The El Dorado Club was leveled and an entirely new structure built in its place. There are 36 poker and 19 California games tables. On walls throughout the casino are 24 plasma-screen televisions, with flat screens set inside of what appear at first glance to be picture frames. These television sets cost $11,000 each. The technology produces vivid and clear pictures that can be viewed from any angle. The picture quality is as sharp when viewed from almost a right angle as it is from directly in front of the screen itself. In addition to the television screens, museum quality paintings adorn the walls, and statues as well as other objet d'art are placed every few feet along the wall.
In the center of the building, surrounded by a circular glass wall, is an atrium with a retractable roof. Inside that atrium are poker tables where players who want to smoke can play. A separate ventilation system -- climate controlled to within one degree of the temperature inside the casino, by way of a series of computer-controlled vertical tubes that rise as architectural elements at points along the glass wall encircling the atrium -- will separate their air from mine.
The poker area of the casino has an ultra high limit section, where a $1,500 - $3,000 seven-card stud game - with a $100,000 buy-in required -- will be spread three nights a week. Other very high limit games are envisioned for that section too. There is also a top section, where games ranging from $10 - $20 to $80 - $160 will be spread, and another section for games up to and including $9 - $18.
Every square foot of the casino will be occupied by cash games, so there is no room for tournaments. Two hundred seventy five safe deposit boxes will be available to patrons on a first come, first served basis.
Adjacent to the California games section is a snack bar with stools, looking like a high tech version of a retro diner. In addition to a snack bar menu, there is also a full noodle bar. The second floor features a sports-bar with a full restaurant menu, including sushi. The area is very elegantly appointed with high-backed banquettes, reminiscent of a 1940's supper club updated for the millennium. The entire building is decorated with art on the walls, and the value of the paintings is estimated at well over one million dollars. A small gift shop that will be operated by Larry Flynt's wife is adjacent to the poker area.
The executive offices are also fully appointed with artwork, pedestals with lavish floral arrangements, and settees that look as though they might have come right out of the Vienna Opera House, circa 1885.
We were given a tour of Larry Flynt's office suite, which is elegant, to say the least. Adjacent to the office is Flynt's private bath and bedroom. The entire suite is wood-paneled, lavishly appointed, with a variety of art on the walls.
Art, in the form of statuary and paintings are everywhere. The art itself is rather eclectic in style, though none of it is modern. Some of the paintings are Asian, while other pieces look as though Rembrandt, Vermeer, and others of that era could have painted them. A few are evocative of Botticelli and other Renaissance painters, and many of the landscapes remind me of the early 19th Century, Hudson River school of painting.
Carpeting if full and plush, and the walls are padded and decorated to absorb sound. As Brenda and I toured the casino with Mike, employees were busily dealing practice games; food servers were scrambling about with orders, yet the entire building was quiet. This is a significant departure from most of the Southern California casinos, most of which feature hard surfaces that cause sound to reverberate throughout the building.
Players' chairs have contoured backs, and appear to be very comfortable. Many familiar faces are now working there. Robert Turner, formerly at Crystal Park is executive host, and Jimmy Delaney, formerly with Hollywood Park, will be hosting a pot-limit game three days a week and serving as relief shift manager the other two.
The acid test comes later, of course -- once the casino is open and functioning, spreading games, and building a player base. Nevertheless, this is a casino not to be missed. It's opening in a week. You owe it to yourself to pay a visit and check it out.
Lou Krieger
Published with the permission of the author.
Reproduction without the author's permission prohibited.
Home Email: webmaster@gocee.com (Ken's Poker Page) ©1998 Kenneth R. Churilla