Are you looking for the best poker rooms in Vegas? It’s a common question for those who take their poker more serious but also anyone that might just want a better overall experience. Las Vegas is the home of poker and casinos but there’s so many options that it’s not an easy thing to pick out the best poker room in Vegas!
It’s also important to remember that the best poker room for one person might not be the same as the next. This is often because players are looking for something different whether that refers to the comfortable seats and swift table-service to the friendly staff and extent of money that might be up for grabs on the tables.
I suppose the best place to explore this question or identify the best poker room in Vegas is to establish what exactly makes a good poker room in the first place?
What Makes a Top Class Poker Room in Vegas?
While there’s no one way to decide what makes a good poker room, there are certainly many factors to consider that will help in our quest to know what pros and cons make all the difference when it comes to the best poker room in Vegas.
Are the Staff Friendly and Competent?
You simply must have friendly staff as part of the equation. If the people running a poker room are friendly and competent, you can expect little to no conflict and for games to run on time and in a fair manner. The truth is, most tension or conflict in a poker room is caused when staff are not equipped to resolve issues that arise. This extends mostly to the dealers but it also helps to receive table-service with a smile.
Is the Poker Room Separate from the Casino Floor?
Is the poker room separated from the casino floor? This is important because the temptation of table games or slots can often tempt even the best poker players away from the table. This is also true about online poker when you have other games or pop-ups interrupting the middle of a poker game. While the responsibility in this regard is firmly in the hands of each player, it helps when casinos remove potential distractions so that everyone at the table can benefit.
Decent Level of Player Traffic
Every decent poker room has a decent level of traffic in terms of players. This means there is always a pool of players for whatever games are taking place and the opposite scenario is only likely to dissuade players. That is to say, poker players are likely to go elsewhere when there are now other players in the room.
Nice Balance of Experienced and Recreational players
The truth is, it’s much more fun when recreational players are involved and a good balance exists between the level of experience that you find at the table. This is because it’s easier for more experienced players to make money from playing against recreational players. On the other hand, you always want a challenge and so it’s necessary to have some experienced players too.
A Rake that Allows Players (and not Just the Room) to Make Profit
It’s an expensive process to run a poker room so it does make sense to have a rake for live games. That said, you don’t want to be paying way above average which is what sometimes happens when poker rooms take things too far. This means you should always make sure the rake allows for you to make profit and not just the room but thankfully, almost every poker room in Vegas takes a fair approach in this sense.
Food and Drink that Tastes Good and Doesn’t Cost a Fortune
You want to eat and drink well at the table and to be able to do so without spending a fortune. Not every poker room in Vegas can promise a high level in this respect but most of the best known casinos go above and beyond. Either way, it’s something that matters and a factor that will help you spot the best poker rooms on the strip!
Variety of Poker Games on Offer
You want as many different poker games as possible on offer and a mix between tournaments and cash Hold’em games. On the other hand, it’s not realistic to expect all dealers to be able to play a big mix of games but there should be a basic variety.
The Quality of Chips and Cards
Some casinos don’t pay any importance to the quality of chips and cards but most players do care about this standard. For instance, if the cards are difficult to read, this can really degrade the experience and a poker room that skimps on the quality of chips and cards is probably one that doesn’t care too much about your experience.
Bonus and Incentives for Regulars
The best casinos offer bonuses and incentives for their regulars to help them feel appreciated and encourage them to come back. Tournaments and leader boards can have the same affect but the main objective is to increase the extent of engagement among players. Everyone wins when a casino takes these things into account and they certainly add to the atmosphere and experience in any poker room.
The Atmosphere in a Poker Room
Lighting, decor and attention to detail are all important for the experience inside any poker room. Comfortable chairs and other non-poker related factors also matter and contribute to the unsaid atmosphere in a poker room. It’s really a case of something you cannot quite see or explain but something you can feel and the best poker room in Vegas is one that feels every bit as interesting and good as it looks and performs.
The 7 Best Poker Rooms in Vegas that you Should Know About
Poker is increasingly popular in recent years and not just because folk are stuck at home on their screens with online poker. The truth is, events and championships have raked in a new level of interest, while the average person is often just looking for a fun and exciting new hobby to take up. Either way, more and more poker players are searching for the best possible experience on the strip and a poker room in Vegas in which they can feel comfortable, content and confident at the table.
Now, let’s take a look at the best poker rooms in Vegas that you should know about:
1. The World Famous Golden Nugget
The Golden Nugget has featured in many television series’ over the years which attracts many first timers to this part of the strip. The gold rush theme of this hotel casino also adds to the poker appeal and seems to leave new arrivals feeling as though they landed in the right place to make money! That being said, it still offers a fantastic experience and the poker room has 13 smoke-free tables that feature a dim green lamp and comfortable chairs. There is also a phone charging outlet and a television with display information and a variety of games on offer including Pai Gow, Let it Ride and 3-Card Poker.
2. Binnion’s in Downtown Vegas
Binnion’s offers an old school experience and this is where the likes of Nick the Greek and Johnny Moss made their respective names. This Mecca for poker also hosted some of the biggest cash games on the planet for many years and this notoriety still seems to draw the big crowds. However, with this casino located on the rather dingy side of the strip, it’s not as luxurious or decorative as poker rooms in the other hotels and this needs to be remembered in order to manage expectations. But on the plus side, Binnion’s is full of characters, Hawaiian t-shirts and hardcore players which is something than many folk will appreciate. Further, with only 8 tables, it’s a more intimate affair and the low limit and low stakes hold’em might be exactly what you need.
3. The Wynn Poker Room
The Wynn Poker Room is another luxurious poker room in Vegas which attracts poker players in their droves. The skylit art and floral galleries and variety of games make this an especially interesting poker room and one that stands out on the strip for the large number of screens inside. These televisions help showcase the many tournaments or sports throughout the day and the comfortable seating ensures many players sit there all day, while feeling engrossed in all the action! The decor and style of this poker room is also on another level with beautiful carpets and perfect lighting bring these wall-panelled rooms to life. It’s definitely a swanky or posh poker room in Vegas and the food and drink never fails to receive world-class reviews. With 25 tables, it’s a little packed at times but the poor players can make up for cramped conditions and the no-cap $5/$10 NL games are always popular with the regulars.
The Bellagio Poker Room
The Bellagio is one of the most famous hotels in the world and has a spot on the World Poker Tour. There are more than 40 tables and 7,000 square feet of space which makes this one of the bigger options for a poker room in Vegas. There is also a high-limit room (Bobby’s Room) and 24-hour table-service, while the luxurious decor and excellent facilities make this one of the most modern poker rooms on the strip. In fact, the Bellagio was once the center of poker in Las Vegas and where many of the biggest players in world poker favored over everywhere else. Today, the high stakes games are not as frequent but it’s still a top notch poker room in Vegas with a wide variety of games and low-middle stakes to make sure everyone can get involved.
The All-New Aria Poker Room
You might expect no less from a five star resort like Aria but the poker room is incredibly plush. Qualifying players can also avail of special rates at the hotel and the 24 tables in this poker room in Vegas offer many different games including Hold’em, pot limit Omaha and 7-Card Stud. There is also a tournament two times daily and the world famous Phil Ivey plays here every now and again. Tables have a spread between $1 and $5 and there is a PLO for action players that want it. Aria also offers an hourly comp to players and many recreational players like to take part so that they can mix with the big players and witness the stars and celebrities. With Aria being such a new hotel casino on the strip, you should also find the staff especially helpful and nice and while there is just 24 tables on offer – the waiting area makes it worthwhile.
The Poker Room at MGM Grand
The MGM Grand is thought by many to be the pinnacle for high-end poker rooms in Vegas and many of the most famous players in the world use this hotel as their base. MGM Resorts also has the biggest pool of players in the world and an incredible poker room that’s situated next to the Centrifuge Bar. The poker room itself is also quite big compared to other casinos and while some might think this takes away from the intimacy on tables, more players are likely to appreciate the extra space. Players are also never far from food and drinks in here and the level of service is as high as you can expect on the strip. In fact, the above mentioned bar is always busy with players but never too busy that anyone is left waiting for a drink and this really highlights the attention to detail that MGM have placed on the overall experience. Tournaments run twice daily and mixed-game formats are available and the locals call this poker room the capital of $1/$2 poker in Vegas. These games include Omaha 8 and 7-card stud but there’s many more from which to choose. Due to the variety of games and entries, you can also find players of all backgrounds and experience in the one room and this balance not only makes the games more fair but also more interesting for everyone involved.
The “OG” of Poker Rooms at Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace holds daily tournaments and has one of the most busy poker rooms on the strip. Although you will find just 16 tables in the poker room, there is plenty of space (4,500 square feet) and more than enough comfort to make any amount of waiting worth the effort. Each seat at the tables is equipped with charging ports and Wi-Fi, while the table service is fantastic and you can even order this food or drink with your phone. This poker room in Vegas is also separated from the main floor which many players think to be an important requirement and it’s divided into sections with a private event area for tournaments and a special area for high rollers. At the center of the strip, Caesars Palace is perfectly located and the main player tables are enticing as they have no max buy-in for the $2 to %5 no limit games. As if that’s not enough, there are six daily tournaments in the poker room and a variety of games to choose from that should keep players of all levels of experience interested.
Final Thoughts
While it’s never easy to pick out the one and only best poker room in Vegas, players can often find their most suited venue by pondering the points at the beginning of this article. After all, everyone wants something different and works well for some players might not be the same for the next. Anyway, all the above poker rooms offer a high quality experience and if you have the time, it might be worth visiting more than one.
