The first stop in the 2008 season of the Heartland Poker Tour was at the Grand Casino Mille Lacs in Onamia, Minnesota, and Dusty Hamers won the first-place prize of almost $75,000.
The event began with 176 runners who all paid the $1,650 buy-in. Hamers, a 28-year-old machine operator from Waite Park, Minnesota, defeated Ray Bendijo heads up to become the first 2008 HPT champion. Bendijo received just over $37,000 of the nearly $252,000 prize pool for second place.
“I definitely think I have the skills to be a pro poker player. Right now, the only thing stopping me is bankroll,” said Hamers before the start of the final table. “Winning this tournament could put me in the right direction.”
Perhaps Hamers will now turn pro with a boosted bankroll, as well as a $3,000 package into the HPT championship, which will take place at the end of the year. The following is the rest of the 2008 HPT schedule:
- Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel (Tama, Iowa) — March 2-9
- Golden Gates Casino (Black Hawk, Colorado) — March 28-April 13
- Majestic Star Casinos (Gary, Indiana) — April 17-28
- Island Resort and Casino (Harris, Michigan) — May 5-11
- Greektown Casino (Detroit, Michigan) — May 31-June 8
- Turning Stone Resort and Casino (Verona, New York) — June 25-29
- Majestic Star Casinos (Gary, Indiana) — July 17-28
- Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort (Mount Pleasant, Michigan) — Aug. 17-24
- Grand Casino Mille Lacs (Onamia, Minnesota) — Sept. 16-21
- Golden Gates Casino (Black Hawk, Colorado) — Sept. 22-Oct. 5
- Turning Stone Resort and Casino (Verona, New York) — Oct. 15-19
- Greektown Casino (Detroit, Michigan) — Oct. 19-26
- Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel (Tama, Iowa) — Nov. 2-9
- Running Aces Card Room (Columbus, Minnesota) — Nov. 9-16
- HPT championship at the Majestic Star (Gary, Indiana) — Nov. 13-24
