Casino news source: Manteca Bulletin - http://www.mantecabulletin.com
Growth is in the cards: Casino Real adding two tables
Dennis Williams knows his way around a card room.
For the last 25 years Williams has in one capacity or another been involved with managing and operating the parlors that serve as ground zero for bluffed calls and long stare downs. He has spent the last five years turning Manteca’s Casino Real card room into a regional attraction that stays busy almost around the clock.
Instead of being tucked away in a small complex out of sight, Williams was at the helm when the decision was made to expand into the abandoned Valley Cinemas building on North Main Street. The card room utilized only one of the theaters from inside the building to house the six tables that provide a series of poker games that range from low-limit to no-limit.
That move coupled with the explosion of poker on television has solidified Casino Real’s arrival on the local gaming scene. It has attracted a customer-base that enjoys the clean, safe atmosphere that Williams takes pride in maintaining.
“I think that we were able to show people that this isn’t just a seedy room with guys smoking cigars,” Williams said. “We take pride in creating an environment here that our customers enjoy.
“We try to make it uncomfortable for people who don’t want to follow those guidelines.”
Earlier this month the Manteca City Council approved the final legal language that will enable Casino Real to add two additional tables to the complex as long as the State of California signs off on the application — something Williams expects to have finalized sometime tonight.
Expanding the number of games offered isn’t the only thing that he has in mind for the future of the overall business.
Just a few months ago a full-service espresso cart was placed inside of the card room to serve the players who often spend an entire night at a single table. They also offer breakfast pastries in the morning.
Deli-style food service could soon give way for a full-sized kitchen to provide dining options that many customers currently seek.
“We’re hoping that within the next year we’ll be able to start offering some things that aren’t currently possible right now,” Williams said. “But there are things on the horizon.”
Recently Williams had to announce a temporary suspension of tournament play because of a paperwork issue with the California Department of Justice. It is something he attributes to a “glitch” and expects to be cleared up soon to allow players to return back to their normal routine.
As long as things with the same people go well, the two additional tables — which are expected to cut down the wait time tremendously by offering additional game choices — could be in by the end of the month.
With tournament poker growing in popularity through televised events, Williams doesn’t expect that things will slow down anytime soon.
“Figuring out how to televise those events and show people at home the cards the players are holding added an element of excitement that was never there before,” he said. “By seeing that people realized that poker could be fun and it’s been one of the biggest reasons that we’re as busy as we are.”
Casino Real is open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year and is located at 1355 N. Main Street near the corner of Main Street and Northgate Drive. For more information, call 239-1455.
By JASON CAMPBELL |
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