The hands of fate

So, I've alluded to this already, but it bears some repeating.

No one has ever dealt a legal hand of poker in the Bahamian islands. No one. Ever.

Heretofore, the green felt has been reserved for the blackjack and craps tables. Now, the entree of PokerStars.com to Paradise Island signals something other than just another poker tournament.

Tonight, just after 9pm, tournament director Mike Ward assembled his staff of 39 dealers. As he introduced himself and the rest of the PokerStars staff, the dealers learned a lot. They learned they'll be working ten-hour shifts for the next seven days. They learned the poker room will open every day at noon and stay open until 3am the next day. They learned that because of Bahamian gaming regulations, no dealer is allowed to participate in any form of gaming. They learned that some of them will be dealing the final table for a televised World Poker Tour Event.

But as Mike spoke, he revealed one more interesting piece of information. One of the assembled dealers will be dealing the first-ever legal hand of poker in the Bahamas. As a guy schooled in the arena of media, I suspect this is going to be quite a spectacle.

Tomorrow night, just about this time, the players will be making their way from an introductory cocktail party to the poker room. At 10pm, as the first satellite tournaments begin, someone will take the first step toward, perhaps, making poker a legal game in the Bahamas. As poker explodes across the globe, legality seems almost an inevitability. It only makes it more exciting that this event could set the legal process in motion.

These dealers have come from all over and hold in their hands more than cards. Beyond remembering all the tournament rules, keeping both close eyes and ears on the game, and handling the cards with grace, they will hold fate in their hands. It's a mighty responsibility, but one they seem excited to accept.

Tomorrow afternoon is the remaining travel day for players. By 7:30pm tomorrow, everyone should be on the island and ready to play. After some meeting and greeting, the cards will be in the air at 10pm with a $200 buy-in ($200 rebuys) main event super satellite, single table satellites for the main event, and single table Sit & Go tournaments from $30 buy-ins to something they call a "you name it + $10."

This is apparently it, folks.

So, strap in, because much like the 75-degree-drop water slide down the road from here, this tournament figures to be quite a ride.