It wasn’t so long ago that everyone was playing poker. Big money tournaments we’re all over television, and the specter of being the next rags to riches amateur poker icon had just about everybody dabbling in the game.

But now that the poker wave has receded, the casual player often finds himself high and dry – often forced make a 90-plus minute hike to Atlantic City to find a game.

Not anymore.

The Delaware Poker Room is now open in Mill Creek, above the new Buffalo Wild Wings on Rt. 7 just south of Kirkwood Highway.

With a dozen tables and nightly cash games beginning at 7 p.m., it’s a player’s paradise.
And not only is it legal, it’s for a good cause.

Originally opened in Newark three years ago, the Delaware Poker Room has raised more than $120,000 for local charities and non-profits – from senior centers, to animal shelters to athletic leagues – according to owner Brandon Buglio.

Each evening, a different organization rents out the room from Buglio and hosts a number of games, usually $2-$4 and $3-$5 Texas Hold ‘Em, 7- and 5-card stud, 5-card draw and sometimes even Omaha Hi/Low.

Players play for cash, donating the equivalent of one big blind to the charity every half-hour. It’s that simple, Buglio says. He turns a profit by renting the room, the charity raises money – oftentimes from folks not even involved with the organization – and players know they always have a game. Everybody wins.

Well not everybody. Buglio is quick to point out that although it’s a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere, its still serious poker, with players in it to win.

Games are hosted by a different charity every night, and begin at 7 p.m. and run until 1 a.m. Several flat screen televisions are spread throughout the parlor, offering up the nights biggest games. And hungry players can order food directly from Buffalo Wild Wings and eat at their tables – the only catch: no booze.

Buglio said non-profits have always been close to his heart, and as an avid poker player, he saw it as a natural fit. He started running a poker club nine years ago at the Jewish Community Center in Newark where he worked and then started running games for other organizations.

At one point he was sent a cease and desist notice from the state’s gaming commission because he was running tournaments – something that was technically not permitted by his gaming license. Soon, lawmakers changed the law and he was back in business.

Now he’s working with regulators to legalize no-limit games, where bets are uncapped and players can wager all of their chips on a single bet if they think their hand is strong enough. It’s easily the most popular kind of poker.

“Once we get that, I think we’ll really have a lot of people,” he said.

For now, Buglio said the 100-player capacity room averages between 40 and 50 players per evening. Everybody’s welcome, Buglio said, as long as they’re 18 or older.

“We basically get two types of people,” he said. “Some are very charity driven and are here to help and the poker is secondary. And then there are some here to play poker and when they learn about the charity they’re usually happy to help out, but there here to play cards.

“With the times being what they are, we’re seeing charities really struggle, so maybe this is a way for them to reach some people they might not normally reach,” he said.