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Carpenter Cashes in on Poker Craze
In poker, there is money to be made in other areas than playing the game
itself. The best example of that in the current era of poker playing is
Steve Lipscomb, the one time lawyer and documentary filmmaker turned poker
entrepreneur with his invention of the World Tour Poker series. Others are
turning a profit in the boom that can largely be credited to Lipscomb,
including Eric Nordstrom, an entrepreneuring carpenter from North Dakota.
Nordstrom is a carpenter by trade, who decided to stake a claim one of the
oldest trades there is- supplying the prospectors. When Nordstrom saw the
line of players hoping to strike it rich in poker gold, he saw an
opportunity to make some decent money without the gamble. He began making
poker tables in 2004 when someone asked if he could make something special
to play a game on, and through word of mouth has established himself as an
industry leader and gaming supplies is now his full time business.
Nordstrom conservatively estimates that he has made well over 200 tables in
the last two years, supplying tables both in his own state and Montana,
South Dakota, and Minnesota. A key moment came when he introduced his tables
to Western Distributing, a licensed gambling distributor in North Dakota.
Nordstrom points out that all the charities that do gaming have to get their
supplies, including tables, from a licensed distributor, and In North Dakota
that means the Western rents or sells to almost 300 charities statewide.
Nordstrom also receives orders from Lein Games in Fargo, and retailers in
Minneapolis. Nordy’s custom poker tables are available in four basic styles,
from #389 to $1200. Customs designs are also available, as well as blackjack
tables and KEM cards. Nordstrom also offers specialty dealer buttons and
field cloths.
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