Kolkata Competing With Bengaluru As India`s Fastest Growing Poker Destination; IPA Poker Room Re-Launches in Kolkata

If it was Bengaluru that saw a boom a few years ago, with several poker rooms mushrooming across the Garden City, it is Kolkata now that is giving the former a run for its money with a flourishing poker environment. The City of Joy today boasts not less than a dozen poker rooms, as compared to just Spring Club or the odd poker room that were the only available venues just a few years ago.

One common catalyst shared by both cities leading to the respective poker growth is KN Suresh, a lawyer and poker enthusiast, whose legal acumen and efforts led to landmark judgments in both states proceeding to a conducive atmosphere for poker venues to operate undisturbed by harassment from the local police. Suresh faced trouble from the police in Karnataka, when he launched the first India Poker Association (IPA) club in Bengaluru. Taking the matter to the High Court, he won a milestone victory that ultimately led to Bengaluru become a new poker hub in the country.

West Bengal already had a legal provision for games of skill, but this was utilized only during 2014, by Vipin Choudhary, a lawyer and poker player, who launched the Amator Poker Room, followed by a few more in 2015, like the Turn n Riva and the BG Poker Room, which was recently revamped as Aquarium 7.

The Karnataka-launched IPA now has a poker room in Kolkata, with Suresh tying up with well-known local poker player and entrepreneur Aditya ‘Bitti’ Agarwal. Aditya has been one of the earliest Kolkatans involved with the sport since 2008 and has immense experience in the back-end of the game, having collaborated initially with Bharat Agarwalla at the Indian Poker Series (IPS). He later ran the King of Aces poker room in Nepal. As a player himself, Aditya understands what players want, and his popularity will certainly add value to the new venture.

The IPA Kolkata had actually been launched in June last year and after issues with the local authorities; Suresh repeated his legal act and once again won a landmark victory for the poker room with the Kolkata High Court directing that it continue operations without any hindrance.

However, the IPA Kolkata kept a low profile until all legal formalities were completed, and are now re-introducing the room to the city with fresh marketing and a brand new venue in the centrally located Park Street area, in the same building as one of the largest nightclubs ‘The Myx.’ The new poker room has a vibrant look with a bright color scheme, an attractive bar counter and a cozy atmosphere with lamps highlighting the tables. Players will now get to enjoy gaming with exclusive facilities such as a Sheesha lounge, multi-cuisine restaurants and some exciting upcoming poker promos.

PokerGuru caught up with Aditya and here he speaks to us in detail about his latest venture IPA Kolkata, the vision and objectives of the room, besides the upcoming plans for poker players.

Please tell us a bit about re-introducing IPA Poker club?

We had gone live on 18th June 2015, but due to unavoidable circumstances, we had to halt operations and moved the High Court. Thankfully a decision was made in our favor on 2nd July. We could have launched the club again with immediate effect, but I got busy with some other new ventures around my family business. Now that I am relatively free and that area is taken care of, we decided to re-introduce the IPA club. The delay has worked in our favor because we are now located in the heart of the city as compared to slightly offbeat location we were operating off earlier.

Please tell us a bit about the core team of IPA, Kolkata. Who all will be actively involved in managing the club?

The core team of IPA Kolkata, for now, mainly comprises of K N Suresh and me. Other people involved in managing the club would be some of my very good friends, who themselves are also poker enthusiasts and constant support from them is much needed to take the club to new heights.

What are your expectations with the club?

I just want it to be the poker hub in the City of Joy, so much so, that if anyone wants to do anything in respect to poker, the first thing that should come to their mind should be IPA Kolkata. Also I would be very glad to see if any of the poker buddies playing in the club could go to the Mecca of poker and take down the coveted WSOP bracelet.

What are your views on the current poker scenario in Kolkata?

The current poker scenario in Kolkata is going crazy with so many clubs opening and so many new poker players emerging. This is pretty much in line with our expectation what we had thought after winning the case one year back. Kolkata was always there on the poker map but it’s always good to see new players playing poker and learning the same with full dedication. I hope the poker boom in the city continues in the same fashion.

You have been active from a long time in the poker circuit and considered as one of the good and experienced players. How do you think that helps in being an operator?

I feel lucky to be part of the industry from the time it started growing in India back in the year 2008. Playing the role of an operator becomes easier, as I can use all the experience from my grinding days at small stakes trying to build a bankroll to playing the highest stakes in the different casinos in India. Basically I know what a player expects from an operator and to what extent it could be met without compromising each other’s comfort level. There are a lot of case studies to learn from some of the previous operators and their mistakes.

What exciting promotions can a Kolkata grinder expect at IPA Poker club?

Let me start by pointing out that IPA poker club in Kolkata is not only city specific like you have stated in the question in respect to the promotions and facilities it intends to offer. Its valid for all the poker enthusiasts across the country, of course, with some terms and conditions applied. As far as promotions are concerned there is nothing fixed and we intend to keep varying from hosting a freeroll tournament for all the players, to hosting satellites for major tournaments in the country, to giving a prize on hitting a Royal Flush or Quads for that matter.

Now coming to the facilities part, we are proud to be located in the premises of one of the biggest nightclubs ‘The Myx’ in the heart of the city in Park Street area, which also offers a rooftop Sheesha lounge and multiple restaurants with different cuisines.

Any parting words/ anything you would like to add?

I would like to invite all my poker buddies across the country to come and play and test their skills at IPA Kolkata and have a good time around the wonderful game of poker. Cheers!!!

For any queries for poker games at IPA, players can contact them at 9883046865.