There may be no such thing as a sure bet, but Russ Jennings hopes his new business in town will be one.

Jennings, owner of Tombstone RV Park, thinks his new Tombstone Poker Palace will become a popular way to spend a night out in Tombstone.

“After 5 o’clock, unless you go to a saloon, there’s not much to do here,” said Jennings. “We’re trying to provide another option for people in town and Texas Hold ’Em is the largest growing sport in the nation.”

The Poker Palace opened Oct. 17 with a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce. The first tournament was held at 6:30 p.m.

Parts of the building will be leased by local business owners to help Jennings recuperate his costs of opening the business. Tombstone Sandwich Shop, a massage therapist, a land developer and retail outlets for poker memorabilia will all have a stake in the business.

But no matter the business plan, state gambling laws are still something Jennings has to wrangle.

“The state doesn’t outlaw poker,” said Jennings. “Anyone can play. There’s just restrictions on how money is gambled. We can’t take a rake out of the pot. All of the money gambled must go to the winner.”

According to Jennings, the Palace is a social club, which means in order to play you must buy a membership. It costs $5 to play for a month and $25 for the year.

The stakes that are won depend on how much it cost to buy into the game. In the opening tournament, 75 players bought in for $75 each and the winner took home $2,000.

Because The Poker Palace is not allowed to take a share out of the pot, the only other way Jennings can recover some of his costs is through small fees for playing in the tournaments.

“Any non-profit organization is entitled to recoup their costs of putting on an event,” said Jennings. “As members you pay a rent on the button when it is in front of you. If that weren’t the case no church could put on bingo nights.”

But according to Jennings, the business has faced slightly stronger scrutiny than the bingo nights at the local church.

Gambling has been criticized because of its association with activities like excessive drinking, but everything from college football to golf is bet on and that doesn’t make those activities inherently bad, Jennings said.

The Poker Palace has banned smoking, drinking and cursing in an attempt to create a social club for ladies and gentlemen that Jennings hopes will become an asset to Tombstone.

The Chamber of Commerce couldn’t agree more with Jennings’ thought.

“Poker was a integral part of our Western history,” said Patrick Greene, the executive director of the Tombstone Chamber of Commerce. “I personally think it’s going to be an economic benefit for people to be able to play poker in a historical setting.”

According to Greene, the addition of a business that provides something else to do at night will only be a magnet for more people to come to Tombstone.

Competing business owners are said they are excited for the Poker Palace to add to the allure of Tombstone.

“Any business that does well is good for us,” said Mile Carrafa, the owner of Six Gun City. “The more people who come to Tombstone the better. We should use the resources to make the pie bigger for everyone.”

Six Gun City offers poker tournaments on Tuesday and Thursday nights and is open into the early hours of the morning, Carrafa added. There is also karaoke where kids can come and sing on Monday, Friday and Saturday nights.

According to Carrafa the addition of another successful business will only help the town gain more recognition.

While Russ Jennings’ Poker Palace is designed to help add to the appeal of Tombstone, it wasn’t expected to garner national attention.

National Geographic Channel is slated to film a piece about poker in Tombstone on Oct. 24, Jennings said.

Regular players like “Captain” Jack, “Stare Me Down” Ray and even the owner “Box of Chocolate” Russ, should all take part in the filming.

The Poker Palace has been open only a few days and has already garnered an interest that is likely to help Tombstone after the completion of Helldorado Days.

What’s to come is anyone’s guess, but Jennings has lofty goals. Ultimately, he hopes to invite the World Poker Tour to Tombstone for a tournament.