Competing against the big dogs of poker in Texas such as Texas Card House isn't easy for any card room. But there's a brand-new spot — Peaks Dallas Social Club — that is worth the visit.
Local poker players Kim Fortini (Stone) and her husband Hayden Fortini opened the new room at 1231 Wycliff Suite 100, a short drive from downtown Dallas, about two months ago. PokerNewsstopped by the poker club earlier this month to meet with the owners to check it out, and we came away with the impression that there's potential for growth.
The Fortini's run their business like most other Texas card rooms. Players pay a membership fee to access the club and then an hourly seat fee to play. That's the standard model in the Lone Star State due to the strict anti-gambling laws that don't allow for collecting rake out of pots.
Peaks has 11 tables set up and the room is spacious, so if the place fills up there'll still be room to maneuver. There is also an attached separate area to play video games, have a drink, or just relax and wait to get into a game.
The card room is new and working on getting noticed in Dallas. Only 1-2 low-stakes games run throughout the day presently. But the goal is to build up the club over time to get it to a point where all the tables are full.
Peaks is owned by local poker players who are passionate about the Dallas poker community. They understand the challenges of trying to lure players away from TCH, a major brand in the state that has six locations, including two major rooms in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Overhead expenses, at present, are relatively low. That will change as the room grows and a larger staff is needed. But right now it's all about spreading the word about the card room and giving players a positive experience when they visit the club.
The new Dallas area poker club brought on some experience to manage the room in Eric Anderson, former events manager for the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT). They also host a livestream on YouTube, and those games, like most Texas poker cash games, are full of action. The YouTube channel is already nearing 1,000 subscribers and should suffice as a solid marketing tool for the card room.
No doubt any new poker room in the major metropolitan areas will have a difficult time trying to compete against the likes of Texas Card House or The Lodge Card Club, which operates massive rooms in Austin and San Antonio. But it certainly isn't impossible, and Peaks appears to be doing things the right way — supporting the Dallas poker community and operating a clean, spacious room that is welcoming to its players. Now, like any new business, it's all about bringing in the customers.
Stay tuned for Part III of our Texas week adventures on Saturday. We'll be featuring The Lodge Card Club in Austin, co-owned by Doug Polk.
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