When you travel to Las Vegas to play poker, you’ll be in for a treat. There are a plethora of awesome poker rooms. And, yes, there are plenty of mediocre rooms as well. So what I’m going to do is give you a list of the best places to play. But first, I need to make a disclaimer. Everyone is different and we all have different skill sets and play different poker games. So you might not enjoy playing at the same casinos as I do. The following list of poker rooms includes the best Vegas poker rooms for all types of players.
Criteria for Recommendation
Like I said, everyone is looking for something different. I have friends that absolutely refuse to play at Aria. I play there regularly and consider it the best poker room I’ve ever played at. Different strokes for different folks. Regardless of your personal preferences, there are certain traits you should look for in a poker room. If you’re in Vegas for vacation, choosing an unpleasant poker room could ruin your vacation. If you’re a local, picking the right poker room will be the difference between winning and losing.
Comps: Each poker room rewards players with comps based on how many hours you play. The top poker rooms give $2 per hour in comps (Bellagio, Aria, Venetian, etc.). These add up. I usually have about $30 per week in comps racked up at some poker rooms. That’s enough for a free meal or two at a decent restaurant.
Your Game(s): Never buy into a poker game you’re not good at because the poker room doesn’t offer the game(s) you play. Go somewhere else. What I love most about poker rooms such as Bellagio and Venetian is they have a wide range of games and blind levels.
Plenty of Weak Players: Whether you’re skilled or a donkey, it’s a good idea to play in games with players that are either too tight or too loose. Regardless of your skill level, it’s not a winning proposition to face only good poker players.
Good Customer Service: Customer service counts, even when playing poker. I hate playing at a table with a dealer that is rude. It makes the experience unpleasant. If the dealers are idiots or unfriendly, I’ll take my business elsewhere.
3 Las Vegas Poker Rooms Almost Everyone Will Enjoy
#1 – Aria
– If every other poker room closed down and I was forced to play at Aria exclusively I’d be okay with it. Not that I want other poker rooms to close down. I’m just saying. I love Aria’s poker room for many reasons. Celebrities such as Jose Canseco, Michael Phelps, and Norm MacDonald have played in here. Ditto for almost all of the top poker players in the world. Yes, there are a lot of solid players at all levels at Aria, but there is always 3-4 donkeys at a table. And most of them have money to burn. Dealers here are friendly and the cocktail waitresses are easy on the eyes. Expect a 20-30 minute wait to get in a cash game.
#2 – Bellagio
– Many WPT events have taken place at Bellagio. It’s one of the most recognized poker rooms in the world. Bellagio’s poker room is similar to Aria’s in that good good players play there but enough bad players with money make it worthwhile. Famous people and top players are often spotted at Bellagio, usually playing in the famous Bobby’s Room (attached to the main poker room). I’m not a big fan of their customer service, although it does appear to be improving. The dealers are good but it often takes too long for someone to bring me my chips. This is a minor gripe but I felt it’s necessary to mention.
#3 – Venetian
– Venetian has always had a great poker room but it got even better after they renovated it in September 2012. No poker room has more different types of games than Venetian. In the evenings, there’s almost always at least 25 games going. You won’t see celebs in the Venetian poker room often, but it’s still a great place to play some cards. And it’s located right across from my latest favorite sportsbook – the Mirage.
