Steve Wynn Debuts An Expansive New Poker Room At Encore

By Laurie Brookins

Steve Wynn has built his legendary status in Las Vegas partly on ideas that contradict traditional casino notions, from crafting high-end restaurants that jockey for attention alongside table games and slot machines to positioning blackjack tables mere feet from floor-to-ceiling windows. Natural light in a casino? It was virtually unheard of until Steve Wynn showed it could be done at Encore. In late May, Wynn once again elevated the gaming experience, debuting an expansive new poker room located at Encore, a stylish space that puts an accent on player comfort and convenience.

At 8,600 square feet, the new poker room, which opened on May 26, is significantly larger than the previous room at the adjacent Wynn resort. The number of tables increased from 25 to 28, while a separate high-stakes area also has been included.

“The new room sets up very well for tournaments and gives us the opportunity to run our events in a well-organized, comfortable space,” explained Ryan Beauregard, director of poker operations for Wynn Las Vegas. “We conceptualized the room so it feels efficient yet spacious. Often poker rooms can seem very cramped, because the objective is to fit as many tables into the room as you can. But players won’t experience that here; you’ll move between tables easily, because we’ve made a real commitment to comfort.”

Other features include USB ports at every seat so players can easily charge devices, 37 oversize high-definition televisions around the room’s perimeter, and restrooms located within the poker room’s confines, eliminating the need to trek beyond the space to seek out a men’s or ladies’ lounge. A sports wagering window adjacent to the cashier cage also should quickly prove to be popular.

“Knowing a prime view to catch a football game or other sporting event is important, we installed 37 TVs for 28 tables; that’s an impressive ratio, the best you’ll find in the city,” said Aaron Jacques, tournament director at Wynn Las Vegas. “The addition of a sports wagering window also was designed with player convenience in mind, because poker players typically are interested in sports gaming as well.”

Beauregard agreed, noting that players who frequent Wynn were consulted about desired amenities.

“There can be a fair amount of downtime in poker if a player chooses not to play a hand, so we wanted to offer the ease of watching a football game on a 65-inch TV, or the ability to place a bet with the sports wagering window without leaving the room,” he said. Another update: healthier food options, courtesy of a dedicated poker menu featuring dishes delivered from nearby Encore restaurants Jardin and Wazuzu.

“This is a far better menu than the choices typically made available to poker players, who sometimes are left to their own devices to go off in search of a hamburger and fries,” Beauregard said. “Here we’ve got two amazing restaurants that will serve the poker room directly, a great mix of Western and Asian dishes, including salads, seafood, and smoothies. We’ll still offer the more traditional options; the goal was to create a more comprehensive menu for players of every taste and palate.”

How thoroughly did Wynn’s poker execs consider player comfort and convenience? Understanding that a major draw of the previous room was its adjacency to the parking garage located between Wynn and Encore, Jacques and other members of the team compared the walk, pacing the steps from the garage to the previous room at Wynn, and once again to the new space at Encore.

“By positioning the new room so close to Encore’s entrance, it’s almost the same exact distance, just in the opposite direction,” he said. “Very little changes in that easy proximity. What does change is the experience inside.”

Located across from the recently opened Encore Players Club, the 5,000-square-foot gaming-meets-nightlife space that debuted in December, the new poker room likewise gives players an easy opportunity to experience other gaming options, Jacques said.

“At the previous room, players may have felt a bit removed from the action,” he noted. “Here, players enjoy a direct view into the Encore Players Club, while also being only a few yards from Andrea’s, Surrender and Encore Beach Club. That combination is pretty unbeatable and is going to spark a terrific energy in the Encore Casino. People like to know what else is going on, and they like to see a casino that’s thriving. Here they’re sure to feel like they’re in the middle of the action.”

What players may find most changed about Wynn’s Poker Room, however, isn’t the size or the amenities, but the décor. Poker rooms often take on the look of a men’s club, designed with a pointedly masculine feel; Wynn and his design team, headed by Roger Thomas, executive vice president of Wynn Design & Development, decided to modernize that idea, creating an airy space in cool tones of blue and white, accented with sleek sculptural details.

“Casino design is moving toward brighter, more open spaces, and this poker room definitely reflects that ideal,” Beauregard said. “It’s a very welcoming atmosphere, and very simply a great place to play.”

With Las Vegas gearing up for the annual summer influx of poker players, the opening of this new room indeed seems perfectly timed.

“I wouldn’t have minded a few more days with the room between its opening and the summer season,” Beauregard noted with a laugh in late April. “We’ll only have about a week between the opening and the arrival of thousands of players in Las Vegas. But we’re also excited about showcasing this new room for a global audience of experienced players. There is no more exciting time for poker in the world than this six-week period during the summer. We can’t wait to see the reaction among players.”

“When this room is full and all 28 tables are going, that’s going to be pretty thrilling,” Jacques added. “I keep telling people they’re going to be surprised by how comfortable and luxurious the room is going to feel, while still offering a level of play that’s second to none in Las Vegas. It’s a more inviting space that puts an emphasis on service and amenities. In other words, it’s very much on par with what’s expected at Wynn.” ♠