Sam’s Town - Population: Homeless

The billboard screams, “VEGAS ACTION, SOUTHERN STYLE!!!” What class! What a profound declaration! A declaration to tempt the most reverent of souls. It called out to our less than righteous spirits. Nothing now would impede our restless desires. Nothing could keep us from this Promised Land. This gamblers heaven! This paradise of poker!
We threw ourselves from the car and bull rushed a path to the southern façade of Sam’s Town, plowing through a herd of geriatrics along the way. We tossed our ID’s at security. Full pelt to the tables. Zion! At laaassss….t? Mecca? Paradise? Where are all the disciples? Where are all the action apostles, the celestial beings of poker legend? The tables were empty; something was amiss. Perhaps it was poker Sabbath, a day of rest for chance in the state of Mississippi. No, this couldn’t be. Oh, great roadside oracle, how could your slogan of prophesy steer us so wrong?
Our only logical next step was to seek an explanation. We sought to arrange a meeting with *****, Sam’s Town’s poker room manager (he shall remain nameless for the purposes of this article, but feel free to check him out online). He would have the answers we seek, and would be able to help us understand the reasoning for this empty room.
I’m on hold impatiently waiting an answer.
“Hello, ***** speaking,” his voice was harsh and distant, as if answering the phone was a chore.
“Hello *****, this is Nathaniel Montague from thepokeratlas.com. We’re traveling across country meeting with poker room managers to discuss the future of their rooms. We’ll be writing an article about your room and would love to grab a quick interview if you have the time.”
“Oh…well, I’m leaving soon so this really doesn’t effect me.”
“Oh…so, no interview?”
“No,” his short answer told me it was the end of the conversation.
Three later attempts to contact the Public Relations department proved to be quite futile, and we gave up. Sam’s Town had no time for us, and apparently no time for poker. The billboard had lied. Obviously this was just another Vegas style gimmick with a southern twist.

patt@thepokeratlas.com
nathaniel@thepokeratlas.com