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Tuesday, February 20, 2001
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Stratosphere folds poker room to add more profitable games

By JEFF SIMPSON

lasvegas.com GAMING WIRE

The Stratosphere is closing its six-table poker room on March 2 to make way for slot machines and other more profitable games, casino executives said Monday.

The poker room wasn't losing money, but it wasn't making much either, and was in the way of the property's ongoing expansion, said Keith Williams, the Stratosphere's vice president of casino operations.

"There is a chance we'll decide to bring poker back," Williams said.

A 1,002-room hotel tower is currently under construction at the property just north of the Strip, along with a new pool, cafe and expanded buffet. The poker room sits at the casino's southeast corner.

Managed by Stanley Baker, the Stratosphere's poker room established a market niche in Las Vegas, hosting the city's only regularly scheduled small stakes no-limit hold'em games.

Williams said he made the decision to close the poker room about a month ago, and advised the room's three supervisors and 11 full- and part-time dealers of the closure two weeks later.

"We'll pay for (the poker room employees) to go to (casino table game) dealers school," Williams said. "If the (poker dealers and supervisors) want to stay with the Stratosphere, they'd be cross-trained, and would be available to return to poker if we decide to reopen the poker room."