Foxwoods Casino Promotes Private Poker Games for New Players and Events

Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut is promoting private poker games as a learning tool for new players. The private games are also used for celebrations such as bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthday parties, and other events. Director of Poker Operations Terry Chiaradio said, “They come in as a group, so they feel more comfortable, surrounded by friends, and can reserve a table for themselves without the intimidation of other players.”

The property is reserving tables for private groups and is framing the concept as geared toward less-experienced players. Staff members can even observe and help explain the game as the action plays out. The effort comes after the casino unveiled a new 33-table room in September.

Poker pros have mixed feelings about the rise of private games. Poker pro Jeremy Ausmus told Card Player in 2019, “It’s going to kill live poker. The mid-stakes are going to be dead because there’s not going to be any money to be made.” Six-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Jason Mercier said in 2013 that he had been shut out of a private game at Aria. Chad Power argued that some private games are used to network and simply create a fun atmosphere. Las Vegas-based pro Steven Touitou took issue with Matt Berkey’s pitch to bring Jeremy Dan into the private game arena. Matt Berkey responded by defending the private games ecosystem, explaining the evolution and history of private games in Las Vegas. Dan Cates described the process of jumping into games with well-heeled amateur players who may not be as savvy at the table in a podcast in 2025.