Biggest issue on opening day was the wait
BY DONNA BALANCIA
FLORIDA TODAY
On its inaugural day of operation Monday, the poker room at the Melbourne Greyhound Park was never quiet.
At noon, when Patrick Biddix, general manager of the park, opened the front doors, there were 100 people lined up outside waiting to get a seat at one of 10 poker tables. That was just enough to fill the tables, which accommodate 10 players apiece.
By evening, it was even more packed, with about 40 people waiting for an open chair -- and a chance to play Texas hold'em or seven-card stud in Brevard County's only legal poker room.
"It never let up," Biddix said. "I would have to say, if there were any challenges, the biggest issue was the wait."
At least Biddix knows what he's in for now -- and he knows the pitfalls to avoid when he opens the 40-table, permanent poker room on the second floor of the Melbourne Greyhound Park in April.
"I think this is going to be a big hit for this area," said Kenneth Liu, who came to play on the first day the park offered poker. "It's fun, it's relaxing, and poker is popular."
The range of attendees ran from track regulars who enjoy betting on the live greyhound races and the variety of broadcast horse and dog races and jai-alai matches; to seasoned poker players, hitting the Melbourne Greyhound Park for the first time. Many just went to see others gamble, and there were those just looking for a fun time on a day off from work.
Poker will be offered from noon to midnight every day except Tuesdays at the dog track at 1100 N. Wickham Road in Melbourne.
"I've never seen a crowd like this here," said Alfred Veltree, a part-time Melbourne resident who hails from Atlantic City, N.J. "This is a great place to come on weekends and the holidays. I think it's going to be popular."
Judy Lee of Palm Bay said she enjoys the popular poker game Texas hold'em, made famous by the cable-television show "World Poker Tour."
"I'm really glad they started this poker room," said Lee, who sat elbow-to-elbow with nine other players and her dealer, Gary Leathers. "I love the game, and this is really something new and fun for the area."
The environment was appealing to Peter Dobrynski, a player from Satellite Beach.
"They should have done this a lot sooner," he said. "It's a nice, friendly atmosphere, and I like that there's no smoking."
Biddix projected that attendance would be more than 800 for the 12 hours the track was open Monday.
"Usually, Mondays are one of our better days, but we do around 500," Biddix said.
Biddix said the opening day was a great opportunity to work out some of the kinks in the new system.
"The girls serving the cocktails and bringing sandwiches told us that a lot of the players wanted to pay in (gambling) chips, so we got that system going," Biddix said. "Also, we weren't ready for the amount of people waiting and the length of time they had to wait, so I sent out one of my assistants to find a paging system like they have in restaurants. That way, the people can go off and enjoy themselves, and we can give them a pager."
Biddix said those who want to come and play need to have a few things -- mainly patience.
"With 10 tables, we can't accommodate the demand," Biddix said. "Expect a minimum of an hour wait. This is a temporary poker room, so we're able to learn, and we can get our dealers ready. It's turned out to be overwhelming. I know now that I won't have any trouble keeping those 40 tables upstairs filled."
EFO Holdings LP, the Dallas-based company that bought the Melbourne Greyhound Park in August, is in the midst of renovations that are estimated to cost $3 million to $4 million to accommodate the poker operation.
Contact Balancia at 242-3647 or dbalancia@flatoday.net
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