8 MUST-SEE Poker Rooms to Visit in Las Vegas

If you were to visit Vegas in the 2000s, you would’ve had a pretty sweet choice of several dozen different poker rooms in varying sizes and stakes. Fast forward to 2024 and the number of poker rooms has reduced due to  COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns The two dozen or so remaining all offer poker in one form or another, but there are some in particular that are definitely worth a look while you’re in Sin City. Find us a better poker room than the eight listed below. We’ll wait.

But first, a roundup of the criteria that makes a solid poker room…

Just like the ingredients in an ice-cream sundae, the elements that make a good poker room are very subjective. While some like a packed house with no room to move and all the bells and whistles, others prefer a quieter venue with a group of regulars and a charm that captures the old days of Vegas. Regardless of which camp you fall into, there are always a few poker rooms that top everyone's lists. 

Bobby's Room/The Legends Room

Located inside the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas, Bobby's Room is by far one of the most exclusive poker rooms in the U.S. Named after poker player and casino executive Bobby Baldwin, the room only hosts high-stakes poker games. The average buy in is usually huge; you might be able to scrape in with a cool $10,000. This poker room isn't for the faint-hearted; in truth, you might not even be allowed into the private room unless you are a high roller or celebrity. But, it's worth a try just to see what it's like.

Nearly every top-tier professional poker player has played in Bobby's Room at some point, with names like Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey and Eli Elezra among past regular players. Bobby's Room also hosts the 'Big Game,' a poker event that features no-limit, and pot-limit Hold 'em, along with a variety of other poker variants that rotate every eight to ten hands. In 2020, Bobby's Room was renamed the Legends Room after Baldwin decided to leave the Bellagio for another casino. 

Aria Resort and Casino

First opened in 2009, the Aria has 150,000 square feet of gaming space, with a 24-table poker room on the casino floor's east side. Visitors to the card room often describe it as one of the nicer establishments to play poker at. It's also not uncommon to see a famous face across the table, too.

Table 1, (formerly known as Ivey's Room, after poker pro Phil Ivey), regularly hosts some of the highest stake ring games in the area, and was launched in 2010 as a direct competitor to the Bellagio's Bobby’s Room. On the rest of the floor, there are daily games of varying stake levels, both tournaments and ring games. The location is also home to some of the highest-rated restaurants in Vegas — so go check it out for the poker and stay for the eats. 

Wynn Las Vegas

Generally, the Aria and Wynn poker rooms are classed by most as the best poker rooms in Las Vegas, including the pros. Located on the Encore side of the resort, the poker room truly is a sight to behold. Picture 28 tables in a sky lit, floral filled gallery and you’ll start to get an idea. Word on the street is that each table also has USB charging ports, because why not? It's Vegas, baby. Both ring games and tournaments run daily, and the food is pretty darn good as well. It's also the location where poker pro-Daniel Negreanu formerly had an open challenge to anyone who wanted to take him on in heads-up action, and likely get sent home with their tail firmly between their legs. The Wynn casino is a good location for players who are fans of ring and tournament poker. 

Bellagio

Outside of the high roller Legends Room, formerly Bobby's Room, Bellagio still has a top-notch poker room for everyone else who doesn't have a considerable bankroll. A long-term presence in the city, Bellagio has been a focal point for the game since before the poker boom in the early 2000s. 

It's usually ring games only, so tournament players are out of luck. The waitlist can also be longer than usual to get a chair. It’s worth noting some poker pros have criticized Bellagio for being too cramped, loud and having poor access to amenities, facilities, and restaurants. Everyone has a different experience though, and the best way to find out if you like a venue is to go check it out for yourself. 

The Golden Nugget

Described as an ‘underrated gem’ online, poker rooms at the Golden Nugget may be less grand than others in the city, but captures the old-school Las Vegas experience like nowhere else. The cozy, quaint setup offers around a dozen tables hidden behind the main casino floor, and features moody, dimmed lighting. 

The Golden Nugget remains the only place worth playing live poker in downtown Las Vegas. The ring games also offer some of the lowest stakes in the city, which attracts primarily casual and recreational players. If you are a casual yourself, or a shark looking for some easy prey, The Golden Nugget could be worth a look. 

The Orleans

People who visit The Orleans poker room often describe it as a homely feeling location that is much more affordable than other casinos. Most of the ring games are low stakes and the poker room fields daily tournaments. With its 34 tables, The Orleans is near the top of the list of highest-capacity live poker venues in Las Vegas at the moment. If you want a friendly, big poker room with a buzzing atmosphere, The Orleans could be for you.

The Venetian

If the whole concept that The Venetian exists to recreate the famous Italian city of Venice isn’t enough to entice you, the casino within  offers over 35 tables and a wide variety of both ring games and tournaments. More on The Venetian’s fit out — artists, architects and experts extensively researched everything about Venice, importing authentic materials to recreate the charm of the city and create a breathtaking replica of the real thing. When strolling through The Venetian — you won’t believe it’s not Venice. 

Now back to poker. Mixed-game players love the poker room at the Venetian because it’s one of the few places in the city to play at any hour of the day. This poker room also boasts a great atmosphere and amenities that attract many players daily. The Venetian’s monthly DeepStack series tournament is well worth a look, with some eye-watering prize pools on offer.

Resorts World

The new kid on the Vegas strip, Resorts World opened in 2021 and is worth a visit simply because of how new and cutting-edge it is. 

The poker room includes all the top amenities you would expect from a freshly minted casino resort. Mainly a tournament venue, Resorts World still has the occasional  ring game; they are just not there all the time. The poker room is considered one of the best for comfort and staff attentiveness in Las Vegas. 

For fun and convenience, the poker room uses PokerAtlas, a mobile app that allows direct digital access to the table waitlist. There is also a self-service kiosk to order food from any restaurant in the casino. The poker games might not be as good as others on the Strip, but the amenities are among the best by far. 

So there you have it, folks, a round up of our top eight poker rooms to visit in Las Vegas. Which one will you visit first?