Hollywood school gives World Series of Poker a hand with dealing

The World Series of Poker begins May 31, running 49 days and consisting of 69 events in Las Vegas. That’s a lot of poker to be dealt, and a Hollywood dealer school is helping.

The school, which opened in 2011 and is co-owned by Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi and Rob Mizrachi, allows those who currently working as dealers to work around their own schedule and learn the WSOP way inexpensively. Cost is $265.

The school’s director of operations, Stacy Matuson, said the WSOP requires about 1,400 dealers each May through July. The series is lacking qualified applicants, especially those trained in the “WSOP way,” which includes doing every shuffle, chip arranging and deck placement uniformly — not to mention knowing some games that are rarely played in regular card rooms.

“We all love poker and when we go to play and we want to have a good time,” Matuson said. “Trying to change the infrastructure for those running each game makes it a more positive experience for the player. I am looking at training WSOP dealers from the inside.”

There also are courses for those looking to deal recreationally or looking to become certified.

The three courses: For $99 a person can learn everyday dealing, such as for home games, via 20 repeatable videos. For $265, already-certified dealers can pick up the WSOP course. For $600, they can take an online class that runs 10 to 12 weeks, includes instructor evaluation and is certified with the Florida Board of Education. (Matuson works with the state on certification annually.)

To view the courses online, visit www.wsopdealeracademy.com.

WSOP upgrades

This year’s WSOP is in front of the curve on many poker changes, including a 15 percent payout structure.

Most poker events reward cash to only the top 10 percent of the field, but this year the WSOP changed its structure. That means players who go well beyond that top 15 percent won’t receive as much of a payout, but more patrons have hope.

That change will likely prompt a record number of players who cash as the second annual Colossus, which starts June 2. The WSOP debuted the Colossus last year, which achieved its goal of breaking the record for most entries in a poker tournament. The $565 buy-in tournament attracted 22,374 entries and paid out 2,241 players.

Spare change? Visit Gulfstream

There’s a machine located in the corner of Gulfstream Park’s slot floor where you’re guaranteed to walk away with money. It’s the casinos change-conversion machine.

Installed in October 2015, the change machine in the Hallandale Beach casino is similar to what you see in some grocery story and banks — except not one penny is pulled out for the house for a service fee.

Casino officials say they installed the machine as a convenience, which it is. And one line of thinking could go that dumping all that change lying around your house creates a few bucks, which are literally like playing on found money, upon redeeming the voucher for pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters at the cashier’s cage.

This weekend

▪ Casino Miami starts the weekend with the “$10,000 Summer Ready Giveaway” consisting of TVs, grills and cash from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Then the casino gives away a Ford Mustang at 2 a.m. Saturday (actually, Sunday), 1 a.m. Sunday and 11 p.m. Monday. Carlos Oliva & the Judges’ Nephews play a free show at 9 p.m. Saturday.

▪ Hialeah Park offers “Pull Your Prize” (spins of a virtual wheel paying out up to $1,000) and Military Appreciation Day on Monday. All former and current military personnel receive $20 free play after showing military ID.

▪ Calder Casino will award will award two $5,000 shopping sprees valid at any Badcock Home Furniture store Saturday, climaxing its “$100,000 Drab to Fab Home Makeover.” There also will be the promotion’s usual weekly prize, such as a flat-screen TV or refrigerator.

▪ Peter Fernandez and The Open House Band return to Magic City Casino at 10 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free.

▪ Seminole Classic gives away a Convertible Mini Cooper at 10 p.m. Saturday. Finalists for the drawing will be called every 30 minutes, starting at 6 p.m. Players can earn one virtual entry for every one comp dollar earned.

▪ Seminole Coconut Creek gives away $200,000 cash this weekend, from noon to 9 p.m on Saturday, 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday and noon to 9 p.m. Monday.

Get daily gambling news at SouthFloridaGambling.com

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 3:35 PM with the headline "Hollywood school gives World Series of Poker a hand with dealing."