The College Poker Scene, Vol. 4: Arizona State University
The school year has just started at Arizona State University and with more than 60,000 students enrolled last year, this year looks to be promising for students looking for as much poker action as possible. If your bankroll is just getting started, or could use some padding, then the poker scene around ASU is the perfect place for you.
Last year, the Arizona State Student Poker Club held online tournaments via Full Tilt, with buy-ins of $20. The tournaments were held privately, but any member of the club was allowed to play. The last tournament was held on November 6, 2006 and although there were over 40 entrants, it is unclear whether or not the club has any future online tournaments scheduled.
If you're excited to be a part of the Williams Campus Housing and want to play poker, then the Williams Campus Housing Poker Night is just for you. The event takes place on September 27, at the Union Cooley Ballroom. Play starts at 5pm and is scheduled to last until 10pm. Unfortunately for some, this event is listed as a private event. For more details, make sure to check out the Student Union Event Calendar at webapp.poly.asu.edu/union/eventcal/events.aspx.
If you're an Engineering major, then be sure to take part in the ASU American Society of Mechanical Engineers Poker Night, scheduled for September 9th, at 7pm. The ASU ASME is interested in the possibility of the event recurring, so make sure to show your support and attend.
If campus poker events aren't your style, and you'd prefer to leave the life of a college student behind, then look no further than the Poker Pub of East Phoenix. The Poker Pub's calendar is busy, and I must say that I've never seen so many poker options available on a weekly basis. If you simply must leave campus to play, then make sure to check out this calendar. They have bar tournaments scheduled for every night of the week, including four different bars that host tournaments Monday through Friday. The calendar includes driving directions, specifics on the bar itself (whether or not smoking is allowed, etc), and even parking directions. Quickly bookmark eastphoenix.thepokerpub.com/calendar and never be without an off-campus tournament again.
Many of the options above are perfect for ASU students who are looking for poker action that won't make or break their bankroll. But if your bankroll could use some real padding, and you don't mind traveling about 15 miles, then the Casino Arizona located at 101 and Indian Bend in Scottsdale is perfect for you. Besides just offering cash games for Hold'em, Omaha, and Stud, the Casino Arizona also features many regular promotions like 'Aces Cracked Wins a Rack,' which runs every Monday through Friday from 3am until 9am, as well as the Graveyard Bonus Jackpots, which pay out an extra $25,000 from 3am until 8am, Monday through Friday.
If you're looking to increase your poker skill, then the Casino Arizona College of Cards program could be just right for you, where "you can learn the basic rules, strategy and terminology of Blackjack and Poker - plus how to play, how to bet and how to win". The poker sessions are offered from 7pm-9pm on Sundays only. The casino also runs monthly Hold'em tournaments on the last Saturday of every month starting at 10am, as well as Monday thru Friday tournaments starting at 11:15am, with a $6,000 guaranteed prize pool for a $40 buy-in. Perhaps that's worth juggling a schedule.
If the idea of a casino is a bit too intimidating, and you'd still prefer to play for money rather than play for free at a campus or bar event, then you're in luck, as the Phoenix area offers many home games to choose from. With home games featuring stakes as low as $.50/1 or $1/2, ASU students looking for simple, fun, and cheap home games will have plenty to keep them busy over the weekend.
With all the poker events taking place throughout the Phoenix and Mesa area, it is possible to find the right poker action your bankroll desires. School has been in session for almost a month now at ASU, and it is clearly going to be one hot poker year in Arizona.
