Best Poker Tournaments in Las Vegas Year-Round
Poker. An age-old card game that has been around forever. Some say it came from China in the 10th Century, according to History.com. Or maybe it was a game called Poque in France in the 17th century? Did it inspire the creation of the sandwich?
Well, whatever it was called, wherever it came from or whoever created it, poker (and poker tournaments) is arguably one of the most popular card games. It’s so popular, you can even watch it on TV. In fact, there are streaming channels solely dedicated to poker. Live poker (cash game) is a mainstay on the Las Vegas Strip. And where there is a cash game, there is typically also a poker tournament.
Poker Tournaments Are A Class Of Their Own
Poker Tournaments are much different than cash games. The strategy, psychology — and in many cases — the money. Tournament poker is a vastly different game.
According to Las Vegas Top Picks, Poker Tournaments really gained popularity after Benny Binion hosted the inaugural World Series of Poker (WSOP) at his Binion’s Horseshoe casino in 1970.
The WSOP has also produced some of the most famous poker players like Doyle Brunson, Stu Unger and “The Brat” Phil Helmuth. The game also inspired the best Matt Damon movie ever “Rounders,” with an epic performance by John Malkovich.
So, having said that, what are the best poker tournaments in Las Vegas?
Related: Best Las Vegas Attractions For Thrill Seekers
Well, it Depends on what day of the week and what your budget looks like. Here are the 3 I highly recommend regardless of bankroll.
They have a very highly regarded poker room, and their cash games are considered some of the juiciest. But for those on a skinny budget, their tournaments are some of the bests with the greatest value. It doesn’t matter what day of the week. However, Wednesday nights are particularly good. It’s a $200 buy in and they give you 30k in chips to play with, according to the casino’s website. The structure is slow, giving the player a better chance to be more patient. The staff is great, which makes for a smooth tournament. Plus, the “free” drinks are a nice size and the hotel itself has some reasonably priced food options.
2. The Orleans Hotels and Casino
Like The Southpoint, The Orleans poker room runs daily tournaments that are easy on the bankroll. $100 for $25k in chips almost every day, and their Friday-night tournament have been a mainstay in the city for at least 15 years, and this is from my own memory! But it’s their Sunday Super Special that might possibly be the best tournament in the city on any given day. It’s a $200 buy-in for $25k in chips, plus an add-on of $25k in chips for only $100 more, the website states. That’s some serious value. First place usually lands around $12,000. The staff is super friendly, and while the food options aren’t as great, or as good of a value, the poker value is money.
3. The Wynn
This is hands down becoming the place for poker in Las Vegas on a national level. They host The World Poker Tour every December, and the best players in the world are there. They also give the WSOP a run for their money every summer. The Wynn isn’t the place to play if your bankroll is low on oxygen. However, they do have some nice options for those looking at value. For instance, when The Wynn isn’t in a series, their daily can be a nice bank builder. $200 for $20k in chips and first usually lands around $5,000 or more. Their Friday and Sunday “Rebuy Tournament” can also help build a bankroll. Plus, they have fresh watermelon juice and the best drunken noodles in the city. The staff is top notch as well. The Wynn is by far the nicest poker room in Vegas.
Yes, there are more poker rooms in Las Vegas. But as a local, these are the ones I recommend. What I don’t recommend is eating a sandwich at the poker table. That’s nasty.
