M Resort lays off 100 people

With the constant streaming crowd we've seen at the new M Resort (a few miles south of Las Vegas Blvd., off St. Rose), we're a bit puzzled that they made news recently about laying off 100 people.

Any layoffs from Las Vegas casinos is newsworthy in this economy, but with M -- and any new property -- additional people are always hired to facilitate the large crowds around a grand opening.

The $1 billion M just opened in March.

With other casino conglomerates such as Harrah's or MGM Mirage or Station Casinos, workers are borrowed from sister properties, along with many temps, with the expectation of being moved or laid off after crowds settled down.

We don't know the entire story with M, but we suspect the layoffs are independent of the economy and are natural after 2 1/2 months of being in business.

The 100 people amounts to 5 percent of the 2,000 employees it takes to run the 92,000-sq.-ft. property.

New WSOP rule

Among the new things coming along with the 40th anniversary of the World Series of Poker comes a new rule about good behavior that some are calling the Poker Brat Rule. The nickname comes from the nickname of a famous poker player, Phil Hellmuth, who earned his name though temper tantrums and bad behavior, despite being the top ranked poker player in the world. Last year he called a player an idiot and worse after the player got lucky in a hand against Hellmuth, who was only given a warning. This year the rules about conduct are more clearly defined.

Poker Game Leads to Shooting

Saturday night two men engaged in an argument during a poker game took things too far and one of them was fatally shot in the process. The men were playing poker at a home in north Harris County when the argument began. One of the men pulled out a gun and fired a number of shots at the other, who was later found lying on the sidewalk outside the home. The man was pronounced dead upon arrival when take to the hospital. The shooter has been taken into custody and will face murder charges.

Jack Link Sponsor Of World Series of Poker

World Series of Poker viewers will have a tasty temptation as the presenting sponsor of the series turns out to be Jack Link’s Beef Jerky. Jack Links is the market share leader, topping the world of the $3 billion dried meat snack industry, like the World Series of Poker tops the poker world. The WSOP, owned by Harrah’s Entertainment, will begin play on May 27, and will air on ESPN and ESPN2 later in the summer. The announcement that Jack Link’s Beef Jerky is to be the presenting sponsor was made on Sunday, May 17.

Poker reality Show: 2 months, $2 million

In news that certainly would have seemed a little odd to anyone playing online poker even a few years ago, cable network G4 released details today of their upcoming series ‘2 months, $2 million’, a reality show featuring familiar online high stakes poker names such as Krantz, Whitelime, flawless_victory, and ansky.

The show, which is slated for 10 half hour episode, will launch on G4 in August. The basic gist: cameras record the day-to-day lives of the four as they go about their high stakes online poker business. Or, as the press release somewhat awkwardly puts it:

“These guys are not pursuing the usual goal of landing a 9-5 job, instead they are seeking the thrill of “the flop” and trading in the daily grind for the online grind. When they do step away from the web, it’s about experiencing all that Vegas has to offer from exclusive parties to beautiful women. ”

Ahh, the thrill of “the flop.”

Whitelime had this to say about the show in a thread on 2+2: “The thing to understand about the title is the goal isn’t necessarily to be super accurate or factual or even super cool when it comes to approval from the poker community. It’s pretty much assumed that a high % of 2p2 will watch the show. They are trying to appeal to random people who have never played poker in their lives. I had similar thoughts about the title when I first heard it but I’ve come around to like it. Some marketing geniuses who are a lot smarter than all of us when it comes to making titles came up with it so let’s have some faith.”

All in all, it could make for some interesting viewing (although likely no footage shot while Krantz & co are under the influence of, um, brownies) and light poker entertaining post-WSOP.

New Show Soon

Hey everyone the new show is this week 2/5/2009 at 9pm (PST USA), 6am (2/6/2009 London) and 7am (2/6/2009 Madrid). Just call in at (724) 444-7444 and type in the show ID: 48551. Hope to see you donkeys there if not just check out itunes the next day. Later Poker Degenerates.

 

 

What would you do?

I was playing on PokerStars playing a .25 cent 45 player No Limit Hold'em sit and go. I was in the big blind with an Ace Ten off suite, faced a raise from the small blind that has been over betting his hands. Just watch the video and tell what you would have done. Listen to the greatest podcast on Earth... Poker Donkeys! Podcast