Well I certainly do travel when it comes to my passion for playing poker. The latest road trip took me to Tampa-Florida. Where I signed up to play the Hard Rock Little Slick Poker Series, $200,000 Guarantee, Entry $200. There were multi Day 1 flights and it totally smashed the guarantee in excess I think of $350,000. I have to say in my experience of playing at many poker rooms this was one of the least friendliest places to play. The temperature outside was nearly 40 degrees but inside the poker room it felt like minus 20 degrees, wearing my Blue Blood Hoodie and scarf I was shaking with the cold as were many of the players seated at the table. The dealers were friendly but the TD’s (IMO) were fairly rude and offensive to both their staff and to the customers. You weren’t allowed to eat at the table although you could buy for example, Chicken Tenders and Fries (unfortunately my stomach didn’t know that when I placed the order lol).
To cut a long story sideways, I managed to bag chips for day2 but only 14 bigs, with this short stack I choose to jam in late position several times and managed to get it through. With BB and SB and BB anti at 2k/4k/4k this was a substantial amount to add to my stack. We were patient, not only managing to cash but laddering in the money. Finishing 58th out of 2111 players for $753.
Now here’s an interesting fact; Each Country has different rules and regulations when it comes to winnings in tournaments. The UK obviously do not withhold any tax, it’s the same with many European Countries (I think). Playing in Vegas and other US States, if you cash under $5,000 that is for $4,999 as a UK citizen they don’t withhold tax but anything over that amount they withhold 30% which is sent to the IRS and then you have to claim it back via the UK, unless you are fortunate to cash in somewhere like the Rio or the Venetian where they will file an ITIN for you and release the full amount. I know several casino’s that don’t offer this service e.g. The Golden Nugget. So once you have your ITIN I recommend you take it with you whenever visiting the US. Although this is something I wasn’t aware of when playing at the Hard Rock in Tampa. This Casino is on Indian Reservation ‘Seminole’ and has its own totally separate rules to the rest of America. When I went to collect my winnings the cashier said they would withhold 30% from any payout amount, and I told her she was mistaken and that I also have my ITIN on me, she called her Manager over behind the cage and then they paid me in full. Only to receive a letter in the UK a week later saying I had to go back to the casino and give them the 30% back as they do not recognise the treaty with the UK or an ITIN. This is where I am baffled as they allege they send monies to the IRS, to which I said, ‘well that’s what the ITIN is for, in case of these circumstances’. Well, I won’t be going back to this Casino any time soon. I left it with, ‘well in that case if the IRS ask me for it I will pay them directly’.
Tampa also has several dog racing tracks which offer Poker Tournaments and Cash Games, definitely a fun place to visit and full of characters larger than life. I did particularly well at the cash game $1/$2, honestly they play any two cards, so just sit tight and you get paid. I particularly like Derby Lane Race Track.
Early Summer is a great time to visit Vegas, with so many Casino’s holding their own Summer Sizzlers or Goliath’s or Classics or WSOP’s. I particularly like the New Orleans for their down to earth rustic charm, I would class it as a spit and sawdust Casino. But what they do offer, is reasonable buy-ins with big guarantees and such a wide range of card games for everyone’s palette. I played a NLH game here for a buy in of $150 and cashed, coming 20th. So near yet so far….
I had a poker friend (pro player) say to me, that I should focus more on cash games, as they have seen me play both and said that I was far better at cash. This is true, I know I am, but what pushes me to play tournaments is that chance to succeed and be the best I can be and cash in on a life changing amount. I’m sure we all have that dream – ‘When you cease to dream you cease to live’.
Soon I will return to Vegas in September to do what I love to do the most and that’s play Poker, make new acquaintances, look at the beauty of every individual and make someone else smile.
“Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.”
