Heads-up With PokerStars LIVE Manila Poker Room Manager Gerardo Gil Alim

In Dec 2014, we brought you news of the launch of PokerStars LIVE Poker Room at City of Dreams Manila. The inauguration began with a freeroll for the prestigious Macau Red Dragon and Gerardo Gil Alim (cover image) is heading the operations of this poker room.

The $1.2 Billion Casino, City of Dreams Manila is one among the four casinos that will form an international gaming hub at Pagcor Entertainment City precinct in Paranaque City. The others are the Solaire Resort & Casino operational since 2013, Manila Bay Resorts expected to open late 2015 and the Bayshore City Resorts World slated for 2018.This hub is seeking to provide the eastern world with a gaming centre, such as the likes of Vegas, with all international entertainment facilities.

City of Dreams Manila is hosted across a 6.2-hectare site and will have 6 hotel towers. Macau Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. will manage the project.

PokerGuru spoke to Gil Alim about the newly started poker room and he shares all the latest about the place, his role, the upcoming Manila Megastack tournament series and other special attractions.

Hi Gil, tell us about your role at the recently launched PokerStars LIVE poker room at City of Dreams Manila. How long have you been with PokerStars and do elaborate on your previous assignments?

I was appointed as PokerStars LIVE Manila Poker Room Manager and am responsible for the overall operation, supervision and administration of the Poker Room in accordance with the casino and local gaming regulation as well as company policies and procedure. I am also responsible for enhancing the growth of cash games and developing/maintaining relationships with valued guests and marketing the PokerStars brand. We will conduct major and daily tournaments and manage smooth operation of these events ensuring the highest quality of personnel, game security, and customer service. Previously I have been working at PokerStars LIVE Macau since 2008 in both cash game and tournament roles.

Tell us more about PokerStars LIVE Manila poker room. Does it borrow a lot of its look and infrastructure from its sister concern at the City of Dreams Macau? Does the room also house the popular PokerPro tables?

Some features are consistent but PokerStars LIVE Manila also has its own unique concept, the level that we are on are called “Kampay” section of the casino where it is livelier during the night there are different entertainer performing on stage every hour.

Numerous dining options are adjacent to the poker room as are the renowned nightclubs “Pangaea” and “Chaos”.

We have 14 tables in total and there are no poker pro tables at this time.

What in your opinion are the main differences between the poker industries in Macau and Manila?

There are a lot of poker rooms surrounding Metro Manila compared to Macau, many more locals in Manila play poker to regularly fill the room. Also, the sizes of the games are a lot more accessible than Macau, with stakes starting at PHP25/50.

The poker room opened to the local community on Dec 14, 2014. How has been the response in the first three weeks since launch? What are the most popular game/s and stakes?

Response was great!! We now have regular games running most spread was 25/50 PHP with min buy of 1,000 and 50/100 PHP. We will also offer PLO and LIMIT Holdem with a Kill.

Tell us about the upcoming Manila Megastack event in January. Will it be part of the APPT Schedule or is it a special event? What are the expectations in terms of player turnouts and prizepool?

Manila Megastack is a special series pretty similar to the ACOP Platinum Series of Macau. Both of these events count towards Asia Player of the Year but are not Tier 1 APPT events. We are aiming to reach 100 players for the Main Event. Price points in Manila will be more affordable than Macau in general. It will still be pre opening stage of Casino; however, I am pleased with the good level of awareness about the poker room already.

The first major stop at the room is APPT 9 Manila. Will we see more APPT events at PokerStars LIVE Manila in 2015/16?

Definitely, PokerStars LIVE Manila at the City of Dreams will have more events – expect around six events this calendar year.

Manila is a popular stop for Indian poker players. What are some of the key attractions at PokerStars LIVE that will appeal to players? Any Indian food joints close by?

As I mentioned PokerStars LIVE Manila at City of Dream has a lot of entertainment to offer, we are just opposite different shops and restaurants. We are also near to the airport and one of the biggest SM Mall in Asia where you can do some shopping and find fine Indian restaurants. I will be very pleased to welcome our Indian poker friends to our friendly country.

Thanks Gerardo and we hope to meet you soon at the new PokerStars LIVE Poker Room in Manila!