Jacksonville Poker rebrands as BestBet

JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Ever since the 2011 Florida live poker legislation was passed, Jacksonville Poker has been in the headlines. They have pressed to create the number one destination for poker players who reside in or travel to Florida. Now rebranded as BestBet, their latest coup is opening a third room, the largest in Florida and one of the largest in the world. Located on Monument Road across from Regency Square, BestBet Jacksonville has 70 tables, an expansive simulcast facility featuring numerous 120” screens and full food and beverage service. It is conveniently located less than 20-minutes from Jacksonville International Airport and 15 minutes from Jacksonville’s Beaches. Jacksonville Greyhound Racing Park also operates BestBet St. Johns and Orange Park Kennel Club. All locations offer poker and simulcast wagering on greyhounds and thoroughbreds. Orange Park continues to present a full schedule of live greyhound racing. “We are very excited with the opportunity to open BestBet Jacksonville,” says Jamie Shelton, the company’s CFO. “BestBet Jacksonville will complement our existing facilities and serve as a platform for our larger events like the upcoming WPT televised tournament. While proud to house the largest poker room in the State of Florida, our continued focus and attention to our customers is our number one priority.”

It’s been a string of successes for Jacksonville Poker-BestBet. First, they hired Deborah Giardina (Executive Director of Poker operations) and other key executives from Wynn, Las Vegas. Next, a three-event per year deal was struck with the World Poker Tour. The first two WPT events were tremendous successes and a $1,000,000 televised Main Event is scheduled for the new Jacksonville room April 27 – May 2. They retained Poker Players International (PPI) to assist in attracting the masses and top players to their events and high stakes cash games. And now, they have opened one of the largest and most beautiful poker rooms in the world. “It’s rare to see a group in this industry have such incredible vision, and then proceed to pull it off flawlessly,” commented PPI Founder Randall Kasper. “What they have done here and will continue to do is an absolute model for the industry.”

Aside from the incredible star-studded line ups at their first 2 WPT events, they have attracted high stakes cash games frequented by the most well- known players in poker: Matt Glantz, Jason Mercier, Andrew Robl, Shaun Deeb, John Racener and many more. Greg “Fossilman” Raymer will present seminars at the new room on March 23 and 24. Raymer will also participate in Jacksonville’s first 600-player $10k added tournament on the 24th. “BestBet Jacksonville will certainly enhance our standing in the international poker scene as well as with our North Florida player base,” says head of poker, Deborah Giardina. “Our mission was to create one of America’s pre miere poker tourism destinations. Given the response so far, we are well on the way to realizing that goal.”