Sin City, Las Vegas: The address for the world of live poker. From World Poker Tour tournaments at the Bellagio to the World Series of Poker held yearly at the Rio, Las Vegas has no shortage of non-stop poker action. Players can easily find a game at any time of the day at nearly every limit, meaning that every all bankrolls can be accommodated. The question, however, is where do you go? With casinos towering side by side over Las Vegas Boulevard, the city can be nothing more than a sensory overload. Luckily, Poker Bonuses gives you our picks for some of the top places to play the great American pastime in and around the Las Vegas Strip.
The discussion about poker in Las Vegas has to start with the Bellagio. It offers one of the largest poker rooms in the world. As soon as you enter the casino either through the shops or from the hotel, you’re met with the world-famous fountains, which spray water in majestic patterns at regular intervals throughout the day and night. In a casino that is as identifiable as the Bellagio, you’ll find that the skill levels of its poker players are scattered across the board.
In the Bellagio, which is located in the middle of the Strip, there are low-end games played en masse, beckoning players who have seen poker on television to come in and try their luck. In the back of the poker room is “Bobby’s Room,” the high-stakes area that plays host the Big Game. When I was there last time, Bobby’s Room featured Gus Hansen, Chau Giang, and Jennifer Harman (a Pro on Full Tilt Poker). It’s surrounded by glass, which allows players to view the action from the main poker room without disturbing those inside, who are playing for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The room is named for Bobby Baldwin, the 1978 World Series of Poker champion and MGM Mirage executive. Recurring poker tournaments at the Bellagio feature $1,000 buy-ins and attract some of the top stars in Las Vegas. It’s an absolute “must see” on the schedule of any poker fan in Sin City.
If the hustle and bustle of the famed Bellagio is not your cup of tea, then head over to Planet Hollywood or Treasure Island. Both of these casinos feature poker rooms that are quiet and a lot more docile than the one you’ll find at the Bellagio. In the case of Planet Hollywood, the poker room is a hip-looking area off to the side of the main casino floor. It sports plasma televisions and newer poker felts and is one of the more recently-constructed poker venues in Las Vegas. Planet Hollywood is located across the street from the Bellagio and is a quick walk if you want to check out the difference for yourself.
Treasure Island’s poker room is located down the hall from the tram that takes visitors to and from The Mirage. It’s literally off to the side and out of the way. TI, as the casino is commonly known as, sports low-end Hold’em in a quiet atmosphere. The casino itself is fairly jubilant, but TI’s poker room is the exact opposite. Bad beat and high hand jackpots are displayed on the wall on a white board. These provide an additional incentive to play and are a cause for celebration when hit. There are a few regulars, but by and large the poker room is full of tourists. There is not usually a wait to play.
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is held every year at the Rio, which is located off the Strip on Flamingo. I would not recommend walking the distance, as it is quite a hike over the interstate from Las Vegas Boulevard. The poker room inside the Rio is situated next to the buffet and even though it is relatively new, it tries to emulate the atmosphere found at the original home of the WSOP, Binion’s in Downtown Las Vegas. The Rio utilizes felts featuring the WSOP logo as well as WSOP chair backs, which give players the feeling of being able to compete in poker’s most prestigious tournament series. The poker room will spread Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven Card Stud. Just ask the staff if the game you’re looking for isn’t being held. By the way, the location of the actual WSOP is the Amazon Room, which is located in the convention center.