What to Expect from the Mid-States Poker Tour's First Trip to the Majestic Star Casino
The fifth season of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) continues this weekend with their first-ever stop at the Majestic Star Casino in Gary, IN, and PokerNews will be on hand to live report the $1,100 Main Event this weekend.
The new season of the MSPT has gotten off to a strong start. Mark Sandness won the first stop at Running Aces, and two weeks ago Shawn Schoreck emerged victorious at the Belle of Baton Rouge. In addition, the MSPT has announced a new and improved structure for upcoming stops.
By now, you’re no doubt familiar with the MSPT, so we thought we’d turn our attention to the property. To learn a little on the Majestic Star Casino, we reached out to poker room manager Darrell Sangster, who was kind enough to answer a few questions.
PokerNews: The MSPT is visiting the Majestic for the first time. What inspired you to bring the MSPT to town?
Sangster: Bryan Mileski reached out to me expressing his desire to run his tournament in this area. We had several meetings and I liked the idea so I scheduled a meeting with my boss, and after Bryan's pitch we were on board.
Are Majestic players excited for the MSPT? Has there been a general excitement in the room?
We have been putting the word out about the MSPT since we signed on with them and have been receiving good feedback on Majestic Star hosting this event. We have had many calls about the event. So there has been a general buzz about this MSPT event.
What sort of things has the Majestic been doing to prepare for the MSPT?
We have put out a radio commercial, link and event schedule on our website, and blasted on our social media networks.
Can you tell us a little about your property and the surrounding area?
We are located in Gary, IN, 20-30 minutes from downtown Chicago. We also have a hotel on property attached to the casino by a catwalk. We have a buffet, a deli and a steakhouse on property.
Can you describe the poker room at the Majestic?
Our poker room as 21 tables. We run $1/$2, $1/$3 and $2/$5 no-limit Texas hold'em games, and also $5/$10 limit Omaha eight-or-better and $1/$5 seven-card stud, in addition to running daily tournaments that range from a $55 dollar buy-in up to a $130 buy-in. We also run promotions consisting of but not limited to "aces cracked," "hot seat," and "big-screen TV giveaways". We also have stud, Omaha, hold'em and tournament bad beat jackpots.
If you had to recommend three things for players to do other than poker while at the Majestic, what would they be?
I would recommend players check out our baccarat room, great slots, or action-packed crap tables.
Where’s the best place to eat at the Majestic, or what’s the best kept secret at the property?
I would say our steakhouse is a best kept secret. Great food and nice ambiance — you can't go wrong.
For more on the MSPT's upcoming stop at Majestic, visit MSPTpoker.com.
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PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
