KING


The King's Cash Game Lounge, the special “room within a room” cash-game area specially created for the 2017 World Series of Poker's high rollers, continues to build an audience with players and fans alike.

The special lounge is built into the southeast corner of the Rio Convention Center's enormous Pavilion Room, where it serves a dual purpose as both an upscale, semi-private cash-game area and an eye-pleasing marketing tool for this fall's WSOP Europe series. The lounge, envisioned by King's Casino owner Leon Tsoukernik and realized with a design and appearance that photos can't fully capture, features many of the amenities its high-rolling audience desires.

The King's Cash Game Lounge offers all-around luxury, beginning with each table's cushioned rails, private USB chargers, automatic shufflers and more. Then there's the lounge's layout, which ranges from very roomy to expansive. 

Eleven of the room's 15 high-stakes tables occupy, in a leisurely manner, the front area of the King's Cash Game Lounge. The remaining four tables, however, are the true centerpieces of the lounge. They include the informally-named Leon's Table, set atop an expansive, slightly raised stage, in easy view of railbirds outside the King's Lounge area despite being a few tens of feet removed. Two more semi-private rooms offer more secluded play, but the highest action to date has been at Leon's Table. It's also where Tsoukernik himself has been holding court throughout the early days of the WSOP... at least when he's not been busy in other events, such as the $111,111 One Drop tourney.

According to King's Casino representative Warren Lush, “Leon has played every night, every single night.” Tsoukernik is expected to keep on playing, most nights, throughout the entire WSOP, and that's been his plan all along. It gives Tsoukernik a chance to recruit more players for the 2017 WSOP Europe series, which begins in late October in Rozvadov, Czech Republic. Rozvadov, in a scenic region, is a little over an hour's drive from Prague and not far from the Czech Republic's border with Germany.

The King's Cash Game Lounge also contains its own miniaturized version of a travel agency, staffed by King's Casino customer support. Prospective WSOP Europe participants can put down deposits on tourney entries and began exploring travel opportunities and other highlights of the Rozvadov region.

The approach is working well. Though WSOP Europe is several months off, Lush reports 84 players have already made advance deposits and plan to participate. Sure, many of the King's Lounge players won't be flying to Rozvadov this fall, but there's always 2019, and 2021 as well.

For now, the King's Cash Game Lounge gets to be the star. According to live-action supervisor John Michael Martin, players have requested several different games to be spread, at high – if not necessarily nosebleed – stakes. Among the most common offerings: $50/$100 PLO and $75/$150 Omaha-8. There's already been some $50/pt. and $100/pt. Chinese, and even the occasional $10/$25 no-limit hold'em table.

Martin acknowledges that players appreciate the extras, big and small, that the King's Lounge provides. There's personal cage service, exclusive cocktail service, and private food delivery, among many extras. 

Most noticeable, however, is the semi-private lounge area, replete with comfortable sofas and easy chairs, where players can take a break from the games. The upscale, bar-styled counter with separate seating that separates this lounge from the playing area also offers an easy perch for checking the action on three separate big-screen, high-def TVs. Add in the catered service and what amounts to private access, and it's a secluded little relaxation zone within the bustle of the Pavilion Room and all of the WSOP.

Will the King's Cash Game Lounge become a fixture at the WSOP? It's far too soon to say. For now, though, the patrons are pleased, and the room's traffic is increasing day by day.