The Wynn Poker Room: An Unbeatable Hand

Steve Wynn has altered the landscape of Las Vegas, both literally and figuratively, with his realized visions of high-end resorts that shine like glistening jewels in the Nevada desert. And nowhere does Wynn’s legendary no-detail-too-small philosophy extend more fully or astutely than in the poker room of the plush, award-winning hotel that bears his name.

Poker rooms can often seem like an afterthought at an upscale resort, but not at Wynn Las Vegas. Here, the elements that matter to players take center-stage: The carpet is custom-designed to blend seamlessly with the elegant mosaic-and-marble walkway that leads in one direction to the 111,000-square-foot main casino and adjacent resort elevators, and in the other direction, to the self-parking area that’s located just steps away. Unlike the typical Las Vegas maze you might encounter elsewhere, at Wynn, it’s a quick trip from your room, self-parking, or valet to your seat at a table. Chairs are, likewise, considered with players in mind, offering both maximum comfort and lumbar support for those games that can play into the wee hours and beyond. In fact, “the chairs are often reevaluated and replaced,” says Roger Thomas, Wynn’s executive vice president of design, who, with Wynn, oversaw the design of the room. “As better poker chairs have become available, we have made sure to include them among our amenities,” Thomas says, noting that professional players were consulted on everything from the comfort of the chairs to a variety of other amenities while Wynn’s poker room was being designed. Finally, the consoles along each side wall are adorned with house-of-card sculptures crafted from vintage playing cards Thomas has collected on his travels throughout France, Italy, and England. Crafted in Las Vegas by the same company that produces Wynn’s scale models for his resort properties, the sculptures provide a decorative element that’s equal parts elegant and a bit whimsical, Thomas says.

The result: “A gentleman’s club that ladies like to visit,” is how Thomas describes the space. Games include no-limit hold’em, limit hold’em, Omaha eight-or-better, seven-card stud, pot-limit Omaha and mixed-game combinations, with limits ranging from $1-$3 to $100-$200 and higher. Meanwhile, Thomas also included such practical touches as drink and snack tables in a user-friendly oval shape—“no corners to get caught on or bump into,” Thomas adds—as well as lighting that considers a player’s comfort. “The room is rooted in a restful palette of warm browns and a relaxed lighting scheme ,” he explains. “When a player looks up from the bright white of the cards, we want his or her eyes to enjoy a bit of a rest.”

Of course, attention to comfort also must be offset with state-of-the-art technology: At Wynn, this translates to automatic card shufflers and the Genesis Bravo system, which allows players to both track play and access sign-up lists either via their smartphone or from their room. On a smartphone or tablet, players also are able to preview developing games in real time via Wynn’s official app, Bravo Poker Live, or at WynnPoker.com, aided by WiFi access that’s among the fastest you’ll find on the Strip.

This unique balance of technology, game variety, and pragmatic details mixed with artful design plays an integral role in the resort’s success, along with its strong slate of poker tournaments. Next up: The Wynn $100,000 Winter Weekend Guarantee, a $360+$40 no-limit hold’em event set for Jan. 22 through 25, as well as the highly popular Wynn Classic, scheduled for Feb. 25 through Mar. 18. Now in its eighth year, the Wynn Classic attracts the most talented players from around the U.S. and features 13 preliminary events, with buy-ins ranging from $180+$20 to $500+$50, and includes no-limit hold’em, pot-limit Omaha eight-or-better, and Omaha/stud eight-or-better. But the highlight of the series surely will be the $2,000+$100 main event, with its guaranteed prize pool of $300,000.

Not unlike its fall counterpart, the spring Wynn Classic is among the reasons the resort’s poker room remains a top attraction for both tournament and regular play throughout the year. “Without question, it’s among the most highly anticipated poker tournaments you’ll find in Las Vegas, with the most competitive rake structures and guaranteed prize pools in the city,” says tournament director Gary Hager. “Combine that with the unparalleled amenities of our beautiful poker room and the exceptional service, and it’s easy to discern why we continue to rank as one of the Strip’s top destination for play.” Given the popularity of Wynn tournaments, Hager advises players to register early for the Wynn Classic to avoid being placed on an alternate’s list.

Joe Vigurs, the poker room’s director of operations, agrees. “Thanks to our generous structure and the highest percentage back to players, Wynn’s poker room has distinguished itself as offering some of the best weekly payouts,” he says, adding that, not unlike the Wynn Classic, the regular schedule of weekday and weekend tournaments is likewise enjoying a steady growth in popularity. “Our Saturday tournament is unquestionably the best in the city, while our daily tournaments are likewise gaining in momentum.” At noon each day, Monday through Thursday, players can take part in a $125+$15 no-limit hold’em tournament, while a $125+$15 green chip bounty tournament takes place each Thursday at 7 pm. On Saturdays, a $200+$25 tournament features rebuys and an add-on that boasts a $25,000 guarantee, while on Fridays and Sundays, a $180+$20 re-entry no-limit hold’em tournament at noon features a $10,000 guaranteed prize pool.

Both exceptional and energetic, Wynn’s tournament schedule is matched only by the cachet that comes with playing in the poker room of the resort that boasts more Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards than any casino resort in the world, notes Thomas. “I’m not a poker player, but we spent a lot of time speaking with some of the best-known poker players in the world to ensure we were offering a singular experience, one that’s on par with our beautiful restaurants or the sumptuous amenities in your room,” he says. “Steve always talks about creating remarkable experiences, those that you’re sure to remember and will entice you to return, and such a feeling extends of course to both the level of play and the level of comfort and design you’ll find in the poker room.”

Indeed, such a balance is profoundly important to the man whose name resides at the top of the building, “We’ve always been a company that’s paid careful attention to the delicate relationship between the wow factor and human scale,” Steve Wynn said recently. How does that translate to his poker room? By thinking about the factors that will dazzle, while never losing sight of the guest experience, and the integral role that service plays in that equation. “You can build theatrical moments and still keep them on a human level,” Wynn said. “Ultimately it’s about saying to you, ‘You’re in a special environment; come be fascinated with us.’” ♠