The 25th anniversary running of the L.A. Poker Classic series got underway on Jan. 9, 2018 at the Commerce Casino. The silver anniversary features an expansive and exciting 64-event schedule this year, and roughly six weeks into the festival more than 50 events have concluded. The undeniable highlight of the entire series is World Poker Tour L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em main event which kicks off at noon on Saturday, Feb. 24 at noom local time. As in previous years, players will start with 30,000 in chips with blinds beginning at 50-100.

112 reviews from Commerce Casino employees about Commerce Casino culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. I worked in the Poker Room which was always busy. Was told before I started that it was laid back, but that wasn't always the case. I like commerce as a whole. The employees are hard. Commerce Casino was one of the best learning experiences at a job that I have ever had. I would be excited to go to work and see all my regular customers so excited to see me. My co workers went from friends to family and i really enjoyed that. Everyone who works at commerce casino is very hardworking and take pride in where they work.

Registration will stay open until the start of the 10th level, with the tournament played nine-handed until 80 players remain, at which point the tables will shift to eight-handed. The first eight levels will last 60 minutes, increasing to 90 minutes each level on days 2 and 3. On days 4 and 5 levels will last 120 minutes until a final table of six is decided. Redraws will happen at the end of each day and also when the field reaches the following milestones: 24 remaining, 16 remaining, and 9 players remaining.

“The WPT main event is my favorite tournament of the year,” said Commerce Casino Tournament Coordinator Justin Hammer. “It is poker in its purest form. A true freezeout with an amazing mix of big-name poker pros, celebrities, L.A. business people, and players that were just fortunate enough to win their way in. This year, in addition to the 100 or so that will qualify through satellites; Commerce is awarding 30 seats through live cash game promotions. That means that at any given table, there can be a player who won a $150 mega, or even a $2-$4 limit regular that was in the right place at the right time. I’m looking forward to watching a diverse group of players battle to win this prestigious event.”

The Commerce Casino

The L.A. Poker Classic main event is one of the most legendary tournaments on the World Poker Tour, producing winners such as Antonio Esfandiari, Chris Moorman, Michael Mizrachi, Anthony Zinno, Gus Hansen, Alan Goehring, Dietrich Fast, and Phil Ivey. In 2017, Daniel Strelitz topped a field of 521 players to win the $1,001,110 first-place prize. Once again, Commerce is guaranteeing at least $1 million for the 2018 winner.

Players who want to get into the main event at a discounted price still have time to win their seat this weekend with six more scheduled mega satellites. The $1,100 buy-in satellites guarantee a total of 50 main event tickets and run Thursday at 8 p.m., Friday at noon, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

As Hammer mentioned, cash game players can get in on the action with 30 main event seats up for grabs. Commerce has been holding a weekly drawing to award five seats. Players just need to make a full house or better to earn an entry into the drawing. Additionally, anyone who wins one of the 64 qualifying events on the LAPC schedule will automatically be entered into a random draw for a $10,000 main event seat into the 2019 WPTLAPC main event.

For more information about the upcoming 25th anniversary L.A. Poker Classic, and to book a hotel room, visit the Commerce Casino website. For the poker rate, email j.hammer@commercecasino.net.

In tonight's Nightly Turbo, we'll give you the scoop on all the hullabaloo surrounding the Commerce Casino and the poker players who are discussing a casino boycott. We've also got a story on the trapped miners in Chile who are passing time playing poker. Also, news of a PokerStars wedding.

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The 'durrrr Challenge' is back in action. This time, however, Tom Dwan has a different opponent. See how Daniel “jungleman12” Cates fared last night in his first foray into battle with Dwan.

Players Before Profits

The Commerce Casino is not exactly making friends in the poker community. The casino's opposition to H.R. 2267 has gotten the attention of the Poker Player's Alliance, as well as poker pros and amateurs. The PPA has written an open letter to the Commerce Casino and launched the Players Before Profits campaign in hopes that it will change its stance on the Internet gambling legislation.

“Members of the PPA, and poker players nationwide, are outraged that the Commerce Casino, the largest poker room in the nation, opposes Federal legislation that would protect players’ rights and access to online poker,” Executive Director of the PPA John Pappas said. “They are angry and want to make their voices heard. The PPA’s ‘Players Before Profits’ campaign gives poker players a vehicle to express their disappointment with Commerce Casino.”

Over 4,000 poker players have signed the petition. Are you one of them? Read the PPA's press release on the matter and sign the petition.

Trapped Miners Playing Poker

Since August 5, 33 miners have been trapped in a collapsed gold and copper mine 2,300 feet below the surface in Northern Chile. According to reports, the men won't be freed until November or December. They are, however, receiving food and water through a 3.2-inch-diameter tube, along with anything else they may need.

One of the trapped men is ex-Chilean football star Franklin Lobos. The Daily Mirror had the chance to speak with Lobos' daughter who said, 'It will be difficult, I'm sure, but I'm not worried about him. I know he is happy and content down there because he is playing lots of poker and cards. It is good for his mind.'

Here's to hoping for a safe and successful rescue and that the poker stakes aren't too high. Read more about it at Mirror.co.uk.

Joining Forces

The World Poker Tour Amateur Poker League has announced a partnership with the Tropicana Las Vegas. The WPTAPL hosts free amateur poker events across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, and will be offering event in the U.K. soon.

'We are very excited about the partnership between Tropicana Las Vegas and World Poker Tour Amateur Poker League. It is an exceptional combination of best-in-class brands and Tropicana is honored to be considered the home to the thousands of WPTAPL members,” President and COO of Tropicana Las Vegas Tom McCartney said.

This partnership will offer the players in the league a worldwide amateur no-limit hold'em championship event which will be hosted at the Tropicana and will see over $160,000 in cash and prizes.

“The WPTAC will be the largest event of its kind making Tropicana Las Vegas a truly unique destination for poker lovers and WPTAPL members,” WPTAPL Executive Vice President Shane McCullough said.

To find out more, head on over to WPTAPL.com.

Here Comes the....

You can add this to the list of things we've never heard before. A Pittsburgh couple has used the PokerStars VIP Club concierge service to help pay for their wedding. Nick 'TheLife' online is one of PokerStars' Supernovas and has been playing poker since he was 19. His now-wife Emily convinced him to start putting more effort into his game when they were dating, but we're sure she never thought she'd have a PokerStars-themed wedding.

Commerce Casino La

'Essentially anywhere we could inject poker or PokerStars into the event, we did. The entire wedding was poker themed, and many of the decorations featured the PokerStars name and logo,' Nick said.

There were Pokerstars wine glasses to playing card cuff links and it was all made possible by the PokerStars VIP Club concierge service.

Read more about it on the PokerStars Blog.

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