Industry Insiders: Sahara Las Vegas Poker Operations Manager Steven Pique
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Last month, SAHARA Las Vegas held the grand opening of its new poker room. It was a part of the property’s $150 transformation from SLS to Sahara, a brand with a long history in Las Vegas dating back to 1952.
The new poker room features seven tables, a wide array of stakes and games, 24/7 food service, numerous television screens, and a signature 16’X9’ LED video wall. With a kind rake – 10 percent with a $4 max – and $2 in reward points per hour played in cash games, Sahara has quickly garnered a loyal following.
While Vegas has become known more for poker room closures than openings, Sahara is bucking the trend by bringing back poker. The property closed their original room along with the Sahara Casino back in 2011 before rebranding as SLS in 2013. In 2019, they returned to their roots by reverting to the original name.
The Sahara poker room is the first to open in Las Vegas since the Westgate’s in 2017.
Get to Know the Poker Operations Manager
Heading up the poker room at SAHARA Las Vegas is industry veteran Steven Pique. The 35-year-old originally hailed from Long Beach, Mississippi where he grew up in a loving home with parents who led by example on what it means to work hard. His father, Steve, worked for the United States Postal Service and his mom, who passed away from breast cancer in 2008, was a registered nurse.
Pique earned a bachelor’s degree in Biological Science from the University of Southern Mississippi with the intention of becoming a scientist. After graduation, he worked in an environmental laboratory, but eventually, his love for science was eclipsed in 2011 when he learned how to deal poker. For him, he had come full circle, returning to his roots of working in guest service positions which he did throughout high school by delivering pizza and waiting tables.
Now, Pique’s years dealing on the poker circuit, as well as experience in Las Vegas cardrooms, have given him the opportunity to create something special by heading up the Sahara poker room.
Q&A with Steven Pique
When and how did you become involved in the poker world?
I began playing poker the moment I turned 21. The logic and theory that surrounds the game intrigued me and, being in college, I was interested in any extracurricular activity that had earning power.
In my particular case, my home casino was wiped out on August 29, 2005, when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. I had plans on my 21st birthday to make the Beau Rivage my second home. I had to wait a year for the property to rebuild, so I spent time traveling to Tunica to play the World Poker Open. I visited Harrah’s New Orleans occasionally, as well. Fast forward to 2011, my friends from college dealt poker on the road, going from circuit to circuit and I learned quickly, snagging my first dealing gig that year at Harrah’s New Orleans. I was infatuated with the people involved and the relationships I built there will last a lifetime. The poker universe became infinitely smaller after dealing in many different states. I love the close community and I worked hard to leave a positive mark along the way.
"Poker is even how I met my wife, Jennifer. We met while I was dealing my first World Series of Poker."
Poker is even how I met my wife, Jennifer. We met while I was dealing my first World Series of Poker and we began traveling together to deal poker before taking a gamble on moving to Las Vegas where we are now raising our two boys.
When and how did the opportunity to head up the new poker room at SAHARA come about?
I spent several years as a supervisor and shift manager at a well-respected poker room in Las Vegas. I knew SAHARA Las Vegas was undergoing renovations that, under new and dynamic ownership, sought to return the iconic Strip resort to its former glory. Once I heard they were creating an all-new poker room, I was excited to fulfill my dream of being involved in the creation of a poker room from the very beginning. The executive team at SAHARA truly understands the value of poker as a necessary amenity to round out the property’s gaming offering.
What inspired Sahara to open a poker room?
SAHARA Las Vegas continues to improve upon its guest experience with a more than $150 million transformation and that included a complete overhaul of its 60,000 square feet of casino space. The addition of poker to the resort’s gaming amenities provides for a more well-rounded gaming experience for our guests. And, it ties back to the success of poker at the original Sahara. I believe players will love seeing the Sahara name once again connected to the great game of poker.
What sort of games, tournaments, promos, etc. does SAHARA currently offer?
We offer an extensive game chart including no-limit Texas hold’em, limit hold’em, pot-limit Omaha, 7-card Stud and various mix games. Our goal is to give the poker community and our players what they want and, so far, that has been a success. We are regularly running a time-raked $2/$5, promoting heavy $1/$3 and $3 max rake player’s choice mixed games. We’ve also enjoyed a few scheduled high limit games as well.
"We believe that is what this room was built for and they will continue to think of our poker room as the place to play."
What was the grand opening like? What sort of players have visited the room thus far?
The grand opening was amazing with incredible support from the poker community. Notable attendees included Cyndy Violette, Terry King, Karina and Chip Jett, Sarah (Hale) Cook, Carol Hale and so many more. We also enjoyed big industry support from heavy hitters like Sean McCormack and Ryan Beauregard. It has been humbling to say the least but we believe that is what this room was built for and they will continue to think of our poker room as the place to play.
Are there any plans for bigger tournaments?
There are and, while we can’t divulge any details yet, we look forward to making some exciting announcements later this year.
For those coming into Vegas this summer for the WSOP, what can they expect to find at Sahara?
We are working on deals for players to spend the summer at SAHARA Las Vegas with special promotional rates, a wide offering of scheduled games and dynamic and interesting events designed by and for the poker community.
If poker players want to keep on top of all things Sahara poker how should they do so?
To view current cash games and tournaments or to register to play, visit pokeratlas.com/poker-room/sahara-las-vegas. For more information on the Poker Room and SAHARA Las Vegas follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or visit saharalasvegas.com.
Images courtesy of Sahara.
