- Mardi Gras Poker Room Florida Studio
- Gulfstream Poker Room
- Hotels For Mardi Gras
- Mardi Gras Poker Room Florida Keys
| Big Easy Casino | |
|---|---|
| Location | Hallandale Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Address | 831 N. Federal Highway |
| Opening date | December 1, 1934 |
| Theme | New Orleans |
| Total gaming space | 70,0000+ square feet |
| Notable restaurants | Louie's Lounge Cafe Orleans The French Quarter The Mezz Grill |
| Owner | Jeffrey Soffer |
| Previous names |
|
| Renovated in | 2015 2006 1974 1940 |
| Website | thebigeasycasino.com |
A schedule of Mardi Gras Casino Florida poker tournaments, including time, buy-in, blind structure, and more. You also can find Mardi Gras Casino Florida phone number, address, and website info.
The Big Easy Casino, formerly known as Mardi Gras Casino and Hollywood Greyhound Track, is a casino and greyhound racing facility located in Hallandale Beach, in the U.S. state of Florida. The casino features over 900 slot machines, virtual table games, free to enter poker tournaments, and nightly entertainment.[1]
- 4Greyhound Racing
History[edit]
What is now the Big Easy Casino opened as the Hollywood Kennel Club on December 1, 1934, three years after Florida legalized parimutuel betting.[2] A grandstand was added in 1940. In 1974, the facility was reopened as Hollywood Greyhound Track.[3]
A November 2004 statewide referendum allowed Broward County voters to decide whether to allow slot machines at parimutuel facilities located in the county.[4] Broward County voters subsequently approved the use of slots at Hollywood Greyhound and other parimutuels.
An extensive renovation project in 2006 added approximately 1,100 slot machines and a poker room to the dog track, which was renamed Mardi Gras Casino.[5] Two years later, an additional 200 slot machines were added and, in 2009, the Big Easy Poker Room was relocated and expanded. Also included in the renovated facility were a flea market, several restaurants/bars, and a gift shop.[6]
In 2015, the casino made further improvements, which included widening the aisles and opening up Louie's Lounge to the entire casino floor.[7]
In 2017, the facility was closed for two months because of damage from Hurricane Irma.[8]
In 2018, Jeffrey Soffer, owner of the Fontainebleau Hotel, purchased the Mardi Gras Casino from Hartman & Tyner, and renamed it as the Big Easy Casino.[9][10][11]
Casino[edit]
The casino offers over 70,000 square feet of gaming space, including over 900 slot machines,[12] virtual roulette and blackjack,[13] as well as The Dog Pound, Mardi Gras’ smoker-friendly slot area; simulcast and greyhound racing.
The Big Easy Poker Room, offers over 30 tables of Texas Hold 'em, 7 Card Stud, Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo. The casino offers low and high limit tables in an effort to accommodate beginner and experienced players.
There are also nightly, free to enter poker tournaments[14] that can be entered and tracked through the Bravo Poker Mobile App.
Krewe Club[edit]
The Krewe Club is the casino's membership program. Anyone over 21 can become a Krewe Club member, and will receive $25 bonus play when signing up. The Krewe Club is a tiered membership program that includes purple, gold, black, and platinum levels. As club members play in the casino, they earn points that enable them to move up from purple, to gold, to black, and eventually to the invitation only platinum card. Each level gives the card-holder more exclusive benefits, ranging from free valet service to complementary tickets to on-site concerts and events.
Greyhound Racing[edit]
Despite improvements and enhancements over the years, the dog track itself has remained relatively the same. Track specifics include:
- Track Length: 1,372 Feet
- Track Width: 22 Feet
- Length of Stretch: 300 Feet
- Composition: Sand and Marl
- Timing: Hundredth of a Second
- Courses: 550 Yards, 660 Yards and 770 Yards
Mardi Gras Poker Room Florida Studio
The casino, which is a supporter of the Adopt-A-Greyhound program, also offers simulcast greyhound racing, harness and thoroughbred racing from tracks across the United States and Canada.
Notable Races[edit]
The track is home to four stakes races:
- Mardi Gras Futurity.
- $75,000 Mardi Gras World Classic.
- $10,000 Joe Ryan Jr. Memorial.
- $50,000 American Derby.
2010 Stakes Schedule[15]
The $15,000 Mardi Gras FuturityQualifying Rounds BeginJanuary 13 & 16Semi-Final RoundJanuary 20ChampionshipJanuary 23, 2010
Winner: Ls Lafave
Time: 30:60
The $75,000 Mardi Gras World ClassicQualifying Rounds BeginMarch 10 & 13thSemi-Final Rounds BeginMarch 17 & 20thChampionshipMarch 26, 2010
Winner: Oya Tom Terrific
Time: 30:51
The $10,000 Joe Ryan, Jr. MemorialChampionshipApril 2, 2010
Winner: Funnelling Money
Time: 30:16
The $30,000 HollywoodianQualifying Rounds BeginApril 21 & 24thSemi-Final Rounds BeginApril 28 & May 1ChampionshipMay 8, 2010
Gulfstream Poker Room
Winner: Crispins Place
Time: 37:55
Hollywood World Classic History - Past Winners[edit]
| Date | Champion | Time (seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| March 1, 1975 | Can't Decide | 31.57 |
| February 28, 1976 | Bashful Guy | 30.65 |
| March 5, 1977 | Downing | 30.72 |
| March 4, 1978 | Cousin's Elite | 31.01 |
| March 3, 1979 | Enisled | 31.58 |
| March 1, 1980 | Banker Hap | 30.85 |
| March 21, 1981 | MKC Lorine | 31.34 |
| March 12, 1982 | Lantana Glamour | 31.39 |
| March 11, 1983 | For Real | 31.22 |
| March 10, 1984 | My Unicorn | 30.79 |
| March 8, 1985 | Magnificat | 31.05 |
| March 8, 1986 | Cajun Pay Off | 30.62 |
| March 7, 1987 | Prince Proper | 30.48 |
| March 4, 1988 | My Azalian | 30.50 |
| February 25, 1989 | Warm Mission | 30.64 |
| March 3, 1990 | Hello Higsbee | 30.66 |
| March 2, 1991 | Briggs Stratton | 30.77 |
| March 7, 1992 | Briggs Stratton | 31.24 |
| February 20, 1993 | By Tar | 30.73 |
| February 26, 1994 | Great Son | 30.80 |
| February 25, 1995 | Follies Bergiere | 30.90 |
| March 15, 1996 | Dunagree | 30.52 |
| March 14, 1997 | Bomb Threat | 30.22 |
| March 13, 1998 | Wigwam Hoss | 31.16 |
| March 27, 1999 | Kelsos Kingpin | 30.90 |
| March 10, 2000 | System Ax Friend | 31.14 |
| March 9, 2001 | Kiowa Shawnee So | 30.54 |
| March 15, 2002 | Flying Earhardt | 30.26 |
| March 14, 2003 | Ea's Itzaboy | 30.31 |
| March 14, 2004 | Ea's Itzaboy | 30.27 |
| March 15, 2005 | Hallo West Acre | 30.34 |
| April 1, 2006 | Kiowa Cruzechamp | 30.29 |
| March 31, 2007 | Flying Stanley | 30.06 |
| March 29, 2008 | Starz Jenko | 30.30 |
| March 27, 2009 | Yahoo Omar | 30.19 |
| March 26, 2010 | Oya Tom Terrific | 30.51 |
Dining[edit]
Dining options at the facility offer a mix of Cajun and American cuisine, ranging from fast casual to upscale, including:
- The Mezz Grill is a casual bar, offering sandwiches, pizza, and snacks.
- Café Orleans, featuring soups, sandwiches, salads and fresh baked goods.
- Louie's Lounge, the full service premium bar dedicated to the Big Easy Poker Room that has a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches, pizzas and a special late night menu.
- The French Quarter, which is the casino's signature restaurant. This restaurant offers high-end cuisine, such as lobster, steak, and crab cakes.[16]
Events and Entertainment[edit]
The property has several entertainment venues that host nightly performances and year-round events, including concerts, stand-up comedy, dance competitions, and MMA fights.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'Slots, Poker, Greyhound Racing | Mardi Gras Casino'. Mardi Gras Casino. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ^Saunders, Mike (Apr 1, 1988). 'Greyhound racing a good entertainment bet whether or not you place a bet'. Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
- ^'South Florida casino and gaming guide'. South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Apr 27, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
- ^Burstein, Jon (Dec 28, 2006). 'Slots will be running at greyhound track today'. South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
- ^http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article/mardi-gras-gaming-centre-opens-soon-163243
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2010-04-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^Mardi Gras Casino (2015-11-12), Check out the renovations at Mardi Gras Casino!, retrieved 2016-06-17
- ^David Raterman (November 29, 2017). 'Damaged by Hurricane Irma, Mardi Gras Casino reopening in Hallandale Beach'. Sun-Sentinel. Deerfield Beach, FL. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
- ^Brian Bandell (April 25, 2018). 'Soffer buys Mardi Gras Casino in Hallandale Beach'. South Florida Business Journal. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
- ^David Raterman (May 2, 2018). 'A new name for Mardi Gras'. Sun-Sentinel. Deerfield Beach, FL. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
- ^Rene Rodriguez; Douglas Hanks; Mary Ellen Klas (January 12, 2018). 'Fontainebleau owner Jeff Soffer buying Mardi Gras casino in Hallandale Beach'. Miami Herald. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
- ^'Florida Slot Machines | Mardi Gras Casino'. Mardi Gras Casino. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ^'Florida Virtual Table Games | Mardi Gras Casino'. Mardi Gras Casino. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ^'Florida Poker Tournaments | Mardi Gras Casino'. Mardi Gras Casino. Archived from the original on 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2009-01-08. Retrieved 2010-04-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^http://www.casinocity.com/us/fl/hallandalebeach/flhollyw/
External links[edit]
Coordinates: 25°59′41.42″N80°8′43.77″W / 25.9948389°N 80.1454917°W
The Mardi Gras is one of many poker rooms located at dog tracks in Florida. It has the distinction of being, in my opinion, the cleanest, neatest, and best illuminated of the rooms. Everything including the cards, the poker felt, the tables, chairs, floors and walls are spic and span. If that matters to you, then this is the place for you.
The 30-table room appeals primarily to that special brand of poker player who especially likes an orderly and well-run game. (I tend to prefer my games a bit wild and tumultuous.) No one gets out of line here. Some players actually seemed to have gotten dressed up to play.
Here are the senior citizens who used to play twice a week at the club house of the retirement village. They like predictability, good behavior, friendly but unobtrusive dealers, and few surprises. In that sense they aren't as much gamblers as card players.
Hotels For Mardi Gras
The room accommodates them very well. They have the standard limit and no-limit hold'em games that are spread across Florida poker rooms these days — $1/2 blind no-limit hold'em and $2/4 limit hold'em. They list Omaha and Omaha-8 as games they offer – but I only noticed one Omaha-8 game while I was there on a weekday afternoon. They have regular tournaments. When I was there they were promoting both a $65 Monday and Wednesday night deep-stack tournament, each with $5,000 in starting chips. The difference was that the Monday event had a $13 house fee and the Wednesday event had an extremely low $5 fee. The tournaments started at 6:30 PM, paid out up to 20% of the field, and seemed like a nice way of spending three hours or so. I didn't have the time or I would have played.
Mardi Gras Poker Room Florida Keys
They have bad beat jackpots for stud, Omaha, and hold'em. They were all around $10,000.
In addition to the hold'em and Omaha-8, this room was one of only a few in Florida that actually had stud. It was a sedate $1-3 spread-limit game without an ante. That suited the players just fine. I had a chance to talk with them at some length, playing for about an hour.
The players were quite old, by any standards. The dealer told me that the three players sitting next to each other in the 3, 4 and 5 seats had an aggregate age of over 270! At that, they did not seem particularly older than the other players, either.
Everyone was well mannered and seemed to be enjoying this very tight and passive game. Nearly everyone would call for the $1 forced bet from the low card. Someone might bet $1 on fourth street. One or two players would typically call. $1 or $2 would be bet on fifth and sixth. And then the river would often be checked around – especially if it was down to only two players. 'No point betting when it's heads up,' said a nicely attired elderly gentleman in seat 5.
I asked one of the players what percentage of the players were local and how many were tourists. I had to repeat myself very loudly. Eventually, he answered that everyone was local. If I wasn't from around there then I was the only one. He knew everyone else in the room.
The players told me that there was a nice grill upstairs and a decent restaurant downstairs. They thought well of the $18 buffet, but steered me away from the snack bar.
There was a nice touch added outside the track/casino. In the entrance there were a few white wicker chairs and tables for sitting and relaxing. I liked that. Go in, play your poker, then get a drink and enjoy the nice breeze for some conversation or just meditating. That's just what I recommend after every poker session. Some time to relax and reflect on your game.
Mardi Gras (At Hollywood Greyhound Track)
831 Federal Highway
Hallandale Beach, FL
877-55-SLOTS
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Live casino poker