I arrived Feb. 21 at Ameristar St. Charles Casino to play the first event – $200 No Limit Hold’em Deepstack – in the Poker Open Series. It almost felt like an ordinary poker day, a feeling of normalcy that has been a distant memory for many poker players. The line to register wound around the poker room. There was an excitement in the room as players took their seats at one of 13 7-handed tables on the casino floor. Staff quickly realized they would need to use most of the tables in the poker room to accommodate the growing crowd. At first glance, few would realize we were in the midst of a global pandemic. A closer look revealed everyone wearing masks along with bottles of hand sanitizer perched atop every dealer button.
While the weather outside was miserable – St. Louis was experiencing record lows, with snow and ice everywhere – series participation increased 40-50 percent compared to their November event. The $30,000 GTD $350 Main Event reached the guarantee by first break of Flight A. The three-flight main event drew 655 entries, players creating a $196,500 prize pool. All cash game tables were at capacity, with a long wait list throughout the five-day series. According to Korey Stewart, Ameristar floor supervisor, they plan to add 10 additional dealers and a dozen more tables for the next series anticipated in May 2021.
I am happy to report I placed 6th in the first event for $1,200. After my elimination, I had the opportunity to watch my friend Caroline McCarter finish 2nd for $4,200. The Main Event final table was an entertaining sweat, as local players and friends Ian Nelson and Jeffrey Copeland finished 2nd and 4th for $28,000 and $12,000 respectively. David Skrzelowski of Colorado took the first-place prize of $29,800 and the APO trophy. Copeland also finished 2nd in the inaugural APO Main Event in November 2020 for $20,000.
Seven-handed play also takes place across the Missouri River at Hollywood Casino, with the addition of plexiglass dividers between each player. The Missouri separates St. Charles and St. Louis counties, the latter enforcing much more stringent COVID-19. Hollywood has struggled with St. Louis ordinances, which suspended the ability to serve any food or drinks beginning mid-November. Regulations were slightly loosened to allow service until 10 pm at the end of January. The recommendations just recently changed, allowing St. Louis County bars and restaurants to serve until midnight. Ameristar, in St. Charles County, benefits from the influx of business due to tougher restrictions across the Missouri. Last weekend, I enjoyed playing cash on Hollywood’s lone prototype 8-player table. Hopefully, this was a precursor to 8-handed tables and fewer restrictions in the near future. Hollywood has resumed daily tournaments, with plans to host a $500 Mega Stack on March 27.
The St. Louis region is down from four to two poker rooms. The Lumiere poker room in downtown St. Louis closed during the pandemic, while River City Casino’s poker room in South St. Louis closed prior to COVID-19’s breakout. Poker rooms throughout the entire Midwest have struggled to remain afloat during these unprecedented challenges. The Bravo and Poker Atlas apps show many cardrooms are closed across the country. The lucky ones, like Ameristar St. Charles and Hollywood St. Louis, accommodate a large poker community while reducing the number of players at each table in accordance with municipal regulations. Dealers and staff have taken on additional responsibilities to ensure a safe and sanitary environment.
St. Louis poker has found ways to adjust and survive during the pandemic. Recent poker events show the potential for this market to once again thrive. Although I find the restrictions sometimes cumbersome, I have thoroughly enjoyed my recent poker experience. The poker room scuttlebutt is people are getting vaccinated and hungry for social interaction after a year of being isolated. I can’t help but wonder if this is a sign of a coming poker boom.
One can only hope.
Melissa Ey Smith is a disability advocate who has been playing tournament poker for over a decade, and cash games with her family since childhood. As a corporate trainer, she speaks at conferences on leadership topics which include teamwork and enhancing critical thinking skills. Her passion for traveling and poker has allowed her the opportunity to play in poker rooms across the country. She enjoys sharing her passion for poker with new players and encouraging those with a competitive spirit to get in the game.
