I recently returned from G2E – the Global Gaming Expo – in Las Vegas, where a demonstration received a lot of attention in the poker world.
They were showing how a tiny camera was able to see cards on a deck if they aren't pitched well by the dealer.
The demonstration reignited an ongoing debate: should the dealers be doing a slide pitch or should we keep doing the regular pitch that most of us in the US are used to?
‘I support the slide pitch’
Even though I know this is a hot topic and it's kind of a negative freeroll for somebody like me, I've decided to jump right into the fire and talk about it. I say that because there are people who are going to get upset on both sides.
First off, let me say I support the slide pitch. I think if we were starting from scratch and building poker all over again, that's the method that we would have chosen.
I also think that it's reasonable to transition to the slide pitch and get everybody on board, even though we are used to this other method.
But the thing that a lot of players don't understand is that large-scale change in poker takes time.
It’s not easy to do.
Remember the big blind ante switch?
It's similar to when we transitioned to a big blind ante. I remember at the time, around 2018, Matt Savage and I were sure this was a better way.
There was a lot of pushback.
It was very difficult for the players, for the organizers, for everybody – it was a big change.
I'm not saying the switch to slide pitching is impossible, but there are obstacles.
You have to go to an operator and tell them that not only are we changing something from the way that it's always been done, but we're doing it in an anticipatory sense – meaning that we think continuing to do this will lead to bad things.
If I'm being straightforward, the operators look at it as something that could mean a decrease in revenue, retraining staff, etc. Understandably, they're hesitant to just come out and make that switch overnight.
Savage, the Executive Tour Director for the WPT, is someone in the industry who supports this and is doing a lot of the legwork to get it done.
In these cases, he and I go into a lot of different venues as invited guests to work there. We're not necessarily in charge of how things are done, such as the pitch, but we can go in and give our advice, our opinions, and make solid suggestions to improve the overall experience for players and operators.
I can tell you through experience that takes time.
Patience, please
I understand why players are upset about it. I understand why it's important.
Game integrity is the most important thing about my job and implementing the slide pitch is something that I believe we can, and will, get done.
I also believe that it's going to take a little bit of time.
So, please bear with us and support the people in favor of the switch – and keep trying to convince the ones who don't.
That's the best advice I can give for now. I hope we get this done.
Justin Hammer is the Live Events Director for PokerAtlas, an online tournament director for the Texas-based poker app Hijack, and a tournament director at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. He also works as a consultant and is a minority owner of Desert Bluffs Casino in Kennewick, Washington.
For more info visit PokerAtlas.com, HijackPoker.com, and bluffs.poker. Follow Justin on X.
