The emergence of poker in America hasn't affected any city more so than Las Vegas. Walking through the opulent poker rooms can feel a lot like walking into a church devoted to the religion of poker, with the sounds of chips replacing the organ.
Less than five years ago, most of these poker rooms didn't exist. The rooms were basically mild curiosities to the tourists who would pause and watch the action for a few moments before walking to a bank of slot machines to slide another $20 in.
It's not like that anymore.
The city that has hosted the
World Series of Poker since its inception now also hosts five
World Poker Tour events a year, and with home games and the Internet creating a whole new generation of poker players, Las Vegas is a mecca.
With more than 50 poker rooms filled with more than 620 tables, Las Vegas offers more than enough poker action for all poker fans. In the next two issues,
Card Player will highlight the places to play in Sin City. Enjoy.
Bellagio
Custom-draped canopies and coffered ceilings add dramatic touches to Bellagio's casino, which features a variety of table games, video poker, and slots. Club Privé, the high-limit lounge and gaming area designed by Adam Tihany, provides a secluded space with a contemporary feel. The lounge, accented with elements evocative of the opulent art deco period, has an elevated floor that enhances the exclusive nature of the room. Interlinking metal, dark wood, glass and silver-leafed screen partitions create a semi-enclosed area where players may enjoy a private atmosphere while still being part of the casino action. The understated lighting achieved by Venetian glass panels and chandeliers completes the unique experience.
The expanded poker room, world-renown amongst poker professionals and fans, creates a modern venue worthy of today's popular sport. Guests are greeted with elegance and style as a Murano hand-blown glass chandelier hangs overhead while intricate marble flooring paves the entryway. Throughout the room hangs artwork depicting the excitement of past Bellagio tournaments and previous
World Poker Tour events. Within its 7,000 square feet, the room features 40 tables of nonstop action as well as "Bobby's Room," the two-table high-limit room named in honor of 1978
World Series of Poker Champion and Mirage Resorts President and Chief Executive Officer Bobby Baldwin. In addition to Bobby's Room, a five-table high-limit area sits in an elevated section of the poker room.
The smoke-free poker room, located next to the race and sportsbook, offers guests 24-hour tableside dining, complimentary beverage service, safe-deposit boxes, a full-service cashier cage with five windows, and an overhead state-of-the-art music system. There also are eight 32-inch television monitors and 11 42-inch plasma screens throughout the room for viewing sporting events or other programming. Poker has assumed its place in the hearts and minds of people around the world and has become as important in the marketing of Las Vegas as the more mainstream blackjack and craps.
For more information, visit www.bellagio.com or call (702) 693-7111.
Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel
Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel, located in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas, is one of the world's most historic casinos. Named for its founder Benny Binion, Binion's Horseshoe first opened in 1951. The casino is known as "The Place That Made Poker Famous," and continues to operate one of Las Vegas' most popular poker rooms.
The world-famous poker room offers $2-$4 to $10-$20 limit hold'em, $1-$2 to $2-$5 blinds no-limit hold'em, and $4-$8 Omaha eight-or-better on a regular basis. Players who would like to play a different game or limit can ask one of Binion's friendly team members to start a list.
Binion's was the first casino to offer comps to all players. Following in that tradition, the poker room recently started a comp program in which all players can earn $2 per hour in comp dollars with no daily max.
Binion's also doesn't take any money from pots for promotions, and the rake is 5 percent. Players should check out the daily no-limit hold'em tournament schedule located under the "Tournament Schedules" section of Card Player.
Major renovations are under way. A brand-new sportsbook opened in the poker room, and new wood flooring, carpeting, and wallpaper have been installed. The hotel also boasts one of the best steakhouses in the city. Binion's Ranch Steakhouse is a favorite of poker players. Located on the 24th floor, it offers spectacular views of the Las Vegas skyline and award-winning prime steaks and lobster dinners. On the weekends, the steakhouse becomes an after-hours club, "Speakeasy."
If you're a poker player of any level, you can experience the atmosphere of where the legends have played.
For more information, visit www.binions.com or call (702) 366-7397.
Cannery Casino and Hotel
The Cannery Casino and Hotel is a first-class gaming facility. The newly renovated poker room is located next to the race and sportsbook. Tucked away from all of the hustle and bustle of the casino floor, it offers the luxury of playing in a quiet, smoke-free atmosphere.
The poker room contains 12 tables offering limit games starting at $2-$4 and going up to $10-$20, as well as no-limit. The maximum rate in all live games is $3. In addition, the room holds a $35 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament daily at 10 a.m. At 7 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, there is a $35 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament with rebuys.
Cannery players can earn $1 per hour in comp value for live play. These comp hours are not limited, never expire, and can be redeemed at any of the Cannery's fine dining venues, including Waverly's Steakhouse, Casa de Cucina, Vino's Italiano Risorante and Deli, Victory's Café, or the buffet. Ongoing promotions include a $20,000-guaranteed monthly freeroll tournament, 26 various high-hand bonuses daily, and a bad-beat jackpot. The freeroll tournament is based on 50 hours of play. Players receive double comp hours daily from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
to 9 p.m. While the poker room has its own promotions, it is also tied into the monthly slot machine promotions. Poker players can earn and redeem slot promotion gifts and prizes by playing a limited number of hours or by making a four of a kind. Other promotions include football boards, Christmas cash cards, anniversary play cards, and many more depending on the season.
For more information on the Cannery, visit www.cannerycasinos.com or call (702) 507-5700.
Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino
There's always 24 hours of poker action at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino. Choose from four levels of play and buy-ins: $2-$4 limit, $20 minimum buy-in and no maximum; $4-$8 limit, $40 minimum buy-in and no maximum; $1-$2 no-limit, $60 minimum buy-in and $200 maximum; and $2-$5 no-limit, $100 minimum buy-in and and $300 maximum.
The poker room also hosts three tournaments daily. At 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., the buy-in is $55 with no rebuy; the 7 p.m. tournament includes one $25 rebuy. Plus, special poker tournaments are held throughout the year.
There's a high-hand progressive jackpot that pays several different hands: a royal flush or straight flush in each suit, plus four of a kind of either deuces through nines or tens through aces. Also, players earn $2 per hour in comp value for playing poker.
Complimentary coffee, donuts, and cookies are available, as is a bar that's conveniently located within the poker room. Free hold'em lessons are offered in the poker room daily at 11 a.m.
For more information, visit www.imperialpalace.com or call (702) 731-3311.
Luxor
Luxor is one of the most recognizable destinations in Las Vegas. The 30-story, pyramid-shaped, architectural wonder features a 110-foot-tall Sphinx guarding the entrance. The hotel's lobby contains one of the world's largest atriums. With a 120,000-square-foot gaming area, eclectic restaurants, an IMAX® theater, and top-notch entertainment, Luxor is an exceptional travel destination. The casino includes popular table games such as blackjack, baccarat, roulette, pai gow poker, and craps, and the latest in slot machines. The property also offers a race and sportsbook and 14-table poker room.
The poker room is open around-the-clock and is nonsmoking. The room features a variety of games, including limit and no-limit hold'em. The limit games are $2-$4, $3-$6, and $4-$8, while the no-limit games have buy-ins of either $50 or $100. All daily tournaments are no-limit hold'em events and begin at 9 a.m., noon, 4 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and midnight. Buy-ins for these tournaments range from $22 to $62 and depend on the day and time of the tournament. Daily sit-and-go tournaments are held with 10 or more players with a buy-in of either $62 or $122. The sit-and-go events are held at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily, based on availability.
Players may order food between 4 p.m. and midnight directly from the Pyramid Café's "Poker Menu." The food is delivered to the poker room, but players may not eat at the table while playing. Cocktail service also is available around-the-clock. Once a player logs at least 15 hours of playing time in the poker room, he becomes eligible for a $3,500 hold'em freeroll event. Readers of the
Las Vegas Review-Journal recently voted Luxor as having the "Friendliest Poker Room in Town."
For more information, visit www.luxor.com or call (702) 730-5510.
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
AAA Four Diamond Award-winning Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino is a lush, tropical resort. As guests enter from the Las Vegas Strip, intricately carved stone statues silently welcome them to the Valley of the Waterfalls, where fire pots, cascading waterfalls, mythical architecture, and verdant landscaping set the stage for future discoveries. Throughout the 60-acre property, thousands of palm trees create the sense of a sheltering oasis. The hotel's registration lobby features a 14-foot-high salt-water aquarium, reminiscent of the coral reefs of the South Pacific. The impressive 12,200-gallon exhibit is filled with dozens of aquatic species, including eight types of angelfish.
With a focus on customer recognition and more than 135,000 square feet of gaming space, the casino offers around-the-clock action with a variety of table games, including blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat, 2,200 slot and video poker machines, and a high-limit lounge. In addition, a 300-seat full-service race and sportsbook provides sports and thoroughbred wagering and 17 large-screen televisions.
A 10-table smoke-free poker room features a variety of games, including stud, limit hold'em, and no-limit hold'em, as well as daily tournaments. Mandalay Bay also is a stop on the
World Poker Tour calendar.
For more information on Mandalay Bay, visit www.mandalaybay.com or call (702) 632-7777.
MGM Grand
The MGM Grand offers an opulent, technologically advanced 22-table poker room that is smoke-free.
Games offered include limit and no-limit hold'em, seven-card stud, razz, and Omaha eight-or-better.
Food and drinks are served at the table, and licensed massage therapists are available at a player's seat.
Sunday through Friday, the poker room hosts no-limit hold'em tournaments. On weekdays at 11 a.m., they buy-in is $65, and Sunday through Thursday at 6 p.m., the buy-in is $125. Each tournament is limited to six tables, with no rebuys. In every tournament, at least four players are guaranteed to finish in the money.
The poker room also features high-definition TV screens, a control center at each table that enables the dealer to summon everything from a cocktail waitress to a player's latest comps, and hand-held pagers for those on the waiting list. Plus, there is plenty of space between tables.
For more information, visit www.mgmgrand.com or call (702) 891-1111.
Mirage Hotel and Casino
The smoke-free Mirage poker room features a spacious 30-table environment with live games of varying limits of limit hold'em, no-limit hold'em, seven-card stud, and Omaha eight-or-better.
For tournament enthusiasts, sit-and-gos and The Poker Zone tournaments are available. One-table satellites are offered for a chance to win entry into the event of a player's choice (there are two winners per satellite).
The
World Poker Tour and the Mirage recently played host to the first tournament of the
WPT's sixth season. For the fourth consecutive year, the
Mirage Poker Showdown kicked off the 17-tournament tour with the final table of the tournament filmed for broadcast on
GSN, the
WPT's new network partner. The
Mirage Poker Showdown telecast is scheduled to air in 2008.
Tournament Poker: Sit-and-gos; $70, $115, $175 buy-ins; start anytime there are 10 players ready to play.
The Poker Zone Tournaments (no-limit hold'em): Sunday, 5 p.m; $430 buy-in; Monday, 7 p.m; $230 buy-in; Tuesday, 7 p.m; $130 buy-in; Wednesday, 7 p.m; $230 buy-in; Thursday, 7 p.m; $230 buy-in.
Live Games (around-the-clock): limit hold'em - $3-$6, $6-$12, $10-$20, $20-$40, $40-$80, and higher; no-limit hold'em - $1-$2 blinds, $2-$5 blinds, and higher; Omaha eight-or-better - $5-$10 with full kill, $10-$20 and higher with half-kill; seven-card stud - $1-$5, $5-$10, and higher.
For more information on the Mirage, visit www.mirage.com or call (702) 791-7291 or (800) 77-POKER.
Monte Carlo Resort & Casino
The AAA Four Diamond Monte Carlo Resort & Casino features comfortable refinement and style, inviting accommodations, a spa and salon, a lush pool complex, a vibrant brew pub, casino action, and the illusions of a master magician.
The casino offers slots, video poker, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, a race and sportsbook, poker room, and high-limit gaming. As an added feature, the Monte Carlo provides daily gaming lessons for those who would like to learn how to play craps and poker.
Open around-the-clock, the nine-table, nonsmoking poker room provides a variety of game options. A number of Texas hold'em limit games are offered, including $2-$4, $3-$6, and $4-$8. Other games spread include H.O.R.S.E., as well as multiple no-limit hold'em games. Daily no-limit hold'em tournaments are held at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sit-and-go tournaments also are held Monday through Friday beginning at 2 p.m. Buy-ins range from $40 to $60 for these tournaments, as well as the sit-and-go events. Cocktail service is available, and players are allowed to bring food into the poker room. However, eating at the table during play is prohibited. Cellular phones and music devices are allowed to be used in the room, as well.
For more information, visit www.montecarlo.com or call (702) 736-6000
Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall
Located on the Boulder Strip, Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall offers a full complement of games, shopping, and services. Restaurants offering steaks and seafood, and traditionalMexican and Italian menus provide a choice of fine dining. The Firelight Buffet features rotisserie specialties in an open, spacious dining room.
The casino is full-service, with table games, bingo, keno, a bowling center, and one of the world's largest collections of modern slot machines. Construction of a new, state-of-the-art race and sportsbook is under way and scheduled to open in October 2007.
The poker room is a comfortable, nonsmoking, nine-table room located just outside the race and sportsbook. Poker operations are managed by Dick Gatewood, a veteran of more than 20 years in the poker industry. He understands all of the details of the business and is a poker player. He listens and responds to a player's request. Easy parking and a short walk from the parking garage make access to the room very convenient. Progressive high-hand cash payouts are offered for four of a kind and better hands.
Sam's Town currently spreads $2-$4 hold'em, $4-$8 with a half-kill, and no-limit hold'em with a $1-$2 blinds structure. The poker room also offers $1-$5 seven-card stud with a 25-cent ante.
The poker room gave away 16 2007
World Series of Poker seats, including a seat in the $10,000 main event. Qualifying for the 2007
WSOP seats started last December and recently concluded. Players earned their way into the free supersatellite by playing in some of the 11 nightly no-limit hold'em tournaments. Visit www.samstownlv.com for tournament information and the results of the 2007 supersatellite.
For more information on Sam's Town, call (702) 454-8092.
South Point Hotel Casino Spa
The casino features a spacious race and sportsbook, a number of table games, and a 24-hour, 11-table, nonsmoking poker room. Games featured in the poker room include $2-$4 and $4-$8 limit hold'em (some with half-kills), and $1-$2 and $2-$5 blinds no-limit hold'em. The room also provides a player tracking system for comps and a daily high-hand promotion. The room also features state-of-the-art plasma-screen televisions. In addition to gaming, South Point offers spacious hotel rooms with 42-inch plasma-screen televisions, six restaurants, including Michael's, a Las Vegas dining tradition for more than 20 years, and Spa Costa Del Sur. A 24-hour, 64-lane bowling center, equestrian and event center, and movie theater complex are also available.
For more information, visit www.southpointcasino.com or call (702) 796-7111.
Treasure Island
Treasure Island offers Four Diamond accommodations and an elegant atmosphere, including new poolside cabanas.
The Sirens of TI features a clash between a group of beautiful, tempting sirens and a band of renegade pirates. The resort also boasts the Tangerine Lounge and Nightclub, featuring a touch of burlesque, several restaurants, including Richard Sandoval's Isla Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar and Los Angeles' legendary Jewish delicatessen Canter's Deli, and one of the city's best entertainment options, Cirque du Soleil's
Mystère, featuring an international cast of dancers, singers, musicians, champion-caliber acrobats, and a misguided clown.
The comfortable, nonsmoking poker room is located close to the parking garage and features eight tables. Eight LCD plasma screens line the room, showing current sporting events, and upbeat music plays throughout the room. The poker room also provides 24-hour complimentary beverage service. The nontraditional table felts feature images of Tangerine, the burlesque nightspot, and the Sirens of TI.
The poker room offers players the opportunity to participate in the
$50,000 Freezeout Challenge. The
Challenge enables players to compete against
World Series of Poker Champion Johnny Chan and/or
World Poker Tour Champion Minh Ly in a heads-up no-limit hold'em contest. The poker room also hosts daily sit-and-go events, tournaments in which 10 players buy in for $50. The winner receives 50 percent of the prize pool, second place wins 30 percent, and the third-place finisher earns 20 percent. VIP parking is available for qualified poker players in the main garage.
For more information, visit www.treasureisland.com or call (702) 894-7111.
