In the summer of 2022, I moved to Las Vegas after being in the poker industry for nearly a year. A content editor for Jonathan Little’s PokerCoaching.com as well as a newly appointed live reporter for the World Series of Poker Circuit, I made my way to Las Vegas not only to further my career but also to play as much poker as possible, and play I did! Competing in my first WSOP, I fired a number of $400-$600 events as well as a wide variety of low-stakes tournaments around the city. Whether it was Paris, Bally’s (now Horseshoe), The Orleans, or the Golden Nugget, the summer of 2022 entailed consistent donations to the low-stakes poker community. It did not matter if it was the Colussus or the $35 daily at Westgate, Paul B was in LV and he was ready to punt!

Even with the losses we sustained in the summer of 2022, life was still pretty good. I was working in the poker industry, living in Las Vegas, and despite my recently depleted bankroll, I was hell-bent on getting to the felt whenever possible. After a long week of work in August of 2022, it was Friday night and I was ready to give myself a night out. While other 20-somethings may have made their way to Omnia or XS, I made my way to PokerAtlas.com. As I perused what was running that evening in Las Vegas, I could see I had a number of options. The 10 PM nightly at South Point? Nope, that’s at least $50 worth of Ubers. A $1,100 tournament at The Wynn? Maybe next week!

Oh hello, what do we have here?

Amidst all of the cheap nightlys around town and mixed game tournaments at The Orleans, I saw it: a $20 NLH tournament in North Las Vegas. As soon as I saw “$20”, I knew what my plans were for the evening.

A Palace Like No Other

Prior to my first visit to the Poker Palace, I was completely unfamiliar with the establishment. Before the Poker Palace came to be, the original property where it stands was built in 1951, and operated as Bunny’s Bar. A popular watering hole amongst servicemen stationed at nearby Nellis Air Force Base, Bunny’s Bar and the surrounding land was purchased by Marvin E. Coleman and Laura Coleman in 1974. Later in 1974, the Colemans would open the newly-built Poker Palace to the public, with a fresh casino that included one blackjack table, eight slot machines, and two pool tables. Nearly 50 years later, the Poker Palace offers six blackjack tables, over 280 various slot machines, a large bingo hall, a small sportsbook, and of course a 7-table poker room. For folks looking to dine/drink instead of gamble, you will find not only some of the cheapest (and stiffest) drinks in all of Las Vegas at the bar, but you can also enjoy a reasonably priced T-bone at Maddy’s Paddys Cafe.

With their offerings, the Poker Palace may sound like the usual small, “locals” casino, but you would be mistaken. When I first gazed upon the outside of the establishment, I knew I had stumbled upon something truly unique.

In case you can’t quite make out the sign on the right side of the building, let me offer you a closer look.

Although I had no plans of inquiring about Poker Palace’s “Match Your Paycheck” promotion, such an advertisement immediately intrigued me as to what awaited inside. Truth be told, I was not disappointed. Behold, the entrance to where the royalty of North Las Vegas gamble:

The Interior of the Poker Palace

After stepping into the main entrance of the Poker Palace, I was immediately greeted by a very large security desk occupied by, you guessed it, a security guard. Behind the security guard desk was the main lobby of the Poker Palace, primarily comprised of slot machines. Behind all of the slot machines stood a long bar filled with customers. Much like the bar, the entirety of the Poker Palace appeared to not have had an “update” in quite some time. Before making my way to the poker room to enter the tournament, I looked around and did some exploring.

I made my way through the right side of the building, taking in the Poker Palace Race and Sportsbook as I maneuvered through the establishment. Around the sportsbook were an array of framed pictures and paintings depicting famous racehorses of old. The likes of Seattle Slew and Seabiscuit could be seen along with the yellow tint of the aged photos.

Passing some paramedics who were attending to a slot player (this would be the first of two occurrences where I would see EMTs that evening), I found my way into Poker Palace’s Bingo Hall.

Outfitted with what appeared to be the original “number board” and an array of signs best described as “old school”, the Poker Palace Bingo Hall had everything you needed to host a serious bingo game, without all the pomp and circumstance. I was greeted by an attendant who informed me the next bingo game would not be occurring for another two hours. That was just fine with me, as I had a poker tournament to enter. Exiting the bingo hall, I retraced my steps as I made my way back to the Race and Sportsbook, located right next to the Poker Palace Poker Room. Arriving at my destination, I took in the arena where I would be doing battle that evening.

The Poker Palace Poker Room

Visiting the Poker Palace Poker Room for the first time, I was greeted by seven tables, each of which was surrounded by nine chairs (plus a slightly nicer-looking one for the dealers, of course). Although the poker tables appeared cheap, the felt appeared to be in fine shape throughout all the tables. Along with a whiteboard on the wall listing the cash game promotions, a pile of Christmas decorations could be seen in the back left corner. This past year, I have visited the Poker Palace on a number of occasions, and on every visit, I see that the pile of Christmas decorations has yet to be disturbed.

With more than half an hour remaining until the $20 tournament was set to begin, the lone occupant of the poker room was a slender, elderly Asian gentleman with an athletic stopwatch dangling from his neck. Assuming this was the poker room supervisor, I approached the man and inquired about entry into the tournament.

“Twenty dollars,” the poker room supervisor said. “If you want another 1,000 in chips, that will be another $10. It’s more than half an hour before tournament, so you can buy another add-on as well for $10.”

Not wanting to miss out on any add-ons, I gave the poker room supervisor $40 in exchange for two white chips marked 1,000.

“Where do you want to sit?” asked the poker room supervisor.

“Excuse me?”

“Pick your seat.”

The poker room supervisor motioned towards the poker table we were standing by. Spread across the felt was an assortment of cards marked with table and seat numbers. With my favorite number being 7, I naturally picked seat 7 at table 7. This would serve as the first time I ever got to pick my seat in a poker tournament.

With a half hour to kill before the tournament, I placed my two white chips and seat assignment card in my pocket as I made my way to Maddy’s Paddys Cafe. To be honest, the steak I had was quite good and reasonably priced at just $12.50.

The Action Begins

Following my reasonably priced dinner, I made my way back to the poker room and found my seat. After handing my seat card to the dealer, I was provided my chips and added my add-ons to the stack.

As I do at the beginning of every poker tournament, I asked the dealer what the starting stack was to confirm I had all the necessary chips. After confirming my chip stack contained the correct amount with my add-ons, I quickly realized the first “unique” aspect of this tournament. With a 4,000 starting stack and my 2,000 worth of add-ons, it appeared that the majority of the players were starting the poker tournament with only 60 big blinds, and the players who elected to buy no add-ons only had 40. Though I figured prior to taking my seat that this would be a truly unique tournament, this realization only furthered that observation. Fortunately for me, 40-60 big blinds is when I’m the most dangerous.

As the tournament began, I could tell at least half of the players at my table were regulars as they chatted amongst themselves and with the dealer. I sat back in silent wonder, as I witnessed some incredibly splashy, yet weirdly tight tournament poker. After a few hands, I finally saw some action as I raised from the cutoff with pocket fives and got a call from the big blind.

The flop came K-6-4 rainbow, the big blind checked and I bet one-third of the pot. The big blind called. The turn was a 3. Following another check from the big blind, I sized up with a three-quarters pot bet with my turned open-ender. My opponent thought for a few moments, before folding A-K offsuit face-up.

“You clearly have a set,” he told me.

Despite winning that hand with the worst, after missing a few flops I was down to only 3,000 in chips in the middle of Level 2. With the incredibly short starting stacks players were provided, I found myself down to 15 big blinds only 20 minutes into the tournament.

“Give the dealer $5,” one of my tablemates told me.

I looked at him puzzled.

“If you drop below 4k, you can add on whenever you want for five dollars.”

“Five dollars for 1,000,” the dealer explained to me.

That was the moment I discovered the second unique aspect of the Poker Palace $20 tournament.

Although I did in fact give the dealer $5 for additional chips, as a PokerCoaching.com employee I knew I should ask some follow-up questions:

• How much of this goes to the prize pool?
• How much of each add-on goes to the house?
• Oh, also, how much of the entry is raked?

“You’re asking a lot of questions, kid,” a grizzled regular informed me.

I grew much more quiet.

The regular to my left laughed and brought me up to speed on the essence of the $20 Poker Palace tournament:

“Listen, most of us had a long week. This tournament is $20 and the drinks are strong. Grab yourself a cocktail and enjoy yourself.”

Always open to advice, I did as my tablemate said and ordered the first of many vodka lemonades. After my first sip, I was thankful I hadn’t ordered a double.

I Need A Hero

“It’s 11 PM, do you know where your children are?”

If you’re my Mom, one of your sons is in California and has likely been asleep for an hour after responsibly taking melatonin. Your other son, I’m sorry to say, is drunk off his ass in a dingy casino in Northern Las Vegas.

Despite failing to cash in the cheapest poker tournament in Las Vegas I was in a good mood, having had an incredibly fun night out. Taking the advice of my fellow poker players, I kicked back, enjoyed myself, and experienced the Poker Palace like a true regular. Now, it was time for me to hail an Uber, and responsibly make my way home. As I exited the Poker Palace poker room, I pulled out my phone and opened the Uber app. Just as I was about to request a ride, a message appeared on my screen.

“We can’t reach our network right now. Please check your connection.”

Confused, I immediately closed the app and re-opened it, but the error message remained.

“Well that’s not good.” I thought to myself.

Taking a seat at the sportsbook, I attempted every other troubleshooting method I could think of in my inebriated state. I alternated airplane mode on and off, I checked to see if the Lyft app was working, I even turned my entire phone off and back on. Regardless of what I did, I not only couldn’t access the Uber app, but I couldn’t access the internet either. That’s when I realized that, for some reason, I was currently unable to use any cellular data. Whether it was because my brother forgot to pay the monthly cell phone bill or I simply needed to upgrade my ancient iPhone, the reason did not matter. All I knew was I was going to need WiFi and soon.

I approached a group of Poker Palace blackjack dealers who were talking amongst themselves at an empty table.

“Hi there, do you guys have free WiFi?”

They laughed at me.

I made my way over to the bar and asked if they had a number for a cab company. Although they did have a number, they informed me it would likely take them at least two hours to pick me up.

Although I’m not usually one to panic, that emotion was beginning to trickle into my consciousness. At that moment I could not refute the facts. It was late, I was drunk, and I was trapped in the Poker Palace.

I returned to the sportsbook and found a seat yet again. It was not lost on me that my lack of responsibility got me into this situation, but that did not change the fact I had to figure out how the hell I was going to get home. Just when I thought I would be sleeping in the confines of the Poker Palace Bingo Hall, it hit me: Bagger.

Enter Bagger

When I moved to Las Vegas in the summer of 2022, I really didn’t know anyone other than a few associates within the poker industry. All that changed, however, when one day I was scrolling through Snapchat and saw that one of my old buddies from college was in Las Vegas. Seeing an image of The Strat on my buddy Bagger’s Snapchat Story, I sent him a message. It turned out that Bagger and his family weren’t in town on vacation, but had moved to Las Vegas almost at the exact same time as I did! Not only was it great having a fellow Boise State Bronco in town, but it was even better having a friend nearby who was always willing to lend a helping hand. When it comes to people who are always willing to help you out at a moment’s notice, my buddy Bagger fits the profile perfectly.

So that’s who I called.

I’m not going to lie: even though I was inebriated, I felt bad calling Bagger so late at night. He has a wife and young daughters, making late-night calls from degenerate friends less than optimal. Regardless, I was deep within the recesses of North Las Vegas late at night and was quickly running out of options. I pulled up Bagger’s number and made the call. After one ring, my guardian angel answered.

“Pauly B! What’s up, brother?”

“Bagger, buddy, how’s it going man?”

“It’s going good man! Just trying to get the A/C unit in the f***ing Tercel to work. What are you doing?”

After apologizing that I was calling so late at night and confirming I had not woken his wife and kids, I explained my situation to Bagger. Being the amazing friend he is, he assured me he could pick me up and would be leaving shortly.

“No problem my man, happy to get you home safe. I’ll leave here in a couple of minutes and come swoop ya.”

“Bagger, dude, thank you so much I owe you one. Real quick though, be sure you park and come inside first. You’ve gotta see this place.”

About 20 minutes of loitering in the Poker Palace pits later, Bagger entered the building and greeted me. I thanked him and watched him look around the establishment. After silently assessing the Poker Palace, Bagger turned and looked at me.

“Dude, this place looks awesome.”

Author’s Note: A special thank you not only to Bagger, but also to fellow PokerCoaching.com staff member Kieran Woods for accompanying me to the Poker Palace this past summer as I worked on this article. The rake may have been high, but the memories were priceless.

In recent years, the Japanese government has made efforts to relax these laws with the introduction of Integrated Resorts (IR), which are designed to operate in a similar way to casino resorts found in the US.

One of those resorts, which is due to open in the next few years, is the Nagasaki Casino. However, funding for that project was financed by Suisse Bank, which has in recent weeks staved off collapse and is now being subjected to a bailout by another bank.

Due to this situation, concerns have been voiced as to whether the plug will be pulled, but reassurances have since been made regarding the deal.

In this guide, we’ll explore this tumultuous period in more detail. We’ll review the reasons why the Japanese government is changing the law and what the Nagasaki Casino is expected to be like.

First, let’s take a look at gambling rules in Japan.

Gambling rules in Japan

Japan has an interesting legal relationship with gambling. Gambling is illegal except for in a few authorized forms. This includes horse racing, bicycle racing, powerboat racing and some types of lotteries and sports betting.

Some forms of online gambling are prohibited in Japan too, including online casinos and poker. However, sports betting and lotteries are allowed online.

Brick-and-mortar casinos and other forms of commercial gambling are not currently legal in Japan. However, the government has recently passed a law that allows for the establishment of casinos in designated areas, known as Integrated Resorts (IRs).

According to current Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the first IRs are expected to open between 2028 and 2030. Only three gaming permits will be allowed to start.

Let’s take a look at why that law has been changed.

Why is the government changing the law?

Given gambling laws are so restrictive in Japan, you may wonder why the government has decided to greenlight the building of not just casinos, but resorts devoted to betting.

As expected, the development of integrated casino resorts in Japan aims to boost the country’s economy by attracting more tourists, increasing foreign investment and creating job opportunities.

The Japanese government hopes that the introduction of IRs in major cities such as Tokyo, Nagasaki and Osaka will further bolster the growing tourism industry, with the casinos integrated into larger resort complexes complete with hotels, convention centers, shopping malls and entertainment facilities.

Despite the initial surprise at the move, the government has implemented strict regulations to ensure the casinos are operated in a socially responsible manner, including measures to prevent problem gambling and protect the interests of local communities.

In addition, only three gaming permits will be allowed at the outset, ensuring that the casinos complement rather than dominate Japan’s budding tourism industry.

What is the Nagasaki Casino?

The Nagasaki Casino is a development submitted to the Japanese government by the governor of Nagasaki under the new integrated resort scheme.

The idea is to build a brand-new resort in the region for tourists and locals alike, but it’s an expensive venture, with costs estimated to be as high as $4bn. That money had to come from somewhere, and recently it came to light that the funding for the Nagasaki Casino project was financed by Suisse Bank, which has faced financial difficulties and is now being subjected to a bailout by another bank.

This has raised concerns about the future of the project, but Nagasaki governor Kengo Oishi has stated that the funding plan should not be affected by the issue.

Despite Japan’s historically strict rules on gambling, the government’s efforts to relax these laws with the introduction of IRs mark a significant change in the country’s approach to this industry.

What could happen next?

It’s all systems go with the development of the Nagasaki IR as far as the public has been told. Credit Suisse has been bailed out and Governor Oishi remains keen to proceed.

Even if that financing does fall through, it’s hard to imagine there aren’t other investors waiting in the wings. Despite the tight regulations, it’s a new market in an industry that has a track record around the globe of achieving significant growth in a short space of time. It’s therefore likely that should the Credit Suisse money fall through, other banks or private investors will step in to claim their stake in the new market.

With casinos opening in the near future in Japan, it’s time to brush up with advice on playing games like blackjack, poker and roulette.

It won’t do any harm to practice either. Then you’ll be ready to dive into the world of Japanese betting, taking in the magnificent culture while enjoying a state-of-the-art resort.

While there may not be a huge amount of choice for bettors at first, three is more than enough to try out, especially if you’re only visiting on holiday. There is little doubt that licenses will be granted to other potential IRs in the near future, which will help add to the user experience.

The actual game itself is the same whether you play online or in person. The same skills in bluffing, folding at the right time and of course placing the right bets lend themselves to both formats and you are still playing with a house dealer and other opponents whether online or not.

Both formats have developed over the years as online and offline technology has improved gameplay whilst players themselves have also developed their skills in how to play the game too. There is no doubt that poker is a much more competitive game these days – enhanced by its popularity.

So what are the key differences between online poker and brick and mortar casinos? We have put together just some of the key comparisons between the two to guide your decision in choosing which type of poker you wish to play the most.

Online Poker

The majority of people carry out almost their entire lives online on smartphones, tablets and laptops these days and they are looking to platforms to take part in gambling like poker in much the same way. So, what are the benefits in choosing an online casino over attending a brick-and-mortar establishment? Let’s take a look at some of them…

Convenience

Probably the most obvious advantage to online poker is being able to play at any time from anywhere, or without having to leave your home. You have unlimited access to thousands of variations of gambling games including many online poker rooms, games and tournaments, and with various bet sizes and RTP ratios returning real winnings there is virtually no need to head out and visit a land-based casino.

Variety

The next difference is the huge variety in games provided online thanks to the games designers and developers that work on producing new and varied themed poker games that keep the play fresh and enticing for new customers. With so many options of, not just poker but various slot games to supplement the poker experience, it is no wonder that online platforms are continuing to receive thousands of unique visitors on a monthly basis.

Incentives

Finally, with the amount of online gambling sites and apps available out there it falls on those providers to offer as much incentive as possible to attract new customers and retain existing players. New sign-up offers and loyalty bonuses can include free chips to use at almost any poker site for US players such as BetOnline.ag as they battle the competition to attract people to their platforms. The ability to use E-wallets and various online methods of payment is also a bonus for those players who take up such offers.

Poker in Brick & Mortar Casinos

Despite all of the above It is still important not to be quick to disregard the timeless classic of the land-based establishments that still operate to some success, certainly with older generations who have gambled for decades. These casinos still hold some sway as they provide fun for groups of friends who may wish to use the poker play as part of a wider social day or evening and enjoy the vibe provided by the real-life experience.

Experience

As mentioned above, the thrill of enjoying a social experience with friends or just any other like-minded players and playing around a physical table is one that many people who prefer this option to online play enjoy. The opportunity to learn the game from more experienced players in games or tournaments is something that many feel cannot be matched.

Dealers

Although playing online does not restrict players to CGI dealers it still does not provide that interaction with a real-life person standing in front of you as you play the game. That interaction forms a key part of the experience mentioned earlier that provides brick and mortar casino visitors with the enjoyment they get.

Money management

Knowing the chips you are purchasing at a land-based casino are being done so with real money in your hands – or even on a card or E-wallet on your smartphone – allows a player to perhaps be more careful with their spending. This extends to the poker table as dealing with larger sums of cash than they may bet online means a player is more likely to take extra care in the bets they place, especially when it comes to reducing the number of bad beats.

Playing at Pace

Now we have taken a look at each option individually, what is the largest difference we believe to be between online poker and brick and mortar casinos that you should consider? This would have to be how fast the game is played, and the difference between the two formats.

Quite simply, online poker is played at a fast pace that takes some getting used to thanks to the technology involved behind the scenes in a poker room. With no real-live dealer or big breaks in play for any reason, online poker allows for quick play which naturally includes instantly split pots and instantaneous payouts. The general smooth running of the game thanks to this technology also puts players at ease.

But that’s not to say you won’t get a benefit from visiting a land-based casino – as we have touched on above. It purely depends on what you are looking for in your poker experience. Why not try both!

A packed family vacation itinerary meant that my poker room visit would be taking place in the wee hours of the morning, after everyone went to sleep. So, at 1:30 am on Thursday, I took the elevator down to the casino, planning for a three-hour session.

As in all of the European casinos I’ve visited, I knew I’d need my passport to register for a player’s card. Moreover, again, as in most European casinos, the cashier window allowed for currency exchanges into the local currency (Bulgarian Leva) with the benefit of exchanging back into your original currency at the same rate (if you still have chips left at the end of your session). At the time of publication the rate was just slightly under 2 Bulgarian Leva per 1 euro or US dollar. The casino had plenty of slot machines, a few tables games, and a poker room, but I didn’t notice any bingo there, so it’s not a place that would appear in a Smart Bingo Guide. In any case, I was just curious to see the poker they had on offer.

What I found was a beautifully appointed poker room, featuring about a dozen top-of-the-line poker tables each outfitted with automatic shufflers. The tables did not have built-in charging ports, but the chairs were exceptionally comfy and play at all tables was 8-handed, giving us all ample room. Bulgarian and English were spoken at the tables, and the dealers always made sure to announce the action in both languages.

Considering the late hour and that it was mid-week, I was pleasantly surprised to see five full tables running, with stakes of 1/2 and 2/5 (Bulgarian Leva) Hold’em as well as 5/5 PLO in action. The room offered a number of promotions, too, including a 550 Leva bonus for making a royal flush (using both hole cards) as well as a Bad Beat Jackpot of approximately 25,000 Leva for the Hold’em tables and about one-tenth of that for the Omaha tables.

Free drinks were available (water, juice and soft drinks; I believe alcoholic beverages were for pay) and the room was amply staffed with enough waitresses to bring said drinks to the tables. While I didn’t ask, from my observation the rake seemed to be a very reasonable 5% up to 10 Leva.

The one negative I can’t help but point out is that unfortunately, as in many European poker rooms, the Palms Merkur Royale was not a smoke-free area. It’s obviously a cultural thing, and there isn’t much the occasional visiting outsider can do about it other than try to not let it affect your mood or poker play.

As for the poker play itself, with no offense intended to the other players, I can’t say I was too impressed with the skill level. Sure, we were playing at the equivalent of a $.50/$1 Hold’em table, so I didn’t exactly expect to be sitting with GTO wizards. Even so, it was immediately obvious to me that while they may have known how to play poker, no sharks were roaming these waters. In close to three hours of play, I can’t remember seeing a single 3-bet (except for the twice that I did so pre-flop, to which action folded back around for me to scoop those couple pots).

I would’ve broken even in my short session were it not for the one unique wrinkle of my venture into Sofia, Bulgaria’s poker waters: something called “choko-roko.” Once per orbit, a player can request to play the hand “choko-roko”, which has some similar characteristics to a bomb pot. All players ante a predetermined amount (usually between 5-10 Leva) pre-flop, and there’s no other pre-flop betting. Post flop, in sequence, each player decides if they wish to play or fold, with “play” meaning they match the pot (e.g., 5 Leva per player at an 8-handed table = a 40 Leva “match”). After the match betting, a turn and river are dealt with no further betting, and the best hand scoops.

Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to scoop a single “choko-roko” hand, but participating in them did cost me and I ended up recording a 100 Leva (50 Euro) loss on the session.

All in all, I enjoyed my short time in the Palms Merkur Royale poker room. While I could do without the smoke, it was a great poker room that I’d happily visit again someday.

If you are a Canada native or living in the country and any of the poker players on the above list inspire you to take your game to the next level, you’re going to need to know where the best places to play poker are.

With several poker rooms across all of Canada’s provinces, it could be a chore to find which rooms are looked on favourably, so to save you all that time and hassle, here are the best three places to play poker in Canada.

Playground Poker Club

Starting off this list, which is in no particular order, is the Playground Poker Club in Kahnawake, Quebec. Now established as one of the must-visit poker destinations in the world, let alone North America, this poker room is almost universally agreed as the go-to place to play cards in Canada.

Found just outside of Montreal and the only venue on this list that is purely a dedicated cardroom, you can play both No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha in varying stakes on one of the 75 poker tables it homes. The poker room which celebrated it’s 10th anniversary last year has also played host to a plethora of prestigious poker events such as the partypoker Premier League in 2013, the World Cup of Cards and multiple WSOP Circuit and WPT events.

Open all round the clock, every day of the week, there’s a strong chance you’ll need to get a bite to eat at some point when putting in the hours here, and with The Rail Coal Fire Bistro inside the venue you’re sure to find something that satisfies whatever cravings you have.

With amenities like masseuses at your disposal, you can find total comfort when playing here and it should also be noted that since August 2017, there have been two massive bad beat jackpots paid with both eclipsing $1 million. Wouldn’t it be great to get a slice of that!

Casino de Montreal

Casino de Montreal has been entertaining punters since 1993 and is the biggest casino in all of Canada. The ‘OK Poker Room’ in the casino is open 24/7 and with 24 poker tables at your disposal, so there’s no problems with you getting a seat at the felt.

A great thing about this poker room is that regardless of your bankroll, you can get in the action, the new $1/$1 low-stakes game is great avenue for new poker players to cut their teeth but if you’re still not keen on playing live cash, there are low buy-in tournaments every last Sunday of the month.

Another Canadian poker room that has its own bad beat jackpot, here you’ll still have the chance to win big money should you be on the wrong side of lady luck. Currently standing at a juicy $250,000, if you are on the losing side with a qualifying hand, quad tens or better, you’ll stand to net $100,000! There’s also a fixed jackpot of $25,000 too, so should you lose with at least aces full of kings you won’t be leaving Casino de Montreal emptyhanded.

Il s’est assis à la table en lançant aux autres joueurs: « Je suis ici pour le 500K! ». SURPRISE: une quinte couleur royale en pique lui permet d’empocher le lot progressif de 502 053$! pic.twitter.com/x6fObYeIyr

— Casino de Montréal (@CasinoMontreal) August 24, 2019

For those of you who enjoy a trip into the gaming pit after a poker session, you’ll be pleased to know that the casino also homes over 3,200 slot machines and 100 table games.

Casino Niagara

I don’t know about you, but for me poker is always better with a view! A regular game that I play in my home city of Cardiff lets you see over the Welsh capital’s skyline which dazzles at night and can also clear your head more effectively after a particularly bad poker session. Well, Casino Niagara offers you that in spades. In a brilliant setting at Niagara Falls, this poker room also sees plenty of footfall from tourists, which can spark the action into any poker game.

With Casino Niagara being in and around a tourist hotspot, it would be wise to ring ahead and reserve a seat so you can be sure to get in on the action. Just be sure to get there within 90 minutes of reserving your seat! The recently renovated room now holds 26 poker tables which has those amazing views of the falls. With regular cash games at both low and high stakes as well as tournaments, whatever your preference, you’re bound to have a great time.

As well as the poker room, you’ve got all your favourite slots and casino table games to play too, so whatever you’re in the mood for that day, Casino Niagara will happily accommodate your wills and wishes for entertainment.

Filmed lived on Sundays at 12PM Pacific Time, full episodes can be found at www.twitch.tv/hustlerhunny for a month after the stream date, and highlights can be found at www.youtube.com/hustlerhunny

Below, you can watch the latest show’s highlights (from November 8, 2020), which is followed by a recap of the full episode.

We were honoured this week to be joined by American expat Michael Kim, aka Poker Triad. Michael was Maureen’s contact in South East Asia when she visited Cambodia last year for the WPT at Naga World. Michael continues to blog about his poker adventures in Cambodia and has great advice for both poker game selection and enjoying Cambodia, especially Phnom Penh. https://www.pokerappcentral.com/blog

Question 1: Why Cambodia?

Before 2015 Michael had been living and playing in poker in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and had never in his adult life, ventured outside of the USA. In 2015 he was looking to relocate to South East Asia. He found that Cambodia checked off a lot of the points he desired and had both live and online poker. The visa was attainable and the cost of living, much more affordable than America, so without any knowledge of the language or any connections, Triad took a leap of faith and moved to Cambodia.

Question 2: How common are female players in the Cambodian poker games?

Very few females play poker in Cambodia. Michael mentioned he can go weeks without seeing a female player. If he does encounter a female player, she’s most likely a tourist.

Question 3: What is insurance in Asian Poker games?

Some poker games in Cambodia often offer insurance in heads-up, all in pots. (We see this sometimes online for cash games, but never in a live setting like in Cambodia offers.) The player who is ahead can opt to insure their hand against their opponent drawing out. The insurance rate depends on the number of outs left in the deck.

Gambling players like insurance and it’s so heavily marketed towards gambling players, that the river card is dealt like a baccarat squeeze. The dealer deals the river card face down to the purchaser, who is able to squeeze the card himself before tabling it.

Question 4: Which types of  online poker are  available in Cambodia?

Although the big providers like PokerStars and GGPoker (through the Natural 8 skin) are available in Cambodia, the rise of play money apps, converted to real money app, via agents, has created a mini poker boom in Asia.

Michael runs multiple clubs and has 135 players in his agency.

Online apps like PokerBros and PPPoker, although not regulated offer more variety of poker games than the majority of the big sites. They also are appealing to players because of the agent model, when an individual actively recruits them and is their personal contact for everything from buy-ins, cashouts, and rake-back.

I personally worry about the integrity of the game, and likelihood of being cheated when using play money apps to play for real money.

Michael did say to never get involved with an agent you don’t know personally or one that cannot be vouched for by someone you trust. He also mentioned he has been indirectly involved in a few collusion and bot ring investigation, and players do get banned. There are GPS and IP precautions built into the apps, just like any regulated online site.

Ultimately it comes down to how pro-active and aware your agent is. If you think you’re being cheated, will your agent look into it for you?

Question 5: What were the reactions to the Polk/Negreanu Grudge Match?

Michael enjoyed watching the live televised match, with hole cards shown. Maureen and I were a little disappointed by the lack of grudgery in this match. It seemed no different than any other televised heads-up game, each player displaying sportsmanship and acting like a gentleman. This caught me off guard, and I felt like Doug Polk’s Twitter personality is fake, as his live demeanour was frankly boring.

The poker was good and Doug played extremely well despite losing over $100K.

While the average player will look at the match and see Doug so far in the red as him being “owned,” most critical thinking players saw leaks in Negreanu’s play, which will cost him dearly in the online version if he doesn’t correct.

The online matches saw Doug shine, but are tough on the viewers as Negreanu stipulated he didn’t want hole cards displayed. I personally am a huge fan of the commentators on the Upswing Poker stream, because they are extremely knowledgeable about heads-up poker.

Tweet of the Week

The civil nature of the grudge match gave way to so many great tweets, so we couldn’t pick just one this week.

WTF is going on here?

These two are both acting like they are on a first date.

— David Lappin (@dklappin) November 5, 2020

I heard they are getting a suite together in the Aria tonight.

— GoogleNoAgenda (@GoogleNoAgenda) November 5, 2020

This was not the product they sold us.

— Melissa Burr (@burrrrrberry) November 5, 2020

Trivia

As the Twitch stream likes to be challenged, we have a Trivia Question each week. This week we piggybacked on the WSOP Main Event theme from last week.

Maureen tells us that Phil Hellmuth loves to make entrances at the WSOP Main Event…

She asks, what was the theme of his entrance in 2018 and which character was vetoed by his team?

Bonus: Who sponsored the entrance?

Most viewers remembered something resembling Roman soldiers but indeed, the theme was not Rome but Marvel Characters, more specifically Thor.

Gandalf was vetoed but he promised it as a future WSOP entrance, DBet was the sponsor and featured on the costumes as well as his entourage of women holding DBet shields.

If you missed it in 2018, here is the clip:

Question 5: Las Vegas is seeing poker rooms close down. Is this good for poker?

This week MGM Resorts closed poker rooms for good at Excalibur, Mandalay Bay, and The Mirage.

Michael mentioned that The Mirage was once home to the big game in Vegas. Having played at all three rooms, this is sad news for Michael and the end of an era.

Personally, I won’t be shedding any tears. I’ve possibly visited one of the closing rooms, but do not see it as a blow to poker, in fact I see it more as a positive. If I had my way, there would be only one or two locations for poker, but with hundreds of poker tables. This would centralize the games, and gather all interested players in one epi-center. Having players in just one location increases the chances of getting higher stakes games going, and also running more poker variants.

That concludes this week’s episode of Poker Headlines.

We had a bunch of tech issues again this week. I do apologize for this, but I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation with Poker Triad, and I can’t wait for COVID-19 to be a thing of the past so Maureen and I can make the trip to Cambodia to grind some live cash and sing the night away at KTV. We look forward to interacting live with chat again on Sunday, noon Pacific Time.

Image credit: Pokernews.com

Know Each Game’s Rules

If you are more used to playing in a casino instead of with friends, you might already know a little about how to play the numerous variants of poker according to the room’s official rules. However, if you are making the jump up from playing with friends to playing in a properly run game, you are going to need to learn some of the rules that might dictate your chosen game. If you are playing with friends, there is a chance that you might accidentally introduce an extra rule that has no place in a real version of the game. For instance, many home games feature a “declare” before showdown, whereas this doesn’t exist in poker rooms.

You might also find that some games have very different rules even if they come under the same name. A clear distinction here can be found with poker. When most people play “poker” in a casual setting and they usually play Texas Hold’em or perhaps a variation of Omaha. These are very different from a game like 7 Card Stud or 2-7 Triple Draw, and an amateur needs to know this before trying to play a game online.

Find the Right Place to Play

One of the very first things you need to do is find the right place for you to play. You will find no shortage of poker sites to try a few hands on, but this is a true case of trying to separate the wheat from the chaff. Find a site that works for you.

Something that could help you find the right place is a website that offers casino bonus codes and other goodies for gamers. By grabbing a few good ones, you might be able to explore all the sites that have caught your eye to find the right place to start playing.

Enjoy Yourself

Many people can be nervous when playing in an online poker game, but there is absolutely no reason for you to be nervous. Instead, you should find a way to relax into the game so you can fully enjoy every aspect of it. For example, many people like to engage with the chat box as they play. They can talk to other players, crack jokes, you might even prefer just to sit back and say nothing. Developing your own online persona is half the fun of playing online. Moreover, you might wish to begin playing with no money at stake (i.e., for play money), such that you have nothing at risk.

No matter what, you need to make sure that you are relaxed and able to play your best possible hand. Bluffing is very different, and it might take a while for you to properly find your feet as an online player. Take the time to study guides if you feel like you need to learn more about how to play online, as it can be very different from playing in a room with other people.

Ready to try online card rooms? They certainly have a lot to offer all sorts of players. Whether you want to start playing cards a little more earnestly, or you are just looking to pick up a new hobby or interest, the world of online card games has a lot to offer. The community can be very welcoming, and in the right place you will hopefully be able to learn more about yourself as a player. Start looking for just the right casino to start playing at now!

After a few months during which your room was forcibly shuttered during the pandemic, can you describe the emotions you and your team are having as you prepare to get back to work and reopen to the poker-loving public?

Robbie, I think like many others I have been through he 5 stages of grief. Some of them all on the same day. But now we are here and ready to open excitement is the feeling I have the most. I am excited to be back doing something that I love to do and excited to be back with my coworkers and regular guests. This feels like a big step on the return to normalcy and I am proud to say that I do not think we could be coming back in a safer manner than we are doing here in the Westgate Poker Room.

What sorts of changes have been instituted in the resort-casino property in general and in the poker room specifically as far as policy and procedures regarding hygiene and cleanliness for staff and guests?

Westgate as a company has the Westgate CARES system of keeping everybody safe. Additionally in the poker room we have installed plexiglass dividers on the tables to allow us to spread games 8-handed. In addition we have a rigorous cleaning and disinfecting regime that is carried out in the poker room throughout the day.

Based on what I’m seeing on social media, there seems to be a pent-up demand among live poker players to get back to the tables. Some rooms are still seating short-handed tables, while others are opting for the current maximum legally allowed at 8-handed. What sort of approach will the Westgate be taking on this?

Westgate poker room is situated inside the largest sports book in the world, The Superbook, our players are keen and avid sports bettors. To help compliment this relationship we will be basing our poker room promotions around sporting events. With the pro football season about to start, we have some awesome football-based promos.

As rooms continue reopening around the city, what do you feel will make the Westgate Poker Room stand out among the competition?

I believe we are room 18 of 31 to reopen. I’m not familiar with any more scheduled to open in the near future. We will stand out by continuing our commitment to exceeding our guests expectations. We will continue to strive to provide a fun, welcoming and safe environment for people to enjoy spending their time with us.

Will you have any special promotions to mark the reopening of the poker room?

Our popular football-based promos from last year are returning this year. Football squares and high hands every half during the football games. In addition to that we will also be running one of our fan favorites, $20 free to the first 8 players in the room every single day!

At what point do you foresee the room once again offering tournaments?

We hope to have tournaments returning towards the end of September or very early in October. I will be sure to keep you updated.

Anything else you would like to share with our readers?

I would like to thank the readers of Cardplayer Lifestyle for continuing to support the live poker industry. During the shutdown it was always very reassuring to read peoples positive messages of support for those of us in the industry. Knowing that people out there wanted us to return was definitely morale-boosting.

Following months without being to welcome people inside casinos, the beginning of June saw a change in Nevada state regulations. Las Vegas is known as the mecca of gambling and in early June, physical casinos were given the go ahead to reopen and it was great news for all those who rely on the industry. Poker rooms in the city were slow to open up, as only short-handed play was permitted. Since then, more rooms have opened up, as the permitted amount of players per table has increased.

However, following the long break without entering a casino, the question needs to be asked: are poker players still shunning physical casinos?

Empty tables at the WSOP

Using Las Vegas as an example, if you go back to June 2019 and compare the number of people visiting the city to June 2020, overall visitor numbers are down by 70.5%. These are official figures provided by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and provide a damning insight into where the casino industry is right now following COVID-19.

Many of the casinos in Las Vegas were closed for 70 days or more and when they reopened, it was with a limited capacity. The state of Nevada permitted all Las Vegas casinos to open only 50% of their total capacity, but they had little need to worry as the volume of people returning to the casinos was not going to trouble that figure.

Perhaps many of those who were considering a visit to the casinos of Las Vegas or anywhere else in the United States have opted to stay away and play online poker and casino games instead. During the lockdown, while land-based casinos were shut, online casinos and poker rooms of course remained open for business. Gamblers who were missing the thrill of playing at a physical casino may have opted for the online version to make up for the gap in their lives. It is even possible to enjoy online casino games with a real dealer, essentially replacing the need to go to a land based casino. You can read more on live casinos and find out exactly what they have to offer at Gamble USA.

Many land-based casinos, such as those in New Jersey, have opted to spend money on an advertising campaign to try and tempt people back to the casinos. In fact, looking at the statistics for July 2020 and comparing them to the same month last year shows a 21% drop in revenue. However, given the circumstances and the lower capacity restrictions, this is more than acceptable. Unsurprisingly, the figures for internet gambling were much improved this year in comparison to July 2019. However, the numbers coming out of New Jersey suggest people are willing to return to physical casinos and there is a bright future for both land based and online casinos.

I miss playing poker in Las Vegas.

In the grand scheme of everything happening in the world right now, vacationing and playing live poker are pretty minuscule on the list of priorities, but seeing my home away from home suffering through this awful standstill saddens me greatly.

A deep diatribe into economics, politics, medicine, science, and everything else associated with this awful time isn’t what you’re reading this for, and it certainly isn’t what I’m qualified to write about, so we’ll leave that for other outlets.

Plans for a return to casinos and poker tables are starting to float around, but they seem pretty far from the Vegas we know and love, and in some rumoured cases, pretty far away in time as well.

So, for now, this is simply a love letter to the casinos and poker rooms of Las Vegas (in alphabetical order), what I miss most about each of them, and what we can all look forward to coming back to; hopefully soon. The poker is a given, but these are some of the other cool and quirky things about each property that I’ve discovered over the years.

Aria

It’s only fitting that you’re first on this list, because you know you’re always at the top of my list when it comes to poker in Las Vegas. Others have tried, but no room has my heart like you do.

Besides just the outstanding poker room, I could write a whole article about why I love it at Aria. The gorgeous architecture, the luxurious guest rooms, the super cool vibe throughout, the pizza at Five50, the treats at the patisserie, and above all, the incredible staff — especially in the poker room.

And last, but not least… the watermelon juice. I mean, I’ve bought the Tropicana stuff here at home, but it’s not even close. That watermelon juice of yours is just something else!

My standard water / chips / juice formation at Aria

Bally’s

I miss that buffet grind.

Being able to drop in for a few hours mid-afternoon (or whenever), then head off to the Paris buffet next door on your dime is pretty sweet.

And speaking of sweet, rolling into It’Sugar in the Grand Bazzar shops outside? Oh yeah, my inner 6-year-old will always be down for a session, with a bag of jawbreakers in my pocket.

Bellagio

Ah, the home of Bobby’s Room. The elite of poker gather within your glamourous walls, and any fan of the game can play just steps away.

The very first time I played at Bellagio in the mid 2004, I bumped into Scotty Nguyen outside the room.

The Prince of Poker was cool enough to chat for a bit and take this pic with me, baby!

Since then, no Vegas trip is complete until I get a session in at Bellagio. The chance to play some $2/5 and brush shoulders with a poker legend as I walk across the room is something I’ll never pass up.

Binion’s

You were my first.

A lot has changed since I sat down in that WSOP satellite in 2004, but I’ll always love gazing at the Poker Hall of Fame photos, and walking past the Million Dollar horseshoe.

I know things are far from what they used to be, but each summer I’m still there, playing in your wonderfully structured tournament series.

It may sound like horror to some, but I proudly talk about the 15-hour day I spent at Binion’s playing razz. (You think the crowd on Fremont is interesting regularly? Try it at 5 am!)

And to be able to lay claim to two final tables in ‘the place where it all began’, that will always be special.

Boulder Station

We just met last fall on a whim, but you were unforgettable.

$4/8 Limit Omaha high. Good lord.

I suggested we make the game double-board, but that radical concept was quickly nuked by the regs who didn’t want a mockery made of their game. Okay, then.

Oh, and as for your giant-ass sign in the parking lot that turns night into day on the Boulder Strip? Holy moly, that thing is impressive.

Sunglasses at night in the Boulder Station parking lot? Mandatory.

Caesars Palace

I’m not quite sure what it is about you.

Maybe it’s Omnia right next door, or maybe it’s your high-traffic location smack dab in the middle of the strip, but some of the juiciest games, and most interesting characters I’ve met have been in your poker room. Some of the most fun, interesting and profitable sessions I’ve had have come at Caesars Palace.

But yeah, when the cards run cold, that people-watching outside Omnia is a top-notch diversion.

Excalibur

I love that you’re a throwback to simpler days of poker gone by. Just a smoky ‘ol pit in the middle of the casino floor, where every game feels like it’s 2005 again.

And who am I kidding? I’m hitting that Krispy Kreme upstairs at least a couple of times a session.

You may not be the hottest room on the strip, but don’t ever change. You just keep doing you.

Flamingo

You may not think it, because for whatever reason I rarely win there, but you know what? I love ya anyway.

I blame my lack of success on having too much fun thanks to various distractions.

There was the session where I was taught about those just-slightly-bigger-than-chip-sized bubbles on your tables, and the prop betting they naturally lead to.

10 tries to slide a chip completely inside a bubble. Think you can do it?

At Flamingo, I learned how many chips wide 1 poker chip is. Take a guess! (Answer below)

There have been sessions where I’ve just blasted off for fun in that $2/4 limit game to kill time before getting into another game. The folks there just LOOOOVE the young guy coming in and 3- and 4-betting them regularly.

via GIPHY

*So, how many chips did you guess? The answer is 12! (sometimes 13 actually if they’re old and worn down)*

Golden Nugget

I miss the best low buy-in tournament series in Las Vegas, The Grand.

That schedule, man oh man! For $200, you too could sit in a No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw tourney with Greg Raymer! Cool beans.

As for your actual poker room, I haven’t done this, but if I ever want to drop $10k onto the table in a $1/2 No-limit hold ‘em game, I can!

Oh and one more thing, one of these days I’m going to stay a couple of nights in the hotel for no reason other than to spend a day at your awesome pool, riding down the water slide over and over and over and over and….

Green Valley Ranch

Last year, I had the worst summer of tournament results in my poker career.

I bricked everything. Everything. Not one result.

Oh, and the cash games? Yup, got wrecked there, too. A 6-month downswing in two weeks. Oof.

But before I flew home, tail tucked between my legs, feeling like crap and hating poker, I paid you a visit, and it was exactly what I needed.

The friendly faces and banter of the locals. The feeling of being in a poker room that wasn’t flooded by every poker-playing tourist from around the world. It was a different world.

I felt calmer than I had all trip. I had fun, I chatted with the players and the staff. It was great.

And while in that great mood, the winnings piled up. I racked up four buy-ins before the day was done.

I drove to the airport with my faith in poker renewed. I returned home and went on an upswing that lasted the rest of the year.

Thanks for that, GVR.

Harrah’s

I’ll admit, I’ve had my reservations about you for the last little while, and I’m sorry.

I stayed with you for the first time in years last fall, and I’ve gotta say, I love what you’ve done with the place! Your room renovations are outstanding, and a great value. So naturally I played a couple of sessions in the poker room.

Laid-back atmosphere, casual, fun, appealing to recreational players. Well those are all good things! Drinks flowed, pots were splashed, chips were stacked, and good times were had.

Oh, and White Castle is just steps away.

via GIPHY

Mandalay Bay

You may be a bit out of the way down at the south end of the strip, but your property and poker room are definitely worth making the effort for.

I love the warm, classy vibe your little room gives off. Like a cozy little nook of poker.

And if a break from the wannabe sharks at the table is needed, the real thing is just a short walk away in the Shark Reef Aquarium! One of the coolest tilt-walk destinations you could ask for.

MGM Grand

I miss those chairs.

I’m telling you, people, if you’ve spent the day exploring the Las Vegas Strip and need to take a load off, drop in for a session at MGM Grand. Best chairs in a poker room I’ve ever been in.

Mirage

Ever since that inaugural trip to Vegas when I pulled my first all-night session and had to be dragged out by my then girlfriend, you’ve had a special place in my heart.

I know things aren’t the same as when Mike McD mused about “Vegas and the F***ing Mirage”, but your little room and the Mirage itself are still classics in my books.

Oh, and if there’s a Golden Knights game on and I feel like playing, I know where I’m going.

Golden Knights splash pots at the Mirage

Orleans

Any mixed game player out there loves you. I know I do.

You’re the mortal nuts year-round for small stakes mixed tourneys, regular Omaha 8 cash games, and a great summer tourney series.

And after a rough session of repeatedly getting your Ace-deuce counterfeited, what better tilt-buster than firing off a few frames in the bowling alley upstairs!

The welcoming committee at the Orleans

Palace Station

Look, I’m not going to lie to you. I’m using you for your Oyster Bar.

But since I don’t really fire in the pit or play slots, you’ll find me in the poker room making that oyster money between sessions of shucking and slurping.

Seriously though, the Oyster Bar at Palace Station is freakin’ amazing for oysters and other seafood.

Planet Hollywood

Day or night, you’re bringing something cool to the table.

Nowhere else in Vegas can I wake up, go to a casino, have a (decent) $5 breakfast, play a few hours, then have a (really good) $5 lunch.

I’m not going to spill the entire secret, but with a little research, you can discover these gems inside the adjacent Miracle Mile Shops.

Then at night PH, it’s go-time!

I know a lot of people generally prefer a quieter room with sounds of chips riffling, some banter, and the occasional bad-beat outburst. Yah, that’s cool and all, but sometimes, I want the party!

I want the music pumping on the casino floor. I want the flashing lights. I want the go-go dancers swaying above the nearby blackjack tables.

A nighttime poker session at PH is really like nothing else in Vegas, and it might be the most fun you’ll ever have at a table.

Red Rock

Oh, Red Rock Canyon. You are beautiful.

Okay, look. If for whatever reason you’ve only ever been to the Strip or Fremont Street while visiting Las Vegas, let me tell you, you’re missing out. I made this mistake for far too long.

The first time I rented a car and drove west through lovely Summerlin, past the edge of the city limits and into the desert, it was mind-blowing. And the fact that one of the nicest casinos to play poker in is just minutes away? What a combination!

Trust me on this one. A morning hike, followed by a profitable enough session to pay for the car rental plus a meal and a beer at the Yard House afterward? Chef’s kiss of a day right there.

Rio (During the WSOP)

It’s true. You don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.

Right now, I’d happily freeze my ass off in the Amazon room, endure the full-court press from the phone charger guys in your hallowed hallways, and battle huge lines for well, pretty much everything.

Hell, I’d even play in the storage closet / bowling alley just to see you again. (Congrats, by the way, on wresting the name ‘Ivey’s Room’ away from Aria with that one.)

With maybe just one more WSOP within your walls, that might just feel as special as my first one.

I hope everyone appreciates you a little more once we’re all finally back.

Sahara

There was nowhere I was looking forward to visiting more.

We’ve flirted online, I’ve seen your pictures; you’ve teased me mercilessly.

Players rave about your staff, the games and the promotions. I’m even told your chairs are comfier than MGM Grand! I need to know for myself, and I can’t wait.

But since I haven’t actually played poker in that brand-new room yet, and these stories are about what I miss about you…

Well from Northside Café’s decadent breakfasts to Bazaar Meat’s incredible steaks; oh do I eat well when I stay at Sahara! That walk down the Strip doesn’t seem so daunting when you know you have 10,000 calories of delicious meals to burn off.

On top of that, your beds are the comfiest ever, your pools are chill and fun, and your casino floor and bars are just sexy as hell. You truly are a hidden gem right in the open, up at the top of the Strip.

And now you have a groovy little poker room too. I can’t wait.

The #SAHARALasVegas poker room is looking mighty fine this #SuperBowl Coming soon… pic.twitter.com/DX7gcJaL9Q

— SAHARA Las Vegas (@SAHARALasVegas) February 3, 2020

Sam’s Town

Oh, the sights you’ve seen.

As a poker geek fascinated by the history of the game, when I heard about what’s happened within your walls, I had to pay you a visit.

Everyone may know that Bobby’s Room is home of the big game. But when Bobby Baldwin was president of Bellagio in the early 2000s and wanted to play in that game, he couldn’t because it might have been perceived as a conflict of interest.

That’s where you come in. The game would be relocated to this classic old Boulder Strip casino to accommodate Baldwin.

On my visit last fall, I embraced the old-school, rough-around-the-edges feel of your casino and historic poker room. It was like a trip back in time, right down to the classic slot machines lining the back wall near the poker room.

Anybody got a pocketful of change for this baby?

I loved your history and was pleasantly surprised by the mystery bounty tournament that drew one of the better fields I’d seen for a daily Las Vegas tourney!

And if the Killers like you enough to name an album after you? Well you’re okay by me!

South Point

I’m always going to have a soft spot for you because of your equestrian / rodeo arena. I had a helluva fun day there a few years back, and I’m certainly not going to blame you for an unfortunate incident in the stables. That was my own stupidity for going back there in flip-flops. But I digress…

Thank you for embracing the MUGs! Andrew Neeme and Brad Owen’s meetup games have found a happy Las Vegas home within your walls, and have been more successful than ever, with a big assist from you!

Your room is always bouncing for the boys, and I hope to get back there for more bomb pots and shenanigans ASAP!

Venetian

Hi there. it’s been a while. Like, Black Friday a while. (Hi Sheldon.)

I know a lot of players still like your poker room, and I’ve read that you’ve been pretty good to your employees through all this.

So, for all of them, I wish you well.

Westgate

You’re so eager to please, and anyone that knows that absolutely loves you for it!

The nonsense your staff put up with on a night last summer, when a group of knuckleheaded mixed game players basically hijacked your room, your dealers, your servers, your massage therapists, everyone. And you loved it all and asked if there was more you could do!

You accommodated in spades when Robbie hosted his meetup game, and have been amazing hosts for other meetup games as well.

Fun times were had (even with Robbie on my direct left…)

Oh, and you’re also the home of this little beauty…

Yup, that’s a donut with Fruity Pebbles on top. Yabba dabba doo!

And finally, three simple words: World’s. Largest. Sportsbook.

You rock, Westgate.

Wynn

Damn. I mean, just look at you.

Where else can a small stakes player feel like they’re playing in a glamourous high-stakes area?

I feel my t-shirt and jeans transform into a tuxedo when I step inside. My sneakers refashion themselves into patent leather Oxfords. My beer morphs into a martini (although I guess I could just order a martini).

I can only speak as a visitor, and not one of the fortunate folks who can play there regularly, but I feel special when playing at the Wynn.

—

So yeah, I miss you Vegas.

A lot has changed over the 16+ years we’ve known each other, and things will definitely be changing again, no time more than in the very near future.

I know it won’t be like it was for a while, and that’s okay. It’s for the best. In time, you’ll be back.

For now, I’ll be keeping a close eye on you from afar. Watching you return to your glorious, beautiful self.

I’ll be eagerly awaiting my return to you, and your return to the world.

Love,

Mike