I happened to be browsing the web and ran into a really cool site. It’s called the Poker Atlas. If you are looking for a poker game or tournament near you then this is a great site to visit. Just scroll to the bottom of the page and click on your state and all of your local poker rooms pop up along with a map for directions. Each room has a brief description that pops up on the side bar.
Each listing also gives you the spread at each casino along with the tournament schedule if there is one available. It’s certainly worth exploring if you have the time.
If your looking for a good bargain then the Sahara is the place to play. This room is usually occupied by locals and beginners. The room has 11 tables albeit they are fairly old. This room could be considerably better than it is with just a little love and care from management.
They spread a $2/$4 and $3/$6 Limit game and the action goes around the clock.
If you are new to tournament play then this is the place for you. Where else on the strip can you play for $60 bucks, actually $62, and gain valueable tournament experience with a decent structure? The dealers are mediocre at best. They make mistakes from time to time but nothing major and they have always been polite when I have played here. They do have a daily room rate for poker players. The rooms bread and butter are it’s tournaments. If you catch the 7p.m. tournament you can even get a free sandwich. Not a bad deal. The tourneys usually have around 60 - 80 players or so. If you can get over the manual shuffling then stop by and take a shot. It’s a small field and usually a pretty decent pay day.
The Wynn poker room is one of the most elegant and quaint rooms on the strip. I stopped by on my last trip and railed a few of the games just to get a feel for it. I must say it was a very nice experience. Even though we were not playing the manager still stopped by to say hello and invite me to join the game. Unfortunately, I was waiting for a friend and only had a few minutes.
Everything here is brand spanking new as the room had just opened. This room is for the high end amatuer and the locals here tend to play a bit tight from what I observed. There is some profit to be had but you will have to grind it out to get there. Automatic shufflers and competent dealers are the norm. The chairs are comfortable but the room is still just a little small.
They spread $4/$8 to $30/$60 Limit Holdem along with $1/$3 $2/$5 and $5/$10 No Limit cash games with no maximum.
The tournament schedule is as follows:
NL Hold’em Mo,Tu,We,Th,Fr, 2PM $120+$23
They also have a $300+30 Noon tournament and $500+30 tournament with a long structure that caters to the poker purist.
The management at the Wynn was very good and seemed to really look after the players. The waitresses were responsive and stopped by on a regular basis to take orders as well. They do have special rates for poker players that stay at their hotel. You must play at least six hours to qualify.
The Bellagio is a poker room specifically designed for the high rollers. The room itself is very nice with automated dealers and very comfortable chairs. The room tends to have a long waiting list for obvious reasons. If you play here proceed with caution. This room is not for amateurs. Most of the professional players make their living off of tourist here.
Bellagio spreads $4/$8 to $30/$60 limit cash games daily. The Big Game, $4000 / $8000 limit is located in Bobby’s room.
Overall, if you have a big bankroll then you are more than welcome. Beware! You are not likely to be treated very well here if you are an average Joe. Bellagio caters to the professional players only. Also, there tends to be LOTS of bickering at the tables because people are making a living at the game here. Unfortunately, professionals do not take bad beats very well. Management is good and the tournaments are well run. Food comps are available after four to five hours of play.
Caesars is one of the nicest poker rooms on the strip. It is a bit off the beaten path from the regular casino but very nice nonetheless. The room is absolutely gorgeous with very nice tables and chairs with plenty of room. Each table has an automatic shuffler to see as many hands as possible. There is a separate tournament room too. So you are always nice and comfortable and able to stear clear of all the drama when tourneys are in play.
They spread a $3/$6 and $6/$12 limit game along with $1/3 NL $2/5 NL and $5/10 NL games.
Their tournaments are held on a daily basis as follows:
I would recommend the 7p.m. nightly $150 tournament as it has the best structure of them all with 40 minute levels and $5000 starting chips. However, the blinds creep up really quickly after the sixth level and the tournament speeds up considerably after that.
The vibe at Caesars poker room is all about the money though. Not that your treated poorly but these guys are not about customer service at all. Not good. The dealers are intimidated and do not talk when the pit boss is around at all. You can tell something is not right in this poker room between management and the employees. Not a very nice thing to watch.
Overall a very nice room that needs some new management and better customer service. They do offer poker player room rates as well as comps for the players. Just make sure you sign up for a Players Card and present it when you sit down at the table or enter a tournament.
I am extremely excited about playing in Las Vegas again. We go every year and I always have to visit the Venetian to play a little poker. The room is so well put together and they treat the average guy like gold. I still cannot figure out why the other rooms don’t take the hint. How difficult is it to treat someone with a little respect?
I have been over to the Bellagio and Caesars and they have the same air of arrogance in their poker rooms. It’s all about the money. We get that but it doesn’t mean that you can’t treat your guests well. What the casinos don’t seem to understand is that the poker community talks. If I have a bad experience somewhere I am going to tell my friends. More importantly I am going to blog about it and hit the forums.
Caesars has developed a really poor reputation for mediocrity in their poker room. You would think the manager would take a little time to read the forums and a few blogs to really get an idea of where they stand but they just keep marching with indifference. Same with the Bellagio.
You get none of that at the Venetian. The place is great and there is no tolerance for BS. If you get un-orderly you will be asked to leave. I love that in this day of the “me first and I don’t care” generation. I am really stoked about playing the noon tournament with 40 min levels and $7500 in starting chips for a $130 buy-in. That’s awfully hard to beat. They have so many really good tournaments that are extremely well run.
Whatever happened to the time when competitors learned from each other?
Are you on your way to Las Vegas and looking for a poker room? Then don’t pass up the Venetian poker room. If you do you are missing out on the experience of a life time. As is the case in most poker rooms in Las Vegas I recommend picking up a player’s card immediately. This will allow you to be comped for your play and to register in there tournaments. You cannot play in there tourneys without this card. The Players Club is just a few yards from the Poker lounge entrance.
The room itself is absolutely gorgeous and every bit as comfortable as your eyes would suggest. Moveable chairs with plush seats that are height adjustable. The carpeting and room décor is easy on the eyes. You also have built in cup holders at each of the 39 tables. You also have several plasma TV’s that line the walls to keep up with your favorite team. These kinds of “creature comforts” are what make the experience so satisfying.
The cocktail waitresses are second to none. They are prompt, courteous and beautiful. You can also order dinner from the diner across the casino and eat at your table if you like. The entrance to the poker room is downstairs along side the elevators leading to the main entrance. You will register for a seat at the main desk and they will ask you for your player’s club card. The Venetian spreads several games there and each table and the waiting list is displayed on the monitors as you walk in. They also have large tournament monitors for you to view the levels and blinds with little effort. If they don’t have a seat for you right away you are more than comfortable in the players’ lounge where the obligatory poker magazines and newspapers are all waiting for your reading pleasure. It doesn’t take long to get a seat and you are ready to jump into the action.
The cage is located in the back of the poker room away from the tables. So, you can handle your bankroll with a little privacy. Tournament payouts are in chips which can be redeemed at the cage for cash. If you stay in the Venetian your comp hours can be used towards your room, food court, internet connection or a combination of all of the above depending on how much you have built up. Also, if you plan on playing for six or more hours you are eligible for special room rates. So make sure you ask if you haven’t decided where you are going to stay.
The competition can be tough at the Venetian. The cash games are spread from $4/8 up to $200/$400 Limit, No Limit, Omaha and Omaha H/L. Higher games are setup upon request. Tourist love to play here and the best games are typically on the weekends. My experience was a very good one at the $2/$5 No Limit cash game due to tourists that were playing for “fun” and really did not have a good handle on the game. I was able to turn a $150 buy-in into $600+ in just a little over 3 hours of play. On the other hand this room does have a few of the professional players that tend to hover over the $150 and $300 nightly and weekend tournaments and cash games. These players are good and will definitely push your poker IQ to the limit. You have been warned!
The tournaments at the Venetian are run second to none. They are extremely well organized as you get a card with your name on it when you buy-in along with another card for your re-buy should you choose to take it. Registration is one hour before the tournament and there can be a line if you wait too long. The nightly tournament has a $150 buy-in and one re-buy. The structure has $5000 starting chips with 30 min levels and the blinds starting at $50/$25. Excellent structure and a nice starting stack. Usually this tournament has around 50 to 70 players. The weekend Deep Stacks tournament has a $300 buy-in and the structure starts with $10,000 in chips, 40 min levels, and $50/$25 blinds. Excellent structure and a pay day well worth the time and effort!
The dealers are all very good and FAST! There are automatic shufflers at each table for players to see the maximum number of hands per hour.
Overall, I highly recommend this room for its service, comfort, and management. If you play poker with any level of seriousness this is one of the premier places to play in Las Vegas.
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