Top 5 Las Vegas Poker Rooms: Where the Action's At

I've been playing poker for a decade now and I simply cannot find a better place to play than Las Vegas. There are some mediocre poker rooms around town (what's up Flamingo?), but there are also some of the best poker rooms in the world in Vegas. I'm somewhat of a poker room snob. I have high expectations for a poker room and when those aren't met, I don't come back. What do I look for in a poker room?

• Comfortable chairs
• Appropriate room temperature
• TV's with sporting events on
• Many different games going at most hours of the day
• Skilled dealers
• Attractive cocktail waitresses that stop by frequently
• Plenty of action
• $1+ per hour in comps for cash games (preferably $2)

Now, let's get to the list of 5 Las Vegas poker rooms that meet my requirements...

1.Aria (Center of Strip)

Best poker room in the world in my opinion. I play more at Aria than anywhere else. The room is frequently packed and the top poker players in the world come to play here. The action is great. Even though many skilled players play at Aria, there are enough clueless tourists with A LOT OF MONEY that sit down at the tables. Their 1:00 and 7:00 PM daily $125 tournaments are the best daily tournaments in town. Oh, and Jose Canseco frequently plays here. So if you want to go take his money, he's a fish!

2.Venetian (North-Central part of Strip)

Venetian will spread darn near any game requested. That's one of the biggest draws of this giant poker room. They give $2 per hour in comps. The dealers are solid, the cash game action is great, and the daily tournaments are outstanding.

3.Bellagio (Center of Strip)

Some of the biggest cash games and tournaments have taken place at Bellagio. You might not have the bankroll to sit down at the table in the famed "Bobby's Room" but you can grab a seat at one of the 35+ tables in the main poker room. Bellagio is always busy, but it's worth the wait if you can't jump into a game right away.

4.The Orleans (One Mile West of Strip)

The Orleans has the best poker room off the Strip, but it's easy to get to if you're staying at a Strip hotel. It's located just one mile west of the Strip on Tropicana Avenue. Orleans has a giant poker room with many different types of games at all levels. They even have a daily HORSE tournament.

5.Wynn (North-Central part of Strip)

I used to love playing at the Wynn. It's still a solid poker room, I just don't play their much anymore. The chairs are very comfortable. What draws a player like myself to the Wynn is the fact that most of the players are wealthy, clueless tourists that have a lot of money to blow. 

Other poker rooms worth checking out: Mirage, MGM, Caesars Palace, M Resort (south of Strip), Golden Nugget (Fremont Street), and Boulder Station (a few miles east of Strip).

Introduction to My Las Vegas Tourist Guide

I moved to Las Vegas in 2012 after living in the Midwest (Hawkeye state, baby!) most of my life. I had traveled to Sin City 6 or 7 times prior and wanted to make that town my residence. I haven't looked back since. I've experienced Vegas as a tourist and as a local. I've been darn near everywhere in town. And now I'd like to share my experiences and some tips for tourists traveling to Las Vegas.

In this blog, I will give Vegas tips for every type of traveler. Whether you're coming to town to play poker, for work, for a bachelor party, or just to get away for the weekend, I have information about all the bars, clubs, casinos, hotels, restaurants, shows and attractions. And, since I'm a poker player, I will even review the poker rooms on and off the Strip.

Las Vegas is a great city. There are so many things to do and see here for tourists of all ages. Don't be fooled - Las Vegas isn't only a good destination for drunken, degenerate gamblers. There are activities for folks of all ages - even kids. So sit back, relax and enjoy the Ultimate Las Vegas Tourist Guide!


Jon Sofen