Underground Nightlife Scene Thriving in New York City's Secret Venues
Ina dimly lit, clandestine corner of NYC, on a Tuesday at 10 PM, I'm willingly stepping into forbidden territory - an underground poker den. "Big Reggie,' the burly bouncer, gives me a thorough once-over before admitting me into the hall. The roaring crowds are oblivious to the baseball or football matches on the screen, their eyes glued to the poker tables.
The room is hushed, the only sounds being the clatter of expertly handled chips and hushed whispers. I've parted with $200 for my entry, receiving $5 chips in return. I claim a spot at a table and preparing for the game, I watch my fellow players. I find myself seated next to a reckless gambler who's throwing money around like confetti. I silently hope to strike gold before he fledges his nest.
Underground poker clubs, much like corner cafes and Greek diners, have become familiar fixtures in the city's daily hustle. Although the game itself is legal, profiting from organizing it isn't. These clubs exude glamour, promising the thrill of easy money, and have been around since the glory days of televised poker tournaments and movies.
Mickey Appleman, a seasoned poker veteran, recalls the 70s, when high-stakes games were laced with gin, Stu Ungar was cleaning up at gin. Ungar, a kid from the East Side, would later become a poker world champion, only to be discovered lifeless in a rundown Vegas motel.
Fast-forward to the thriving poker clubs of Vegas in the 70s, gamblers, businessmen, mobsters, and drug dealers gathered in these so-called "goulash joints" for hot and lucrative games. Dealers could make up to $100,000 a year. Johnny M., a regular player, reminisces on constant action, huge pots, a unique language, and tourists being systematically fleeced.
The game took a downwards spiral after 1974, with the legalization of gambling in New Jersey. Atlantic City marked the end of their game, as old players retired, moved on, or shifted to legal games. The emergence of the Mayfair Club marked the birthplace of legendary players who used their minds and strategies to win.
From 2003 to 2007, an assortment of poker clubs popped up across New York, including the Diamond Club, Play Station, Brooklyn Players, Aquarium, and Straddle. The elite began to show up, and newspapers started reporting on their exploits. The Post wrote about the rivalry between baseball player Alex Rodriguez and Phil Hellmuth at the Union Square Club. The money was massive, and new players were numerous. Regulars effortlessly milked these fish.
Wealthy financier Jamie Weinstein described the Genoa Club as a frenetic, nearly borderline obscene scene, with hardcore porn playing on screens and intense games. The authorities turned a blind eye to the clubs until 2006. Robberies and tension followed, culminating in a 2007 heist that resulted in the death of an elderly teacher. Despite this, the game persists, moving from one location to another, driven by the thirst for money and the thrill of the game.
- In the bustling city, far from the poker tables of Vegas, social-media buzzes with whispers about the latest underground poker club - a clandestine social-media group dedicated to the pursuit of big finance and thrilling business deals.
- Amidst entertainment headlines and general-news updates, there are occasional stories about crime-and-justice intertwined with poker clubs, reminding the city that these illicit gaming havens are not just about betting on sports or sports-betting, but can also attract unsavory characters.
- One can find tales of high-stakes underground poker games in the annals of entertainment history, like the exploits of Stu Ungar in the 70s, his wins intertwined with gin and glamour, a testament to the allure of finance and business in the world of poker.
- Today, as millions watch the superstars of finance and general-news debates on their screens, there are those who prefer the thrill of the underground poker den - a world where the high-rollers bet not just on stocks and politics, but on the turn of a card, the roll of the dice, and the shuffle of the deck.
