Jamaica Planning to Host Caribbean World Series of Poker

The Jamaica Tourist Board will be deciding in a few weeks if it will be involved in an inaugural poker tournament that was conceived by a number of members of Montego Bay's business community.

"We will review the proposal and decide on July 13, " said Lorna Robinson, Jamaica Tourist Board's promotions and events officer.

The person behind the poker tournament idea is Gary Dyer, a businessman who is promoting the event through his company, Great Events management. Dyer proposes to call the event the Caribbean World Series of Poker, a spin-off from arguably the best-known tournament in the poker world, the World Series of Poker. Dyer says that he expects to infuse new life into the local tourist industry during what is normally a slow time in tourism, the time leading up to the start of the winter tourist season.

"It's not about the money, it's about showcasing Jamaica and all that Jamaica has to offer, " he said.

In order for the plan to push forward, approvals need to be secured from the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission. Likewise, sponsorships have to be in order from various business entities to fund the event. Dyer visualizes the event as taking place on the roof of the Wexford hotel, a hotel situated in Montego Bay's famous "Hip Strip". He has the grand plan of enclosing the roof with glass barriers then having it air-conditioned for the tournament.

"This would be the ideal place because it offers a spectacular view, " he said. Dyer will then proceed to the next step of processing the first 200 applications to participate in the first part of the tournament with a buy-in of J$10,000 from the Jamaican public.

"We'll then eliminate down to the top 50 who will automatically go to the Caribbean World Series of Poker in November for an entry fee of US$600," he explains.

If all goes as planned, the planned date for the Caribbean Series is November 1, 2006. The tournament is expected to last for 5 days. In lieu of the event, a beach party is being planned to kick off the event on Oct. 31. A closing party is also being planned with a true-blue Caribbean treat of a reggae show on Nov. 5, the day after the proposed tournament draws to a close.

Dyer discloses that he is still in the middle of discussions with several business entities as to their possible roles in the event. He was careful to define the tournament as a "sanctioned gaming tournament".

July 23, 2006
Pauline Davis