So you’re going to try your luck at poker at a casino. Where should you go? Well, in this Golden Age of poker, you have a lot of options, whether you’re in California, Nevada, or New Jersey. Here are a few good possibilities.
1. The Bellagio
The Bellagio, in Las Vegas, is every poker player’s dream casino. The casino itself is gorgeous and palatial, more reminiscent of a sprawling European estate than a spot for tourists to try their hand at blackjack. Featuring one of the largest and nicest poker rooms in Las Vegas, this casino holds the World Poker Tour’s Championship event and is regularly host to the “Big Game” where the country’s greatest poker professionals lock horns at stakes as high as $4000/$8000 limits. They cater to more reasonable limits as well; if $3/$6 Hold`em, Stud, or $100 buy in No Limit is your game, there’s a seat for you at the Bellagio poker room.
2. The Venetian
In April of 2006, the Venetian is opening a 10,500 square foot poker room which they promise will be not only the largest, but the most beautiful and technologically advanced in Las Vegas. The room will feature 39 poker tables for Texas Hold`em, Seven Card Stud and Omaha, food service and 21 Playslot large screen plasma televisions. It is sure to be a one of a kind poker experience.
3. The Borgata
The Borgata hotel and casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey is the first casino in Atlantic City built with the poker player in mind. The poker room is spacious and attractive and easy to read computerized screens show you how soon your seat will be available. The Borgata is host to the World Poker Tour’s Winter Poker Open and has daily, reasonably priced poker tournaments.
4. The Bicycle Casino
The Bicycle Casino, or simply “The Bike” in Los Angeles, California is one of the oldest and most popular card rooms in the state. The Bike is host to the World Poker Tour’s Legends of Poker event and regularly holds exciting tournament series with buy-ins ranging from $200 to $10,000. They also hold daily tournaments for as little as $20. The Bike recently expanded its No-Limit section and now features “Live at the Bike,” a “TV Table” of sorts, where the play is webcast on the Bicycle Casino website.
5. Commerce Casino
Commerce Casino, also in Los Angeles, is one of the most famous casinos in the world. It is home to the World Poker Tour’s L.A. Poker Classic and the Poker Hall of Fame. It’s also the casino where you’re most likely to meet a celebrity. If you want to rub elbows at the table with James Woods, Lou Diamond Phillips, or Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss, you’ll want to stop by Commerce. Commerce has a whole floor dedicated to tournament play and two huge rooms for cash games, one side for high limit and one for lower limits. They feature Hold`em, Omaha and Stud at virtually any limit you can think of.
Poker is becoming more and more popular every day and these casinos give you a poker experience you’ll never forget. If you get a chance, try to get to all of them.