8/3/2022

Greenbrier Resort Poker Tournament

A fifth casino was legalized in 2008 when voters in Greenbrier County approved gambling at the historic Greenbrier Resort through a ballot measure. A temporary casino opened in 2009 and the permanent Casino Club at The Greenbrier opened in 2010. West Virginia is now home to five casinos. Every Thursday starting May - July: Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament Registration is from 6:00pm - 7:00pm during the day of each tournament. Tournament starts at 7:00pm. $30 buy-in that is due at the time of registration, will receive $10,000 Chips for buy-in. Most of the poker rooms in West Virginia offer a mix of cash games and tournament play, with no limit Texas holdem being the most popular variant. Of the five casinos, only one, The Greenbrier, has some restrictions in respect to who can play and enter. The other four are completely open to the public so you can come and go as you please. West Virginia Lottery revenue from The Greenbrier’s casino fell 44 percent last month, after the June 23 flood forced the resort to close for two weeks.

There’s an old saying that goes, ‘the House always wins‘.

And this isn’t far from the truth, because lets face it, the house does win more often than not. How else do you think those massive structures and all the staff running around inside them are financed? So when we hear about a casino that’s taken a bit of a beating at the hand of some big winners it does bring a smile to the face. And last month at West Virginia’s Greenbrier Casino Club this is exactly what happened.

Greenbrier Resort Poker Tournament

July was one of the casino’s busiest months since opening just on a year ago in terms of both patrons through the door and action at the tables. This was largely thanks to the resort’s hosting of the Greenbrier Classic from July 25 to 31 – a PGA Tour sanctioned golf tournament with a $6 million prize purse.

Greenbrier Resort Poker Tournaments

I bet Greenbrier resort management were licking their chops at the prospect of 150 or so deep-pocketed professional golfers (but novice gamblers) and a few thousand golf fans enjoying their casino’s hospitality. And no doubt most dropped some coin. But according to West Virginia Lottery reports, the casino lost $293,893 on its blackjack tables, $97,491 on its baccarat tables and $51,135 on roulette for the month. All due to big wins by a few individuals.

PokerGreenbrier Resort Poker Tournament

The exact amounts won and the individuals in question weren’t disclosed of course.

The wins must have been very big to put the casino in the red considering all other action at the tables…7 figure sums are surely conceivable.

As the identity of the high roller(s), I don’t want to start a totally unsubstantiated rumour, but join the dots on this…

Greenbrier Resort Poker Tournament

Greenbrier resort poker tournament

Greenbrier Resort Poker Tournament

  • a certain PGA pro known for his aggression at the casino tables was on the Greenbrier Classic starters list;
  • that same pro missed the cut, leaving him with an unplanned, spare weekend at the end of July;
  • his first name starts with a ‘J’;
  • his second ends with a ‘Daly’.