The Celebrity Poker Tour (CPT) is in full swing, preparing for this week's Invitational XII. This event, boasting a $50,000 prize pool, will feature celebrities and athletes such as Paul Pierce, Kendrick Perkins, and Dixie D'Amelio competing together at the PokerGO Studios in Las Vegas.
CPT has attracted millions of viewers on platforms like Twitch and YouTube, but not everyone knows the legendary story behind this poker circuit. Founder Blake Wynn is the nephew of casino tycoon Steve Wynn, who almost single-handedly transformed Las Vegas into the resort destination it is today.
Last December, PokerNews interviewed Wynn to learn how his uncle and other well-known figures like Molly Bloom from "Molly's Game" inspire and guide his celebrity poker tour.
Blake Wynn shared a little-known story about how the famous Bellagio fountains show became a must-see free attraction in Las Vegas, involving the idea of an iconic Hollywood filmmaker.
The birth of the Bellagio fountain show
In an interview during the WSOP Paradise Series in the Bahamas, Wynn told PokerNews a story about his uncle and the brightest and most talented people around him.
“When Steve built the Bellagio fountain, they put up a big fence in front of it,” Wynn said. “Although there was still music and huge jets of water, it was covered by a tarpaulin so people couldn’t see it. He had two people come to watch.”
Who are these two people? They are super movie directors Steven Spielberg and Kenny Ortega.
"Steve excitedly showed it to them. But, he said, neither of them were really impressed, and Steve didn't know what he was missing. That's how Steve told the story. Spielberg paused for a moment, then said, 'You know what the problem is? You need to hear the sound of water, not just music.' Spielberg suggested putting a speaker in the water to amplify the sound. That's why you hear that 'boom!' when you hear a fountain spray."
"Then Kenny Ortega said, 'Wait, you know what the real problem is? It's the choreography.' He said the fountain is your dancer. So Ortega started working for Steve."
Blake said that after 18 months, engineers completely transformed the fountain into a show, and Spielberg and Ortega both returned to Las Vegas.
"They performed 'Singing in the Rain,' which was their first show after the comeback. Steve said it was the only time he ever cried in his life, and it was while watching it with the two of them. That's how it is; it wasn't just about hiring these two people, listening to their opinions, and them being an external force that entered his life, bringing good advice. World-class talent. Smart people."
Just as Steve Wynn took advice from those around him, his nephew also tried to absorb the casino tycoon's influence as much as possible.
“Steve and I are very close,” he said. “He’s like a father to me, and I’m very fortunate to have him guide me. I would also say he’s the greatest hospitality professional of all time. That’s a big part of how we think internally about the Celebrity Poker Tour.”
"Because if you can't make the celebrities have fun, this tour just won't work. And, to be honest, I've put in a lot of effort to surround myself with a group of people whose opinions I respect."
Learn from celebrity poker experts
"What I learned from her only highlighted things that most people in this industry, or even other industries, wouldn't consider."
Wynn's influence and network extend beyond his uncle. He told PokerNews that Molly Bloom (known for running "Molly's Game," a high-stakes poker game featuring a gathering of celebrities, a story later adapted into a Hollywood film) also played a mentoring role.
"She was a great help to me early on, explaining a lot of things to me. Just before our first event, I spent a lot of time talking to her about how she would treat her celebrity guests. At that time, it wasn't about the size of the pot or the amount of money involved—we were completely different from Molly's game. But what I learned from her was simply highlighting things that most people in this industry, or even other industries, wouldn't consider."
What else makes CPT stand out? Wynn says it's primarily the attention to detail.
"For example, I have all our staff remember the name and appearance of every player and guest, what they like to drink, what they like to eat, so that we can prepare everything for everyone. We take these things into account, and that's what makes us different."
"Celebrities travel all over the world, and everyone tries to please them, right? Whether they're touring musicians, athletes traveling for competitions, or staying in luxury hotels. Whatever they are. They walk into a PokerGO studio, or better yet, they play in the WSOP Paradise Series, and they all say, 'Oh my god, wow.'"
The Celebrity Poker Tour is also expanding its reach. After hosting its first international event in the Bahamas last year, they will once again partner with the World Series of Poker (WSOP) to host an event this summer on June 26.
"It feels really good to officially put the word 'Tournament' into the Celebrity Poker Tour," Wynn said.
Common Mistakes Review: Why Do You Keep Losing? The Problem Lies Here
Most players lose money not because of luck, but because they repeat the same mistakes.
These debriefings will help you identify the most common mistakes and understand how to correct them:
Why does constantly calling cause you to lose money?
[Bluff Imbalance] What are the costs of excessive bluffing?
Why do you always lose on the last street? [Never fold]
[Slow Play Error] Why do I lose big pots when I play slowly?
What's the problem with betting too small?
Why do people lose money when they bet too much?
[Emotional Issues] How do emotions affect your decision-making?
[Range Misjudgment] Analysis of Errors Caused by a Lack of Understanding of Range
[Location Ignore] What are the consequences of ignoring location?
[Misinterpreting People] The Impact of Misinterpreting an Opponent's Behavior
Avoiding mistakes is more important than learning new skills. By reviewing these common mistakes, you can quickly identify your weaknesses, correct your decision-making habits, and reduce unnecessary losses.
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