people who have helped
make the Bike the success it is today. Let me put it
like this: four or five years ago, I would stroll in
wondering if there was going to be a game for me to
play. Today I walk in and wonder which game I’m
going to play.
I recently sat down with Robert Turner, who is in charge
of player development and serves as casino executive
host of The Plaza section. Robert was gracious and generous
enough to share with me some of the history and upcoming
happenings at the Bike.
One of the many exciting things he told me about is
the launch of the first free play site, thebike.com.
It’s the first internet site to be sponsored by
a brick and mortar casino. You can play poker for free
and earn points to qualify for freeroll tournaments.
The Bike is the only casino to combine the internet
and a brick and mortar casino.
Director of marketing Kelley O’Hara tells me
that the Bicycle Club offers no fewer than 155 gaming
tables. The Plaza (the ‘top’ poker section)
alone holds more then 20 tables. It also features the
first section dedicated to No Limit Hold’em and
has four plasma televisions for the players’ enjoyment.
This January, the Bike started offering jackpots that
are among the biggest in town, reaching over $100,000
- significantly, it has the lowest collections in town
too. The highest jackpots with the lowest collections?
Hmm, it’s easy to see why people are flocking
to the place.
Director of poker operations Rick Cloward heads up
a team of professional staff that gives you great personal
attention. I’m always greeted by name and with
a warm smile and promptly put up on the board and notified
when my gaming options become available. When Mo Fathipour,
who hosts the $500 buy-in No Limit game, is in, he pays
for his players’ massages during the hours of
4-7. Now how’s that for service?
Shirley Rosario (owner/operator of Poker-Babes.com),
Grace Rosendfeldt, Youlet San and Jesse Knight are all
hosts that I know well. They are professional and friendly,
and they all assist in making the Plaza run smoothly.Yosh
Nakano hosts the top level games, which include a $300-600
mix game. Yosh brings a wealth of experience in overseeing
the newly renovated top section for those of you who
want to play with the big boys.
THE TOURNAMENTS
Just say the word ‘tournament’ today and
people flock like geese to water. Denny Williams oversees
the action, and has developed all the tournaments to
give the players plenty of play and value. A good friend
of mine, Denny was the man who introduced me to the
tournament circuit back in 1995. He’s a great
guy and is one of the main reasons that The Bike considers
itself the tournament capital of the United States.
They first started offering tournaments here in 1985,
and now run over 350 a year. No, that’s not a
typo. On most days they run two a day! They coined the
phrase “Nooners” for afternoon daily tournaments
that offer lower buy-in events.
At the other end of the scale is the famous Legends
of Poker tournament. The Legends is held annually here
in August. It has grown to be the largest poker tournament
on the west coast, boasting the biggest prize pools,
and each year hits new attendance records. The Bike
is preparing to accommodate over 1,000 players for its
2005 main WPT event.
I’m on the tournament trail, visiting casinos
all over the world, and one thing I love about the Bike
is that it’s always prepared to offer cash games
for eliminated tournament players. You always will find
dealers seated at all the tables, ready to accommodate
the increased business that comes with running a major
tournament. There’s nothing more frustrating than
busting out and then having to wait an hour for a game.
A lot of people want to jump straight into a live action
game and
release some anxiety by throwing off some chips. I don’t
recommend it, but I’ll admit I’ve done it
many times.
THE NUTS
There are a couple of hotels in the area that I can
personally recommend and that I feel are the nuts. The
Embassy Suites, in nearby Downey, offer a comfortable,
homely stay. An economical alternative is The GuestHouse
Inn & Suites located on Garfield Avenue in South
Gate, about a mile down the road from The Bike. Across
the street, you will find a large shopping complex,
movie house, and plenty of nice places to eat. I highly
recommend Le Chef, a French restaurant with a nice atmosphere,
which, in my opinion, offers the best food in town.
You can arrange a shuttle service with the Bike to help
you to and from your hotel.
The Bicycle Casino is rich in history and plans for
a bright future by embracing the computer age. When
you walk into the casino, it’s just like getting
onto a bike again.You don’t forget how to ride.
You don’t forget the memories that were made here,
or the friends you make along the way.
The newly renovated Bicycle Casino is located just
off the 710 Freeway at the Florence Blvd. exit in Bell
Gardens, CA.
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