Interview With Mohegan Sun Poker Room Manager Bruce Dixon

Jace Thomas : March 10th, 2010

The announcement of the North America Poker Tour brought new attention to the Mohegan Sun poker room. Once a destination primarily for East Coast players, the Sun will be experiencing an influx of first-time players this spring, drawn by the excitement surrounding the first year of the NAPT.

For players heading to the Sun for the first time, or those who haven’t been to the 40+ table room in a bit, we talked with Mohegan Sun poker room manager Bruce Dixon, who provided all the details players heading out to take their shot at the NAPT will need.

Talk a little bit about how Mohegan Sun became a NAPT destination and what you think about the potential of the tour.
I would first like to say how thrilled we are to host Mohegan Sun’s inaugural NAPT by PokerStars.net. It is a pleasure to be working with PokerStars.net and the caliber they exude throughout the industry. As to how we became a NAPT destination, PokerStars.net reached out to us to gauge our interest in hosting the NAPT event; for us it was a no-brainer. We liked the concept and we feel the potential of the tour will spring us into the next dimension as a prime poker destination.

You’ve been running satellites for the NAPT for a couple weeks now – what’s the response been like?
We are pleased with the current response. As with any tournament we have hosted, momentum increases as we get closer to the event. The industry is always evolving and making advancements in terms of accommodating players. For the NAPT, we will be allowing players to register online. That, along with registering on-property, creates a winning combination we are excited about.

What can players coming to the area for the first time expect? Any things around the area that are a must-see?
To say that we are a world at play is an understatement. I can proudly say we have a variety of entertainment that our guests can experience. Our 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena has hosted top-tier acts such as Jay-Z, Taylor Swift and Black Eyed Peas, just to name a few. We offer free entertainment in our Wolf Den which will host Hoobastank on April 9th, which some of our players are excited about and we host Comedy nights every Saturday night at 9:00pm in The Cabaret Theatre. There really isn’t a reason to leave the property. You can escape to our 1,200-room hotel at Mohegan Sun, grab a bite to eat at one of our 35-plus restaurants or do some additional gaming with over 350 table games and nearly 7,000 slot machines. If you feel inclined to sight-see, southeastern Connecticut is also home to the Mystic Aquarium and the Seaport which are also very popular with tourists.

Is a poker room rate available for players?
Our guests can get a great deal on hotel rooms at our luxurious 4-diamond rated hotel. Rates are from $149.00-$199.00 from March 27th- April 14th.

What sort of cash games do you expect to be spreading during the NAPT event?
$10.00/$25.00 No-Limit Hold ‘Em and $200.00/$400.00 Limit Hold ‘Em

The schedule feels really ambitious. Talk a bit about the challenge involved in putting together a schedule that spans such a wide variety of games while still ensuring there’s enough player interest to support all the events.
Since our room opened in August of 2008, this challenge is something we have prepared for on a daily basis. We have a great team in place that looks forward to the two-week, 38-event schedule. The events will cover a variety of buy-ins that will accommodate casual players and competitive players alike, so we are comfortable with the anticipated level of interest. The NAPT will be our largest tournament to date and we look forward to hosting additional tournaments like this in the future.

I know your room has a special Player’s Club incentive for tournament players. Talk a little about that and how poker players can utilize it.
Our Player’s Club program gets stronger every year and we are really excited now that we get to offer a generous point system for our players. 1-2 No-Limit players earn two points per hour and 2-5 No-Limit players earn three points per hour. Our Player’s Club members will also be able to utilize this valuable tool to buy into the NAPT as well.

How has the changing economy impacted your planning for large tournament series such as the NAPT?
In the past, we have utilized lower buy-ins with guarantees to draw players’ interest to compete at Mohegan Sun. Nothing will attract a poker aficionado more than a guaranteed prize pool, so we utilized that tool. In regards to the NAPT, we feel people will be more than familiar with PokerStars, the brand. With what they bring to the table and what we have already in place here at Mohegan Sun, we can offer larger buy-ins without guarantees and this will bring in a large crowd. I mean who doesn’t want to play with a poker celebrity?

Poker players have a lot of choices these days regarding where to spend their tournament bank rolls. What sets this event apart from competing choices?
When players see PokerStars.net, they know what class of player they bring in and the quality of tournaments they provide. Pairing PokerStars’ caliber with Mohegan Sun creates a quality tournament that offers the best return on investment for poker aficionados. Without a doubt, the experience will stand out for our players and for us as well.

Is it safe to say that Joanna Krupa will be the most attractive woman who’s ever been in your poker room?
Haha, no comment.

Get more info on the MS Poker Room, including the NAPT schedule, here.

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