News / Dave Allan / 01 July 2009 / 1 Comments

Introducing Betfair Poker's Simon Zammit who is in Las Vegas for the very first time. Follow his experiences over the next few weeks as he reports on all things Vegas at the World Series of Poker Main Event.

We all remember buying our first car. One of my clearest childhood memories is sitting on my dad's lap, holding the steering wheel and aiming for the garage entrance as he gently eases on the accelerator. When I was a little bit older, maybe nine years old, I was just tall enough to reach the pedals with my feet - but not enough to see over the dashboard at the same time. That was when I got disappointed for the first time ever with a car as I still could not drive like dad did.

As the years flew by, my interest in cars grew to the point of almost obsession and as soon as I was old enough to get pocket money, I would save half of it for my first car. Then; I turned 16 and the day finally came to go and buy a car - THE car. With a pocket full of cash (just over €2,000) I hopped into dad's car as he drove me around to different dealerships, each selling worse crap than the last.

"That's it?" I asked my dad, "Is that all €2,000 and a lifetime of dreaming will get me?" Sadly, the answer was "Yes". Apparently, the world was much harder than it looked. Sure, television made it all look fine and dandy but the door leading into reality DID actually hit me in the ass as I stepped out! So is everything in life not as great as you make it to be? Is there any truth to what that 42 inch black box mounted to the wall shows us?

Which brings me to Vegas - I have been working at Betfair for almost three years and have always been involved in some way or another with the World Series of Poker. Whether answering any queries customers had back when I was part of the Helpdesk team or more recently figuring out which Satellite structure would best suit our players and Poker Client or attending the Europe edition in London. For the last three years I have read about Vegas, saw movies about Vegas, even played games based on Las Vegas but I have never actually been there.

On paper (or TV) it looks amazing - all the lights, amazing hotels, huge casinos, famous shows and celebrities - a bit of a paradise in the middle of the empty, blazing hot desert in Nevada. People from all over the world flock in their millions each year; some to visit the Grand Canyon or Hoover Dam; sweet-tooth fans specifically go there to tour a famous chocolate factory and a select few might go there to research the little known three Indigenous Indian Tribes of Nevada. Mostly though; people go there to chase a dream, to tame the Unicorn, to catch the white whale. To win so much money that the only tough question becomes "Which mansion do I buy? The one with only two pools but seven bedrooms or the one with three pools but just five bathrooms?"

This is why I am here - Betfair have generously given me the opportunity to experience a dream and find out if all that glitters is really gold! I will obviously be reporting on the performances of Betfair qualified players and the founders of the New Breed, John Tabatabai, Sorel Mizzi & Peter Jepsen - the latest addition to the four youthful Betfair Pros - in their quest for WSOP gold. Of course I have to mention the original member of Team Betfair, winner of the first WSOPE and captain of the Europe Team for the Caesar's Cup, Annette Obrestad, who is too young to play in the USA. But most of all, I am here to discover the true Las Vegas hands on.

I will try to dive into many subjects such as food, entertainment, the history of this unique city. I'll attempt to find out how casinos keep you and your money safe and under control, which streets to avoid in the dark, the life of people who actually live here as well as the hustlers, the criminals, etc. I will even try to find out which wedding chapel is the craziest or if hookers on The Strip look nicer than the ones in the parking lots! Interviews with players, other interesting people and the "Cardstacker" will also be on the agenda. You name it; I'll try to make it happen!

I am even going to try and get playing cards autographed from all previous Bracelet winners in a small challenge I was given! So follow me on my journey as well as good World Series of Poker action on my daily blogs and video posts through the eyes of the Vegas Virgin's experience!

Tales of a Vegas Veteran