Wherever I go everyone is asking about Dusk Till Dawn, especially in Nottingham. Its been on TV, radio and in the local papers, although I seem to be getting misqouted quite a bit. I've tried to avoid doing interviews with the press, as I just want to focus on getting the hearing out of the way and getting the place open. Of course, there is a possibility that we may not be successful, but IMO I think we will get a positive result, and I think the casinos probably also believe their objections will be overuled.
Membership to Dusk Till Dawn is free (and their will be no door charges - we have decided against this in the end), if you plan on coming to club (even on a one off basis) please make sure that you have joined on www.dtdpoker.com, the more people that we have as members, the stronger our case will be in court. On successful opening, only members who have joined online will be allowed into the club, there will be no admittance on the door, or to guests. This is a criteria that we have agreed with the UK Gambling Commission and Nottingham Police, who want to ensure that we are a poker only club, not a general drinking establishment or night club. A lot of you guys want this to happen - so please help me by showing your support for the club!
If anybody wants to have a look around the club, please feel free, we have a site manager there from 8am to 5pm Mon-Fri, his name is Lee Scott, and if you mention you are from Blondepoker, I'm sure he'll let you have a look round. Construction has finished - so its safe!
When I think of all the comotion this place has caused, with the government bodies, the media and the casinos, I just can't help thinking that we have all lost a bit of perspective, its just a Poker Club, no big deal. Okay, its bigger than the average poker venue, but at the end of the day, its just a building on a retail park where people can come and play poker in nice surroundings. Its not like we are opening the first legalised brothel in the UK - that would be justifiably big news, I just think things have got way out of proportion.
When (if) we open, I reckon it may be a big anti-climax, and everyone will think "what was all the fuss about?" The casinos will continue business as usual and we will have a few good times at Dusk Till Dawn, life is not going to change that much for all of us! Poker players will still play poker at the casinos as well as Dusk Till Dawn, we will just be an additional venue, in a market that is already becoming flooded IMO.
From my personal point of view, I just want to get the place open and running properly and then intergrate it into my other businesses, get some "normality" back to my life, and play a few poker tournaments abroad. I dont want to build a "poker empire", I just want poker to be one of my businesses, and give some attention back to some of the others, since my only focus has been DTD for the last 2/3 years. I'm already tired of the poker business and I guess I have not even started in it yet! Its not a great industry IMO, everyone want something for nothing and there is so much legislation its tiresome. However, if we ever get to an opening night party, I think I will probably feel more refreshed........
Anyway, thanks for all your kinds PM's and emails, its much appreciated.
