Poker Hall Of Famer, Pioneer Tournament Director Jack McClelland Passes Away

I had originally posted this in a different thread in OOT, mods moved it here.

RIP Jack and thanks for everything you contributed to the poker world.

First and only time I met McClelland, he was near the end of his run of heading Bellagio's poker room. Struck me as the classic salt-of-the-earth type that was so prevalent with my parents' generation. I kind of wish I had hit him up for some great poker stories from his early days, but I'm not sure how likely that was.

Indeed, RIP.

In link: "Poker Stories" audio clip :
I thought it interesting, Jack speaking on managing poker rooms.
He said, "The bosses would "let me make some money" (obviously, meaning other than his salary).
First thing came to mind, in those days, poker table drop boxes were opened inside poker room first, prior to going to counting room.
Very frequently, the drop box contents would be dumped on top of poker table, then empty drop box put back, into poker table slot.
Way they did drop boxes in those days, was completely different than contemporary corporate casinos.
Those were the slot machine "buckets" days.😃

(I need to clarity. The drop box scenario described above, was Stardust Hotel Casino. I have no clue as to whether
Jack McClelland ever worked in Stardust poker room.)

RIP.

True pioneer. Very nice guy the brief interactions I had with him. His battle for the microphone with a drunken MTM at the ‘95 HOF was like Hagler-Hearns.

I moved to Las Vegas in 1987 and none of this was going on then. You're talking about a time perhaps 15 years earlier.

I knew Jack going back to the late 1980s and as far as I know he never worked at The Stardust (but I could be wrong).

As for the bosses letting him make some money, I think he was referring to keeping a percentage of the tips that those who cashed in tournaments would leave.

You were in Vegas. However, you apparently were unaware of everything that was occurring.
Henry Shed Trio playing outside Caesar's poker room. Johnny Grooms (then, young dude) working as a dealer.
YOU being quiet, as usual, sitting at poker table, next to me.
Mason, I stand by what I wrote, because I was in Stardust and saw poker drop boxes opened up, before being taken to counting room.
We Chicago folks, liked the Stardust.

In 1988, the year before the Mirage opened ,I played a lot of limit hold ‘em at the Stardust and what you’re describing never happened. But a few years before that it was well known that there were problems in The Stardust Poker Room.

OK. That was your experience, when you were in the room.

Read my post that you quoted and you’ll see when I was in the room.

I understand, why you are so adamant in protecting the integrity of a Vegas casino, that is no longer in business.
Some people, who have financial interests in casinos or gambling related business ventures, are hardliners.
They must keep naive public, in belief, gaming in general, and casino operations, are above reproach.
Money and profits are gained by lying to the public, to keep them returning to casinos - Keep public, buying poker books.

Except I wrote a book four years ago that is highly critical of how poker rooms are run and this includes some of those in Las Vegas:

https://www.amazon.com/Cardrooms-Everyth...

You might want to pick up a copy.

As one of "we Chicago folks", I literally answered a newspaper ad and came to work for the Teamsters Central States Funds as a field representative in the 1970s, during the Las Vegas "clean up" period, pre-Howard Hughes.

I visited Las Vegas, and the Stardust in the 1970's. I played at the Stardust on a regular basis when in town. Yes, the Stardust WAS a "Chicago joint", as were the Dunes, Tropicana and Caesars and reportedly The Marina and the Alladin. I'd extend that description to the Jubilation nightspot as well. Other Strip casinos were associated with different cities.

I don't know what drop boxes you saw opened in the Stardust poker room, which, iirc ,was in full view of the public casino floor. The actual "counting room" was not open to public view. That is where storied "skimming" reportedly took place.

I find it odd that anyone would "pre-skim" poker room revenue prior to boxes going to the counting room, but I'll defer to your personal observations. That "pre-count skim" would be a problem amongst interested parties. (Management issues reportedly did result in the demise of Mr. Dorfman back home in Chicago, according to contemporary accounts I seem to recall ?)

All in all, "good times", the Stardust coffee shop was really good.

i was playing everyday at the stardust in the early 1970's. and was very informed as to what was going on and when it would happen. as many or most card rooms had cheating happening. still does to some extent.

never ever did a casino open drop boxes in view of the public ever. it was always taken by security away, where it went from there i dont know.

years later some casinos shared poker tips so had them go into a drop box as well. those could have been opened atr the tables as the counting room had no dealings with that.

dealers tips went to their pockets. along sometimes with some dealers a chip or two from a pot.

i started the 5/10 seven stud in vegas as the highest was 3/6 at the stardust then, except for cheating games at the dunes. from there myself and a couple others got it raised to 10/20 then 15/30 and some 30/60. some regulars became famous like rod pardee and tommy cress and eric drache.

also got 15/30 razz started as they only had a regular 30/60 that was unplayable most times.

any game i was in i had the head room manager myron goldberg and shift managers, absolutely no wiring up hands or stealing from pots allowed in my games. and if someone tried it i would make a stink very loudly. it held when i was there only. i also had some other people on my side no one fooled with that liked me.

in 1973 i believe it was, we took the stud game to the alladin casino when wayne newton owned it. when johnny moss got the room. and had giant games of all stakes. johhny kept the games mostly honest and was the first room owner/manager to do that.

ill end my story here.

When did it become standard for Vegas casinos to have cameras everywhere?

they always had them all over the important spots but werent much good until say the 1990< but they had what we called eye in the sky. a guy watching thru their cameras focused on the tables.

or watching just from the ceiling. and men on the floor.

not him but the other two very well.
i heard dale died a long ways back but never heard anything about o neil.