September 12, 2005

Robert "Tag" Tagliaferri Poker Shift Supervisor, Gold Coast

Robert "Tag" Tagliaferri was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1966. In 1971, Tag's father relocated the family to Riverside, California after being offered a chef's position with the State of California's prison system.

In 1984 Tag graduated from Faith Christian Academy with hopes of becoming a professional baseball player. He was playing semi-pro ball with the Bloomington Stars when his career ended abruptly due to a knee injury.

After his short lived baseball career he went into the entertainment business as a deejay playing weddings, graduations and parties. In 1987 he started his own deejay business but shortly there after discovered the world of poker. At the age of 21 his love for the game led him to pursue a career as a dealer.

His first dealing gig began at Lake Elsinore, that was in 1988 before flop games came into play. In 1989 he dealt the very first hand of Texas hold'em at Lake Elsinore.

When Morongo opened in 1990, Tag took a dealing position and his first floor position came in 1992 under the supervision of Jenny and Larry Miranda at Pechanga.

His Pechanga days lasted until 1994, he spent the next five years dealing in various places until he decided to move to Las Vegas in 1999. Once in Vegas he hooked up with some old friends and started dealing at the Orleans.

In 2000, Tag worked his first Orleans Open as a floor supervisor and after the Open was over he was offered a shift supervisor's position.

In December of 2004, the Orlean's sister casino, the Gold Coast opened a poker room and appointed Tag, Poker Shift Supervisor.

Tag runs the Poker Room at the Gold Coast under the supervision of Garrett Okahara, the Director of Poker Operations for the Orleans.

DB: What are your duties as Poker Shift Supervisor?

RT: I oversee an eight table cardroom with a staff of 29 dealers and 5 floor people.

DB: How experienced is your poker staff?

RT: We have a lot of break-in dealers and people that are new to working the floor and I'm amazed at how fast and how far everyone has come along. Joe D. is our day shift supervisor, Magic and Tracy are our swing shift supervisors, and Jack S. is our grave yard supervisor. My dealers and floor people will be happy to make your stay at the Gold Coast enjoyable.

DB: What live games does the Gold Coast offer it's players?

RT: We spread $2-$4 and $4-$8 limit hold'em on a daily basis. We also offer $6-$12 and $10-$20 limit and all games have full blinds and 1/2 kills. On weekends we spread a $100 flat maximum buy-in no-limit hold'em with $1- $2 blinds.

DB: Where is the poker room located?

AM: We're on the west side of the casino, in front of the buffet and a short walk to the bingo hall. We are close to the race and sportsbook and the south parking garage. The poker room also has eight plasma TV screens for viewing sporting events.