Junior gambles on poker sweepstakes in Sin City

By: Peri Schechter

Posted: 3/29/06

Poker is so hot right now that one might call it trendy. It's difficult to remember what the game was like before the World Series was broadcast on ESPN and Celebrity Poker dominated the Bravo network.

Although poker has always been a popular game among middle-aged husbands trying to escape their wives for a night, it has recently gained much more gain with a younger demographic. College students are joining in on the poker phenomenon, playing religiously in dorm rooms and apartments every night of the week, many times missing classes and obligations to stay in for a few more hands.

Michael Finizio, a junior civil engineering major, recently had the chance to put his poker skills and luck to the test after becoming one of six grand prize winners of The J.W. Dundee's Honey Brown Beer "Hold Hands With Your Honey" sweepstakes. His prize? An all-expense paid trip to Sin City - Las Vegas - to play against the other winners in a poker tournament for prizes ranging from $250 to $10,000.

"I never entered a sweepstakes before because I never thought people actually win these things," Finizio said.

Finizio had been collecting Honey Brown Beer bottle caps in an effort to win decks of cards to give as Christmas presents, along with cases of beer. Much to his surprise, Finizio received a call during winter break saying he had qualified to win a free trip for two to Las Vegas with the amount of beer bottle caps he had sent in.

Finizio took Eddie Iamiceli, his roommate and a junior civil engineering major, to Vegas in hopes of winning the tournament and $10,000.

"I was really happy for him, and I didn't care if he took me, but we both were buying Honey Brown and trying to win prizes together," Iamiceli said.

Bally's put them up for two nights, but two nights wasn't enough for two college guys. Finizio and Iamiceli wanted to make a long weekend out of it and so they paid for a third night. With an extra day before the tournament, Finizio and his roommate were able to truly experience Vegas. During an almost sleepless 24 hours, they walked the strip, saw a jubilee show, drank beer and gambled at a table with Dennis Rodman.

"I didn't see him win though," joked Finizio.

The day of the tournament arrived and a hung-over Finizio met his match at a table with four middle-aged men and one middle-aged woman, all of the grand prize winners. He was surprised to see that everyone had about 20 years on him. The company, however, was glad a young 21-year-old was present.

"We really want to influence people to drink our beer who are just starting to drink," said Jessica Homan, who works at the A Team marketing and promotional agency for High Souls. "We want to reach the 21 to 25 year-old age bracket because it's actually great-tasting beer."

The game, which lasted two and a half hours, was set up in a private room with professional dealers and catered, especially with lots of Honey Brown Beer that Iamiceli took advantage of.

"I was doing all right, won a couple of hands in the beginning," Finizio said.

Finizio was up, and then, with a little luck, he got pocket, or a pair of hidden aces. Everyone folded except for the woman.

"I thought I had it so I was betting pretty big, raising every time," Finizio said. "I was trying to keep a straight face, and then my heart rate doubled when I saw her cards."

The woman hit a full house and Finizio lost a most of his chips on that hand, and it was all downhill from there. He continued to win a couple of smaller hands, but finally, with pocket aces again, he pushed all his money in only to get beaten by man who pulled another full house.

"I was bummed out probably as much as he was. I was standing right behind him, looking at what he had and he was making all the right moves," Iamiceli said.

Finizio came in last place, winning $250. Although he was bummed out because there was a lot of money at stake, Finizio said that it came down to a lack of experience.

Back at Syracuse, Finizio is encouraging friends to drink Honey Brown and check out their many promotions on the company's Web site. Like the New York Lotto, "Hey, you never know." But he's also in training, working on his poker skills for next year.

"I will not let that 10 grand slip away again," Finizio said.

For more information on High Fall Brewery and its different promotions, visit its Web site at highfalls.com.