Best Places to Spot a Pro at the US Poker Open in Vegas

Nothing draws top-notch poker pros to Las Vegas quite like a giant tournament offering a truckload of prizes. Without fail, it's the ideal way to attract the best of the best, and everyone else for that matter. But where can these professional players actually be found in Vegas? Find out below…

Having kicked off on April 8, the 2024 US Poker Open is currently in full swing, and will be rolling out the red carpet to some of the best poker players in the world right up until April 17. A flood of amateurs and pros alike are swarming in Sin City — some you might not know, others you could be very familiar with due to their past exploits. 

Regardless of whether you know who they are, where might the likeliest place to rub shoulders with poker pros be? Well, it's anyone's guess really, but there are a few possibilities where you might get lucky and spot someone like Sean Winter, David Peters or even Stephen Chidwick. Just remember: play it cool if you do see a poker pro. While it might be tempting to go all fangirl, be aware of doing anything that might make the experience a nightmare for all or result in a security escort (for you, not them). And that’s never a good look.

Poker Rooms

This one is — strangely enough — is probably your best chance of spotting a poker pro. If you’re looking to catch a glimpse of a pro in action, the humble poker room is where you’ll find them. They might be sharpening their skills or simply hanging out before their big debut with some fellow poker enthusiasts. Some venues are known hangouts for the pros and high rollers. They are hard to spot sometimes because, unlike sports stars or big-name actors, poker players tend to look like everyone else. 

The Legends Room — formerly Bobby's Room — is tucked inside the Bellagio Casino, and one of the most exclusive poker rooms in the United States. It only hosts high-stakes poker games. The average buy-in is usually off the scale and attracts all manner of high-stakes poker pros. If you can get in, it's likely to have a few poker pros duking it out. Less exclusive locations such as the Aria Resort and Casino, Resorts World and Wynn poker rooms are known to attract pros as well. 

Restaurants and Shows

These days, Las Vegas offers far more than just casinos. The city that never sleeps is home to a vibrant array of entertainment, restaurants, bars and world-class shopping. So keep an eye out when you’re out on the town; you might get lucky and spot a pro taking a much-needed break from the tables.

The Venue

The US Poker Open launched into action in 2018 and is held annually at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Odds are, you might spot a few pros around one of the 24 tables in the Aria poker room on the casino's east side. Some might even be staying at the venue or can be found eating at the restaurants — go for a walk around and see. Once the tournament starts, you will definitely spot all the pros around the premises — playing, having a drink, and generally having a good time as they compete for the US Poker Open prizes. 

The Strip 

The Strip goes along Las Vegas Boulevard and is known for its high concentration of massive resort hotels, casinos and bars. Many of the largest venues in the world are on the Strip, and as such, it attracts all the high rollers and poker pros. It's one of the most iconic tourist destinations in Sin City, so go for a walk along the Strip, and you might just happen to run into a poker pro or two enjoying the sights as well. 

3 Quick Tips to Find Poker Pros in Vegas

If all else fails and you simply must lay eyes on a pro during your visit to Las Vegas, there are three easy ways to increase your odds. 

1. Ask Casino Employees 

Casino employees live and work in Vegas.They know better than anyone where the best locations are to spot a pro and rub shoulders with the greats. So get networking and politely ask around if anyone has seen some pros out and about — or where the best place to spot them might be. If you offer a sweet tip, a casino employee might even tell you which bar or poker room all the pros like to hang out in. 

2. Check Casino Promotions

Casinos will often advertise if they have a certain pro who likes to play at their venue or if they have a sponsorship deal. For instance, Daniel Negreanu had an open challenge for anyone who wanted to take him on in heads-up action at the Wynn in Vegas. Check social media and casino websites — there might even be an event planned to meet the pros. 

3. Follow the Crowds 

If there’s a large group of people watching one specific table in a poker room, there could very well be a famous pro at the table. Of course, it could just be that perhaps there is just a really big hand going on, but either way, if heaps of people are watching one table for any reason, it's worth checking out. 

So you’ve spotted a pro… now what?

Depending on your level of obsession, seeing famous pros in the wild at the US Poker Open and out and about in Sin City might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you. Remember to respect boundaries at all times — just because they’re famous doesn’t mean you can hassle them while they are in the middle of a hand or out to dinner. So perhaps shake their hand or ask for a photo and leave it at that. 

Keen to get a slice of US Poker Open action?

Mark your calendars for April 8, as we kick off the series in tandem with the US Poker Open live, starting with opening freerolls on April 8 followed by 8 unique Global Poker x US Poker Open 2024 GC & SC online trophy events. Players will compete for a chance to win a share of GC 202,500,000 & SC 405,000 in guaranteed prizes, along with exclusive Global Poker x US Poker Open 2024 trophies, merchandise, and the chance to play in our USPO Players’ Final and Tournament of Champions, where two exclusive Las Vegas prizes are up for grabs.

Head to Global Poker to get in on the action now. Good luck!