Poker Palace Kahnawake Jobs
The presentation was held at the Knights of Columbus Hall and began shortly after 6 p.m. and was attended by more than 100 people. Representing Playground Poker was David Montour and Mackenzie Kirby, while Stan Myiow and Barry Alfred represented Poker Palace. Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Grand Chief Joe Norton, Chief Gina Deer and Executive Financial Officer Paul Rice represented the MCK, and representatives from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission were also on hand.
Last month, the MCK announced that it had approved the pilot project that would see the KGC establish regulations pertaining to EGDs. The pilot project will see Playground and Poker Palace have exclusivity in operating EDGs in the community for three years. Licenses will only be issued by the KGC once all due diligence and testing have been successfully completed. Initially, the licenses will be conditional for six months, which will then be followed by the KGC to conduct a comprehensive review of the project.
In the past, Video Lottery Terminals could be found in various locations throughout the community, including in the social clubs and some convenience stores, but were outlawed in the 1990s.
“[This project] is not targeted at our local people,” Kirby said at the start of the presentation. “We’re looking at using this project as a means to get outside dollars into the community.”
Both Playground and Poker Palace approached the MCK separately about this project in 2016. Playground said that prior to going to the MCK that it has done extensive market research for about three years, before developing a business plan to present to the MCK for consideration.
As a part of this pilot project, both Playground and Poker Palace are setting a minimum guaranteed contribution back to the community of $1 million each for three years. Kirby said that based on their projections that number is conservative and may very well be much higher. Playground stated that the numbers are based on installing 200 EDGs in each property.
Kirby said that aside from the revenue going back to the community, this pilot project will also create new job opportunities within Playground and Poker Palace. These job opportunities would be open to Kahnawa’kehró:non. Both poker houses will be hosting job fairs this month.
Playground also announced that it would be offering an investment opportunity to individual community members. Playground said it will make available 1.5 million shares at $5 each for community members.
The joint presentation lasted about 45 minutes, at which point the floor was opened for community members to ask questions to either of the proponents, the MCK or the KGC. One community member asked about the level of community consultation on the project. Deer responded that she had held information kiosks on gaming at the Kahnawake Services Complex last summer where this issue was discussed. While Norton said that because this is a pilot project for three years that a referendum was not required.
Another community member asked where the money would go that is derived from this pilot project. Rice responded that the money the MCK would receive from the EDG project would go towards the areas in the community that are underfunded or not funded at all, such as language and culture initiatives as well as sports and recreation activities.
Another community member asked if this was being done in conjunction with Loto-Quebec or with the provincial government. The MCK stated that this project will be licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, which licenses and regulates both online gaming and land-based gaming in the community.
Other community members expressed that adding EGDs to the poker houses will create casinos. Deer stated that this pilot project is not creating casinos in the community.
“This is not a casino,” Deer stated. “You have one element that you may find in a casino, but it doesn’t make it a full-blown casino.”
Myiow said that the dictionary definition of a casino is any facility that offers gaming.
“So Cage aux Sports is a casino because they have (VLT) machines,” he said.
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Stanley Myiow’s plan was always to come back bigger and better, and with Poker Palace, a more modern poker house with an upscale restaurant, he’s accomplished his goal. (Photos by Jessica Deer, The Eastern Door)
February 1, 2019 Magic Palace receives licence for EGD facility January 30, 2019 Playground Poker receives licence for EGD facility December 13, 2018 Advisory Notice: Poker Palace reopens June 20, 2018 Advisory Notice: VIP Poker Enterprises Reopens June 20, 2018 Advisory Notice: VIP Poker Enterprises name change. Kahnawake Youth Business Fund (KYBF). Employer: Poker Palace. The Cage cashiers typically receive on-the-job training where they learn company.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Stanley Myiow said it was all part of his long-term plan.
“It’s Snake’s Poker, evolving,” Myiow told The Eastern Door during a sneak peek tour this week of his new place.
“We had to shut the doors at Snake’s. I didn’t mind rebranding because we’re coming at it from a whole new angle now. We lived and learned and it got us to where it got us, and now we’re moving forward.”
When the old Snake’s Poker moved from the depths of the Batting Cage to Highway 132 next to Big Bear’s gas station in 2009, Kahnawake started to show more class.
In a building made specifically for the game that attracted quite a number of non-locals, Snake’s Poker upped the ante in the local poker scene.
Poker Palace Kahnawake Jobs Canada
But in the years following, other poker clubs added even larger touches of class along with a wider variety of food choices and higher stakes games (Four Aces, Playground and Stardust among them).
As Myiow saw his market share dwindle, he knew the end was near for a joint that offered small cash and tournament poker games, but not enough space for a sit-down restaurant to attract locals – which, he feels, would have been a huge difference maker.
So he closed down in November 2015 with the idea he would re-launch with a classy place to eat – parts of which remind you of Lavo and Aria in Las Vegas – and as of next Friday, May 19, he will be going all-in with his new place, the swanky Poker Palace.
“The main thing is now I have two businesses instead of one – a full-blown, beautiful high-end restaurant and a beautiful poker room,” he said.
“Whereas before, I had a nice southwestern-feel poker club. We served food but I could never advertise a restaurant.”
Myiow spared no expense, bringing in help from overseas to creating an ambience that feels like you’re located smack dab in the middle of a fast-paced, vibrant and exotic locale once you step inside.
A few years ago, Myiow had two choices: close or grow along with the competition.
“I choose to close, and then grow,” he said. “I wasn’t sad at all, because I knew we were moving forward, even when we closed down. I knew we’d come back bigger, better and stronger.”
The old building was gutted, and as Myiow pointed out, is totally unrecognizable to fans of old.
His soft opening on Friday will be followed by an official one weeks later, with fun giveaways, prizes, and a bad beat with a twist (you’ll have to check it out to see for yourself).
A top chef (who has yet to be named, one of the many surprises you will encounter at the newly-revamped spot) will cook up succulent steak and seafood for a classy night out, but the piece de resistance will surely be the pizza from the wood-fired oven, flown in from Naples, Italy – the home of Napolitano pizza.
“Everything came out of my designer’s head,” said Myiow.
Myiow credits his large team of managers who helped to refine the poker games, menu and the overall feel of the place.
“I’m more along the lines of an advisor now,” he said. “I have to let my managers do their job. I’ll be here shaking hands and telling stories and hanging out, just like I always did.”
The poker veteran, who traces his start back to a small-stakes game at the Legion, has a message for his former regulars and people who stopped by from time to time.
“We built you a new house,” he said. “The main idea is to make every single person feel at home. You’re welcome and you can call it your own when you’re here.”