By Sean Chaffin
Those who haven’t spent some time at the Gardens Casino in a while might be surprised at what the property has to offer. The $10,000 WPT Gardens Poker Championship is set for Jan 12-16, the first Main Tour event of 2019, and offers players a nice chance to play in style.
“As far as amenities, players are just really comfortable at the Gardens,” tournament manager Cavin Quintanilla says. “We’re basically one of the largest poker rooms in the world that nobody knows about, so we’re just changing that narrative.”
“For us, it’s about fun, integrity, and teamwork, and I always say that the players are the boss. We run the show, but ultimately the players are the boss.”
Posh Poker
After undergoing a complete $90 million renovation two and half years ago, the Gardens has become one of the nicest places to play on the West Coast. The property offers numerous tournaments and Sit and Go’s for every buy-in level and cash games for every bankroll. The property also offers some of the biggest cash game bad beat jackpots around.
The property was previously known for its unique facility – housed in a giant white tent. The renovation converted the Gardens into an opulent 200,000-square-foot, two-story building.
Quintanilla and his team try to uphold its motto of, “A new gaming experience.” That attention to detail includes waiting to be seated in a cash game. Rather than constant announcements, the Gardens has a text alert system.
“Our system is a little more high tech,” Quintanilla says. “You’re not going to have this non-stop PA system going crazy. It’s a really great environment.”
The Gardens features a stylish main poker floor with 100 cash games tables, a separate tournament room with 45 more tables, and the VIP room with 39 additional tables. The casino also offers another area for casino-style poker gaming from Blackjack Poker to EZ Baccarat to Pai Gow Poker.
Along with great poker, the Gardens features plenty of amenities and a relaxing, comfortable atmosphere to make players feel at home. That includes right down to the chairs, which fully swivel, move, and offer a level of comfort not seen in other rooms.
Dining Table, Poker Table, and More
Along with its poker additions, a full-service bar and restaurant were added as part of the renovation. At the Triple 7 Sports Bar & Grill, players can square up to the large oval-shaped bar for a few beers or cocktails with friends, or order a drink while in the middle of the poker action. Players can sample from a large wine list or grab a pint of the California craft beers on tap.
The Triple 7 offers a bit of everything to suit every taste – in a casual, yet upscale atmosphere. Menu items range from Vietnamese and Thai dishes to classic American, Mexican, and Italian. Check out Taco Mondays for tasty tacos and $2.50 margaritas.
“We don’t do dinner breaks because we have full tableside service,” Quintanilla says. “And we do it for everybody. So if you want a $5 orange chicken bowl, they come around with stadium-style stuff and if you want steak and lobster, we’re bringing that out to you too. So you’ve got a full restaurant menu, a full player menu, and a stadium-style menu with pizzas and everything. And our food usually gets A-plus marks.”
The 999 Party Pit offers players some cool vibes, drinks, and gaming every Friday at 8 p.m. Check out the non-stop music with guest DJs, dancers, and food and drink specials.
Throughout the week, players are treated to numerous promotions including weekly NFL pick ‘em contests for cash prizes. The property has also teamed up with Roy Englebrecht Promotions for a regular professional boxing series at the new Gardens Event Center.
Quintanilla also notes that the Gardens makes for a great vacation in the poker room and outside the property.
“We’re on the border of Orange County and if you’re familiar with L.A., that area’s so interesting and there are so many things to do,” he says. “But Orange County is a whole different experience. You have the resorts, Disneyland, and all the beaches – so the location is great.”
The poker should be great too – and one lucky player will join Simon Lam as a WPT Gardens champion.
For more on the WPT Gardens Poker Championship, click here. For a complete schedule of all Gardens Poker Championship event, click here.
Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall, Texas. His work appears in numerous websites and publications. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions.
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