What is "ATLARGE"?

ATLARGE stands for the ATLantic city Annual Rec.Gambling Excursion. We are a diverse group of people with a common hobby: Poker! We've been gathering once each year in the springtime in Atlantic City since 1995 (with a short break). We dine, we drink, we laugh and we play poker, including LOTS of ring games plus three tournaments that we organize ourselves. This year, ATLARGE2025 will take place at The Borgata, the largest poker room in Atlantic City. Our three tournaments will be April 4, 5, and 6.

ATLARGE is the New Jersey version of http://www.barge.org (our group's biggest event, our annual gathering in Las Vegas in August). Roughly 200 people attend BARGE each year, and about 100 attend ATLARGE each year.

Registration for ATLARGE2025 is now open. You can also review existing registrations.

Everyone of legal gambling age in New Jersey is welcome to join us at ATLARGE. Our *only* requirement is that you register with us in advance, here, on our website. We charge a small registration fee hat is used to buy our tournament winner's trophies and a commemorative coin/card protector that is given to each registrant on arrival. Here are the tournament details (structures are linked below):

  1. The first ATLARGE2025 tournament will be on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 11:00am. The event is styled on Mike Sexton's original Tournament of Champions event from years ago at the Orleans in Las Vegas. It is a rotation tournament consisting of Limit Stud High, Limit Omaha-8, and Limit Hold'em. After the 12th level, the tournament becomes no limit Hold'em until the end.
  2. The second ATLARGE2025 tournament will be on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 11:00am. Ths event, which is the centerpiece of ATLARGE, is No Limit Hold'em.
  3. The third and final ATLARGE2025 tournament will be on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 11:00am. This event will be double board Pot Limit Omaha.
The structure sheets for these tournaments are available here (only not yet).

Here is some other interesting stuff:

  1. Because we begin on Friday morning (11am) many of us gather on Thursday night for a group cocktail party. The best way to know where this takes place is by subscribing to the ATLARGE mailing list (link below). BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE ATLARGE EMAIL LIST (bottom of this page) for ongoing information posted by our members about who’s going where, who has a car, etc.
  2. The buy-in for the Friday and Sunday tournaments is $100+$20+$10 (Prize Pool + House Rake + Dealer Toke Pool in the form of a chip add-on), with Saturday's tournament being $150+$20+$10. Note that as a matter of policy The Borgata withholds 3% of the Prize Pool for dealer tokes but our group prides itself on being generous to the dealers so we take an additional $10 from each player at registration time to enhance the dealer tokes.
  3. Buy-in for each event will be at The Borgata. Players will pay the $120/$170 to the Borgata and an ATLARGE volunteer will be at the registration line to collect the added $10 from each player.
  4. Registration Fees ($25 per person) must be paid in advance. Zelle is strongly preferred (to Goldie at (973) 768-9730). If you cannot pay via Zelle (check with your bank), please contact me to make alternative arrangements at goldie@barge.org.
  5. The FIRM DEADLINE for registration is noon Eastern time on Monday, March 31, 2025. If you haven't registred by then AND PAID YOUR REGISTRATION FEE you will NOT be registered for ATLARGE2025.

How Can You Participate in ATLARGE?

EVERYONE IS WELCOME! But because we all originally met over the Internet, the only rule for participation in any of our events is that you must register over the Internet. Since you're reading this, you've already come to the right place! If you fill out the registration information below, you're in! Then, all you have to do is pay for the registration fee, and show up and have fun.

Other ATLARGE Events

Dinners and other events around ATLARGE are self-organized by our members. The best way to know what's going on or to suggest a place where you'd like to visit, is by subscribing to the ATLARGE mailing list, below on this page.

Ring Games

The Borgata will spread cash games at all limits, including an ARG favorite, the $7.50-$15.00 "pink chip" holdem game! Baby PL is also available, if there is sufficient interest.

Transportation

Unfortunately, for those planning to fly, ATLANTIC CITY is not terribly easy to reach. There is an airport just nine miles from Atlantic City, but regularly scheduled flights there are usually BRUTALLY EXPENSIVE. Once at the Atlantic City airport, cabs are readily available. The PHILADELPHIA airport is 50 miles from Atlantic City, with regular train service.Pick up the SEPTA R1 train directly in front of the Philadelphia airport terminals, and take the train to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia (three stops after leaving the airport). Change trains at 30th Street for NJ Transit for Atlantic City. NJ Transit will drop you off at the Atlantic City train station 9 blocks off the boardwalk. Your NJ Transit ticket includes no-wait bus service to all casinos when you exit the train. Schedules for these trains are located at:

You are well advised to check the train schedules in advance, lest you be destined to repeat ADB Jester's overnight stay in 30th Street station at ATLARGE III, missing the Thursday night festivities.

Lodging

There are no hotel codes or special rates. HOWEVER, the rates change rapidly depending on their occupancy on any given day, including weekends. I've seen Saturday nights that were going for $400 all week long become $99 on Saturday. AND, the law in NJ requires the hotel to honor their lowest rate. So ATLARGErs are encouraged to check the rates every day on line and if a rate appears that is lower than the reservation rate re-book at the lower rate, even in person while in the hotel.

Mailing List

If you aren't already signed up for it, we recommend you join the ATLARGE mailing list by clicking here. In addition to the rec.gambling.poker newsgroup, lots of us trade insults on this list. Oh, and we also keep informed about ATLARGE type stuff here too. Late registration details will also be announced there.

Registration Fee

To attend our events and play in our tournaments, everyone must register and pay the ATLARGE REGISTRATION FEE of $25. For your $25 you'll get a special gift and memento.

The $25 registration fee must be paid in advance. Before each ATLARGE tournament, each player will pay $120 (or $170 on Saturday) to the Borgata and $10 to the ATLARGE dealer toke pool, both of which will be collected when registering for our tournaments.

Firm Deadline

The registration deadline is noon Eastern time on Monday, March 31, 2025. If you have not registered and paid your $25 registration fee by that Monday before ATLARGE, you will NOT be able to attend. Please be guided accordingly.

How to Pay

Payment of your registration fee must made by Zelle at (973) 768-9730. Please reference "Ventnor Party" or something creative. Contact me at goldie@barge.org if you need to make alternative arrangements to pay.

When you register, please choose your badge names carefully. Your "nickname" will appear in larger print, and your "real name" below, in smaller print. Here's a sample badge:

Your registration is complete upon your registration above and Goldie's receipt of your payment. Remember, your payment must be received no later than Monday, March 31, 2025.