Preferred Las Vegas Poker Rooms
These are the most poker-friendly luxury Las Vegas hotels that we work with on a regular basis; we regularly monitor them for quality assurance. If you would prefer a different hotel please let us know. For a limited live phone consultation, just click the top link on the home page.
Las Vegas Strip Location
- Wynn Las Vegas
Could Steve Wynn top his masterpiece (The Bellagio)? Well, sort of. This new magnificent Las Vegas resort is set on 217 acres located toward the northern section of the Strip; It is sophisticated and a celebration of beauty of nature with flowers, mountains, and waterfalls throughout. It houses fine restaurants, a golf course, high-end shopping and most importantly, a 27-table poker room. The poker room competition is quite tough; if you are not used to playing higher limits with seasoned tourists and locals, then this might not be best for you. - *The Mirage
When completed, The Mirage set the standard for the new, modern approach to Las Vegas hotels/resorts. The theme is carried out beautifully throughout the large environment (which is currently undergoing major renovations.) The Mirage 31-table poker room also set the standard, which has now been duplicated, by other Vegas poker rooms. The Mirage's location is also advantageous for poker players; located in the heart of the strip, it is very easy to visit The Venetian, Treasure Island, Caesar's Palace, and Harrah's poker rooms. Competition is still the toughest in Vegas as it attracts many local professional players. - *MGM Grand
The MGM Grand located toward the southern end of the strip, offers high end options for shopping, eating, and recreation without ever feeling stuffy or off-putting. They opened their new 23-table poker room a few years ago and it's been very popular ever since. In many ways, it a nice middle ground for almost all players. They offer a nice combination of daily poker tournaments and cash games at all levels. Note: The MGM poker room is less an actual room as it is a large area near Studio 54, the Sports Book and Stage Deli. Some complain of the noise, others think it is the least smoky room it town. Another selling point: MGM allows room check-in at their airport location. - The Venetian
Definitely a 5-star experience throughout, from the accommodations (it's an all suite hotel) amenities, restaurant choices, shopping, to the very comfortable 39-table poker room. Centrally located on the strip, Venetian's poker room makes you feel like a VIP: friendly staff, nice chairs, and plenty of space between the high-end poker tables. The competition is mixed; some former Mirage players have slowly migrated to the Venetian but there are still plenty of tourist playing above their heads (especially at the lower limits). - **Caesar's Palace
Caesar's Palace is centrally located on the strip (which is now more like a small city) and opened their new poker room a couple of years ago, and improved almost everything. The most unique feature of the new room is how separate it is from the casino (no railbirds here and no travelling smoke). Next to Pure and the Sports Book, you enter down a short hallway from the casino and re-enter a poker haven with two separated rooms: one for cash games and one for tournaments. Always well run, you can find most types of games and limits. The competition can be soft (leading a good player to some good winnings) if you can spot the locals from the tourists. A nice plus is that Caesar's now has airport check-in so you don't have to wait in their immense lobby later. - *Mandalay Bay
Some mixed feelings about the Mandalay Bay poker room. It's much smaller (only 9 tables) and they've instituted some strange rules (no earphones, no chopping, no cellphones, no reading materials, etc.); also, if you're going to want to play a lot of poker tournaments, this is not the place to play. The Mandalay Bay is located at the most southern tip of the Strip so it's a hike to other really good poker rooms (the MGM Grand being the closest). But I really love this hotel a lot: it attracts a younger crowd, the competition is good, House of Blues location, a great pool area and beach, good buffet and restaurants, nearby shopping, etc. So if your trip is only poker-centric this might not be your first choice but, if others in your group are interested in other things, this could be a nice compromise. - *Bellagio
Yes, there's the dancing fountains (and you shouldn't miss them no matter where you stay) but there's a lot more to this very centrally located property: the finest Las Vegas shopping, fine dining, ultra-fine accommodations, fine art, it seems almost the air is finer at The Bellagio…and then there's the upscale poker room. With a warm beige/gold design this 30-table poker room with great management and a separate high stakes area (you won't believe the chip stacks!) is first class all the way. But beware, the play here is also first-class. The chips fly here, so you'd better bring your best game if you want to bust some folk.
Downtown Location
- The Golden Nugget
If downtown is your choice for a Las Vegas poker visit (it's usually easier on the budget), the only place I'd recommend to stay would be the new renovated (again) Golden Nugget. The poker room has been redoneand it's a gem of a room. With 10 of the nicest tables, swivel chairs, and multiple large screen plasma TVs, this dark wood accented rooms feels first class all the way. The limits are not high here, so they don't attract the big cash games players, which might be good depending on your experience. The Las Vegas historic places to play poker are all around you downtown with Binion's, Four Queens, Fitzgerald's and El Cortez (horrible but a smoker's paradise) just steps outside the door.
Off-Strip Location
- The Orleans
We include The Orleans as the only off-strip Vegas hotel for several reasons: first, staying several blocks from the strip you can save some money in the budget; second, the poker room is actually decent. It is quite large (23 tables) and they are the only casino in town that regularly spread Omaha cash games and provide regularly scheduled Omaha tournaments (although Caesar's has started an Omaha PL on Mondays at 5PM). Strangely, smoking is allowed in the poker room from 3AM to 9AM. The room is not classy or fancy but serviceable and fun.
Resort Location (15 min. commute to the Strip)
- Green Valley Ranch
If you're looking for your Las Vegas poker fun to include a resort/spa experience away from the hectic, crowded strip, your best bet is the Green Valley Ranch. The have a 22 table room (but sadly offer only cash games at this point; no poker tournaments here); the competition here is soft, as most of your mates with be other tourists, many with little or no real poker experience. The entire resort is top notch, offering the best in European-style spa opportunities, comfort, beauty and relaxation. So if you don't mind the trip back to the strip or downtown for other fun, this might be a 'different kind of experience' for your Las Vegas visit.
*Member of the MGM/Mirage Group (Player's Club Participant)
**Member of Harrah's Group (Total Rewards Participant)
