Beyond the World Series of Poker: Guide to Some of the Best Poker Rooms in Las Vegas

The World Series of Poker is right around the corner and players from around the world will be heading to Las Vegas to live out their poker dreams in the hope of securing some big winnings and maybe one of the series’ coveted gold bracelets.

Beyond the series at the Horseshoe and Paris casinos, Las Vegas is also home to numerous other excellent poker rooms with some great cash games, tournaments, and promotions. With so many players in town, there are also numerous other major tournament series on tap – all with varying buy-in levels and event types. Those looking to get in on some of the action have plenty of great options.

Keep reading to learn all about some of Las Vegas’s best poker rooms and what they have to offer.

Las Vegas Strip Properties

The famous Las Vegas offers plenty of poker action and some of the nicest poker rooms around. Here’s a look at what those have to offer.

Aria

This property offers one of the best places to play on the Strip and has gained some notoriety for housing the PokerGO Studio right in front of the casino. The $20 million studio regularly streams final table action on the service as well as cash games and even celebrity events.

When it comes to cash games and major tournament series, Aria has become a real hotspot and also hosts major tournament series, including several major World Poker Tour events through the years. This is a high-end room and players will regularly see some faces they may have seen on televised poker games or streams.

The 24-table room Aria gives players plenty of options when hitting the tables including NLHE stakes of $1/3 all the way up to $10/20 and higher. PLO players find $1/$2 action to $25/$25 and higher. Mixed games are also spread regularly with stakes of $4/$8 to $20/$40 and higher.

Tournament players are also in luck with numerous daily and weekly events as well as major series. The $160 NLHE tournament runs Sunday through Thursday with a $4,000 guarantee and the $240 event runs Friday and Saturday with a $5,000 guarantee. The poker room also regularly hosts high roller events in partnership with the PokerGO Tour as well.

Promotions include discount poker rooms rates available for hotel stays. The room is a great option and players won’t be disappointed grabbing a seat.

Bellagio

Since opening in 1995, the Bellagio has been one of the nicest properties on the Strip. The casino, including the famed fountain show, has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows – including Ocean’s Eleven. Those heading to the poker room won’t be disappointed and some of the biggest names in poker have been regulars in some of the room’s action – including the legendary Doyle Brunson.

The high stakes Legends Room (formerly known as Bobby’s Room) hosts some of the biggest stakes around and the WPT debuted at the property in 2002 with the Five Diamond World Poker Classic. The 7,000 square-foot venue features 40 tables and is located adjacent to the sportsbook.

Cash game players will find plenty of $1/3 action all the way up to $800/$1,600. The room also spreads a wide variety of games with No Limit Hold’em, but also numerous other variants including Pot Limit Omaha, Seven Card Stud, Mixed Games, and more. The property also features regular tournaments with two $200 mystery bounty events each Sunday and two $200 double board bomb pot events each Tuesday.

Caesars Palace

This is one of the best properties and has offered all gamblers the chance to live like a caesar since debuting in 1966. The 4,5000 square foot room will have players ready to battle it out like a gladiator. The top-notch facility offers $2 per hour in comps, charging stations at each seat, and more.

Players will find 18 rooms with $1/$3 and $2/$5 NLHE along with $6/$12 mixed games. The property also runs four daily tournaments: $120 NLHE events at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. with $1,000 guaranteed; and $160 NLHE events at 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. with $2,000 guaranteed. This is a well-run room with a quality staff and a nice atmosphere for playing some cards.

Horseshoe – Hall of Fame Poker Room

After the World Series of Poker moved to the Strip in 2022, Bally’s was rebranded as the Horseshoe by Caesars Entertainment and hosts the annual series with the Paris casino, which is located next door. Along with being the home to the annual poker festival each year, the Horseshoe also saw a completely revamped and expanded poker room.

The room features 18 poker tables with daily tournaments with buy-ins of $100 and $160. Cash game players will find $1/$3 to $3/$5 NLHE, $1/$2 to $5/$5 PLO, and up to $4/$8 Limit Hold’em. Players will also find WSOP qualifiers at different times throughout the year.

This is a fun room for those looking for some low-stakes action and a friendly environment. Along with hosting plenty of action each day, the WSOP also hosts a Poker Hall of Fame exhibit in the room to recognize some of the game’s best and most important players.

Mandalay Bay

This is a small poker room on the south end of the Strip, offering players 10 tables. The room has been relocated temporarily at the bottom of the escalators to the Mandalay Bay tram, just behind House of Blues.

The property is also currently under temporary hours, Wednesday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. The room caters to lower-limit players with $1/$2 and $2/$5 cash games. Mandalay Bay also hosts daily $60 tournaments at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

MGM Grand

This casino has long been a Vegas favorite since opening in 1993. The massive property has also become a popular spot for those looking for some small- and mid-stake poker action. The poker room boasts 25 tables and focuses mostly on NLHE.

Cash game players will find plenty of $1/$2, $2/$, and $5/$10 action. MGM Grand is also a popular tournament stop for those seeking some lower-stakes options with some nice daily guarantees. That includes a $130 rebuy event daily at 11:10 a.m., 7:10 p.m., and 11:10 p.m.Also look for a $200 Double Green Chip Bounty event each Saturday at 7:10 p.m. Look for a summer series as well at MGM Grand.

This property also ramps up the player promotions. That includes progressive high hand of the hour prizes with a $200 per hour minimum, “Lucky Lion” mystery drawings, and more. Play 15 hours in cash games to earn a spot in the $10,000 Player Appreciation Tournament. The event runs every Thursday and eight random bounties totaling $1,500 with a top bounty of $500. This can be a great spot for recreational players looking for a night of fun at the tables.

Resorts World Las Vegas

This $4.3 billion property has upped the ante since opening in 2021 and is really making a splash on the Vegas poker scene. The property has added some major tournament series in recent months including partnering with PokerStars for the North American Poker Tour and also the new PokerAtlas tour.

Expect 29 tables, 25 on the main floor and two tables in a special glass-enclosed room. This is a bright, modern, and comfortable room with a really welcoming environment. Cash game players will find a wide range of stakes from $1-$3 and $2-$5 and much more. There is plenty of NLHE but this property also caters to mixed game players with $80-$160 and $300-$600 mix running almost every day. Those with smaller bankrolls will also find $8-$16 mix.

Along with a growing number of poker festivals, the property also offers two daily tournaments. The $200 daytime NLHE tournament runs at 12:05 p.m., averaging about 35-40 players with a $5,000 guarantee. The $160 nightly tournament attracts about the same number of players and comes with a $3,000 guarantee.

The room has become a regular spot for many high-stakes players and the comp rate for poker is $1.50 per hour. Located across from Wynn, the action heats up when that property runs a major series and Resorts’ tournaments may see even more players as well looking for events with lower buy-in levels.

Sahara

This poker room is located at the north end of the Strip and players will find some low-stakes cash game and tournament action. Expect a well-lit, comfortable room with seven tables. The venue may be smaller than others listed here, but offers a fun option with a great staff ready to make players feel at home.

Each table seat features a phone charging station and generous comps. The property is also always open to hosting special events and tournaments. Cash game stakes start at $1/$2 and there are numerous daily tournaments.

Looking for something different? Check out the daily 4 p.m. Crazy Pineapple tournament. Players start with three cards and then discard one of those after the flop. This can be a fun tournament for those who enjoy a clean environment and a bit of a smaller venue.

Venetian

This sizable room features 32 tables and offers one of the best poker experiences in the state – as well as canals, gondolas, and the spirit of old Italy. Hopefully this trip to Venice involves winning plenty of lira. Players will find a welcoming ambiance with plenty of tournament and cash game action.

That includes the regular DeepStack Extravaganza series. In recent years, the poker room has also hosted World Poker Tour events at times. A visit to the Venetian offers players an elegant atmosphere and an excellent place to play. Daily and weekly events run in the $200 to $1,100 buy-in range with that even going up during tournament series.

Cash games players will find stakes from $1/$3  all the way up to $5/$10 as well as $1/$2/ and $2/$5 PLO. Look for some nice promotions like high hand jackpots, bad beat jackpots, and more. Tableside dining service is always available as well.

The Venetian recently announced that the property is upping the ante even more. The room will be relocated to the second level of the Grand Canal Shoppes, which connect the casino to the Palazzo sister casino next door.

The new 14,000-square-foot venue will include 50 tables, dedicated bathrooms in the poker room, a self-serve fountain drink and coffee station, USB chargers at every seat, easy online food ordering, and sports betting and player rewards kiosks. The room is also moving away from the main casino in a completely smoke-free environment and will also make self parking easier. Plans also call for a streaming room for final tables during major tournament series and also for poker vloggers visiting the venue for games.

Wynn

This is one of the most luxurious properties on the Strip with high-end design and amenities as well as a modern and spacious poker room. Players will find 8,600 square feet of space in a bright environment, 28 tables, personal USB chargers, and a sports betting kiosk right in the poker room.

The venue hosts major events like the Wynn Classic Series, Wynn Signature Series, and the Wynn Millions throughout the year, with plenty of action and hefty guarantees. Since 2022, the Wynn has also hosted the World Poker Tour’s World Championship event in December, offering a major U.S. series at a time when there isn’t as much major tournament action on the calendar.

Tournament players will find daily events in the $160 to $300 range. Cash game players can find stakes of $1/3 all the way up to $10/20 No Limit Hold’em (NLHE) with $1/$2 and $5/$5 Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) as well as some $9/$18 mixed game action. Players also have a wide variety of food options to choose from.

Away from the Strip

Beyond the poker rooms located on the Strip, there are also several poker rooms located at casinos beyond this gambling mecca. Take a trip to some of these properties for some nice poker experiences as well.

Golden Nugget

Head to downtown Las Vegas for some card playing at this high-end property. The Golden Nugget was one of Las Vegas’s first “mega” properties and is now the only casino downtown hosting a poker room. The stylish room features 13 poker tables and the casino has been featured on popular poker shows like High Stakes Poker and Poker After Dark.

Beyond daily cash games, the property also hosts a summer tournament series, which has become popular with players heading downtown. Cash game players can mostly expect Hold’em including $1/$2 and $2/$5 NLHE, and $3/$6 Limit.

The property’s tournaments are currently suspended, but the Nugget offers numerous promotions for cash game players. That includes high hand jackpots, bad beat jackpots and more. Players can also earn $2 per hour in comps. The Golden Nugget is a great property and the friendly poker room is worth checking out.

Orleans

This is a popular locals casino off the Strip on Tropicana Avenue and features some nice tournament options during the summer as well as throughout the year. Look for 35 tables and low-stakes NLHE ($1/$3 and $2/$5), Limit Hold’em ($3/$6 and $4/$8), and $4/$8 to $15/$30 Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo.

The daily tournament schedule includes events from $130 to $200 and the annual Summer Open has become a favorite because the schedule features several game variants with affordable buy-in. Those looking for a nice environment catering to lower-stakes players with some excellent tournaments should check out this property.

Red Rock

Looking to get away from the Las Vegas crowds? This property is located about a half hour west of the Strip and is a favorite location for locals. Expect a relaxed environment in this well-lit room featuring 20 tables.

This property is owned by Station Casinos and hosts a plethora of lower-limit action with $1/$3 to $5-$10 NLHE. Also looks for Limit Hold’em Seven Card Stud, PLO, Omaha Hi/Lo, and more. Players can earn $1 per hour in comp rate with the bad bad jackpot starting at $75,000.

There are more promotions available but the property’s tournaments were postponed as of March. The Red Rock des have one advantage over many Las Vegas poker rooms – there is no charge for parking.

South Point

This property is located 15 minutes south from the Strip and has become a favorite with local players. Look for an inviting, non-smoking 22-table room with plenty of action and a nice tournament scene. There is plenty of low-stakes cash game action with $3/$6, $4/$8, and $6/$12 Limit Hold’em, and $1/$2, $2/$3, and $3/$5 NLHE. Also look for $4/$8 Omaha Hi/Lo,  mixed games, Seven Card Stud, and more.

South Point also features some nice tournament action with four events running daily with buy-ins from $100 to $200 and guarantees from $2,000 to $20,000. The property also works to reward players with numerous bonuses as well including: freerolls; cash drawings; bonus payouts; high hand payouts; bad beat payouts; and more. Players earn $1 per hour in comps and parking is always free.

Westgate

Looking for a smaller, locals poker room with lots of low-stakes action as well as a great place to check out some televised sports? Westgate perfectly fits the bill and is located just off the Strip.. The property is home to the Superbook,  one of the largest sportsbooks in the world. This is a smaller poker room, with just six tables, but is located right inside the Superbook and has a laid-back fun atmosphere.

Look for plenty of $1/$2 NLHe and some small-stakes tournaments daily – from $20 to $100. The dealers and staff are friendly and the cocktail waitresses are fairly frequent. This isn;t the WSOP, but is a nice way to relax with a drink and some cards. Grab the Monorail to easily head just north to this property near the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Other Las Vegas Poker Room Considerations

Ready to book that trip to Las Vegas? Here are a few more considerations to consider:

• The legal gambling age is 21. Bring an ID with you name, photo, and address for casino personnel to view if needed.
• To get in a game, simply head to the signup counter and add your name to the list. If a seat is available, you’ll be able to go ahead and buy chips and take a seat. If there are no seats you may be placed on a waiting list.
• To receive compels, players should get a loyalty card. Some properties may require a player to sign up and others may not. The comps accrued while playing can be used for dining, hotel reservations, and more.
• Some properties offer special room rates for poker players heading to compete in tournament series or other events. It may be worth calling ahead to see if you might be able to save a few bucks as a poker player.
• Having an extra form of identity is recommended for players from outside the United States. This is a must for events at the WSOP, but may also be required by other major tournament series.

*Article by Sean Chaffin