When observing the goings on at the 888poker-powered UKPL Reading South festival over the last few days, one can’t help but notice Grosvenor Poker Live Event Specialist Dena Hassan. She’s constantly interacting with players and staff, greeting everyone with a friendly smile and “hiya”, as well as universally being greeted with smiles in return. That’s not always a given. Dena clearly makes the extra effort. She knows people’s names, patiently answers everyone’s questions, and seems genuinely happy to help and ensure everything at the poker festival runs smoothly.
I had never heard of, much less met, Dena prior to this poker trip, so before I approached her to see if she’d agree to be interviewed for this piece, I engaged in some online research. Rather, I tried to. I could barely find any information about Dena other than that she had just celebrated her 20th anniversary with Grosvenor Poker back in March. How could someone involved in poker for that long and so well-known and beloved in the UK poker scene barely leave a digital footprint? Well, that speaks to Dena’s humility and devotion to just “getting the work done” without feeling the need for the spotlight.
It’s time we change that and give Dena Hassan her due. With much thanks to her for agreeing to speak with me, I trust you’ll enjoy learning more about the lovely lady behind the smile.
Dena Hassan Interview
How did you initially get into poker?
My ex-partner’s sister was working as a waitress at a casino, and they had a training school. I joined and trained as a pit dealer, dealing blackjack. From there, I watched what was going on in the poker room. In the UK poker rooms at the time, you had to slide cards, and the mechanics of that looked interesting to me.
I wanted to learn how to do it, and the best way for me was by dealing all the dealer’s choice mixed games. That’s how I got involved in poker. I enjoyed the interaction among players; it was different from table games where the players were against the house. I liked the sense of community because the players were talking to each other.
I had moved from Cardiff to Luton, where I worked for a short time. Originally, I had planned to get into conservation, but the casino life came along and stole me away. Moving to Luton straight out of school, the idea of getting paid during the eight weeks of training was appealing. I thought it would just be a part-time thing, but here I am all these years later.
Back in March, you celebrated 20 years working with Grosvenor Poker. That type of loyalty to a single company feels like an extremely rare thing to find in today’s day and age. What does it mean to you to have been with Grosvenor for more than two decades?
I’ve worked with so many wonderful people for a long period of time. It’s amazing to have such a great team around you. While I’ve spent 20 years with Grosvenor, I’ve also done other things in poker along the way. Twenty years in one building would’ve been a very different story, but I’ve been able to enjoy the poker community on the UK circuit and work on different events and in different roles outside the UK as well.
A HUGE congratulations to Dena Hassan who celebrates 20 years with Grosvenor today!!
She’s an absolute legend of UK Poker.
♥️ ♣️ ♦️ ♠️ pic.twitter.com/guZ5hIC8Y0
— Grosvenor Poker (@GrosvenorPoker) March 3, 2024
Take us through the various roles you’ve had over your 20 years in the industry. Were there any that stood out as particularly unique or interesting?
I started as a dealer and worked my way up to senior dealer, floorperson, supervisor, registration, cash desk—pretty much every role in poker except dealer coordinator.
It was a natural evolution; as I spent more time working in casinos, I just ended up doing “a little bit of everything.” As you attend more events, operators ask you to take on different tasks, and you learn new skills along the way.
It’s becoming less common to find people still working in poker who’ve been around since before Black Friday. What sort of major changes have you borne witness to on the UK poker scene over the years?
Long ago, No Limit Texas Hold’em wasn’t allowed in the UK—only pot limit was allowed. That’s obviously changed. The UK Gambling Commission has also evolved over time; for example, late registration was once illegal after a poker tournament had started, and there was no re-entry.
Poker dealers had to slide the cards; now, of course, they’re allowed to pitch. You used to see a lot more 7 Card Stud, especially in tournament format. There used to be many more characters in the rooms; you still have some now, but not like it used to be. And now there are so many more events running around the UK.
What sort of adjustments, reinvention, and/or adding to your skillset have you engaged in over the years so as to add to the value of your industry experience?
A lot of it is just learning your players and understanding the community. I’ve long advocated for the players and engage with them as much as possible, taking in all their feedback.
For example, many players have voiced their displeasure with the idea of unlimited tournament reentry, and I happen to agree. I’ll make the case to management on the players’ behalf, but the idea gets overruled. I understand why certain decisions need to be made, but it can be tough because I always try to do right by the players.
I’d like to believe that speaking on the players’ behalf is something management respects greatly. They know that when I come to them, it’s always with the players’ best interests in mind.
Your current role as a Live Events Specialist has you traveling around the UK poker circuit. Where in the UK are you based and for how long have you been in this role?
I live in Cardiff, Wales. That’s where I escape to when I’m not working. I’ve been in this role since the start of the GUKPT in 2007, so about 17 years. Being on that tour has kept me part of the Grosvenor team. It’s changed a bit since before the pandemic, but Tower (Phil Heald) has been with us since the beginning, and many players have been around since the start, too. Having the same people around you for so long helps keep you happy where you are.
You’ve also worked on a host of live events all over the world. What have been some of your favorite stops over the years (and why)?
The Irish Open has to be my favorite, especially back in the day when it was at CityWest. Poker in Ireland feels different compared to the UK. Here it’s very heavily regulated, only taking place in casinos, whereas there it can be in an “external building” or conference center. There’s just a different approach and feel for that reason.
How about the game itself; do you actually play a bit? Cash games/tournaments? Have you got any particular poker achievements that you’re particularly proud of?
In the early years, staff would play microstakes poker together, like 5p/10p, but nothing serious. Maybe a staff tournament at an EPT or the Irish Open, but I just don’t have the patience to play.
I’ve only played in one tournament in my life and never in a real cash game or online. The tournament was many years ago at the Jackpot in Dublin. I only played because my best friend had moved there and was working there. I thought I’d support them by playing, but I spent hours card dead thinking, “Ah, this is what players mean when they say that!” I shoved all in with pocket jacks, got knocked out, and said to myself, “I think I’ll just stay on the industry side of things; I’m happier that way.”
What’s your day-to-day work like, how do you prepare for it, and what’s the last thing you do at the end of every day working a live poker event?
I come in and get everything set up. Depending on how many tournaments are running, I prepare all the chips, check all the pre-registered players, and ensure all the player accounts are validated. I set up the equipment for the dealers and display the trophy if there is one, so players can see it. I’m quite OCD, so I like everything to be ready and in place. The last thing I do every day is make sure everything is put away, accounts are balanced, and we’re ready for the next day.
When a festival end, I’m OFF! I go home to Cardiff, tend to my garden, and take care of my hoyas. It’s my yin and yang, the complete opposite of the poker environment—just me and my plants. To be sure, I love the events; I stay plenty busy, but then I come home and I just switch everything off and it’s a totally different slow pace.
Dena’s favorite plants, hoyas
You’ve worked at multiple UKPL stops this year, and you’ve attended 888poker LIVE events in years past as well. What stands out to you about these events as unique versus other live poker tours?
The 888poker LIVE events always have a great staff presence and branding. You can really feel that they’re on top of everything happening there. The UKPL is just finishing its first season, so it’s not quite at the same level yet, but I have no doubt it’s going to keep improving. I’ve already seen that progression from stop to stop in this inaugural year.
Since you mention 888poker, I actually have a story about one of their ambassadors, Ian Simpson. You know that famous picture when he won the Irish Open back in 2013 and then got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend (now wife, Emma)? I was the dealer in that final hand, so I had a front row seat to the whole thing! That was my favorite ever hand that I’ve dealt; it was a diamond flush!
What drives you to not just fulfill your duties, but to do so with such obvious and genuine enthusiasm?
I just like people. If I can help, I’m happy to do it, and thankfully most people appreciate that and reciprocate. I guess I just feed off their energy!
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