The greatest poker series in the world – the World Series of Poker – takes place in Las Vegas. And there are other major poker events throughout the year in Vegas such as the World Poker Tour. When you come to Las Vegas to play poker, you’re going to be in for a treat. You won’t have to drive far to find a game. Poker Palace is a small North Las Vegas poker room. It is open on Friday and Saturday nights for a 6:30pm no limit Texas Hold’em tournament. A cash game sometimes appears when.

If you're like a lot of poker players who will be at the World Series of Poker this summer, you'll be seeking out the cash games not only at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, but elsewhere in Las Vegas, too.

I thought it would be worthwhile to give players an idea of what to expect with regard to both the rake and comps offered at other Las Vegas cash rooms. I've put all of this information together in one chart below for your easy review when you go to Las Vegas. This way, you'll know the rooms that give you the best value while you play, showing you where you'll pay the least and earn the most.

Most casual players pay little or no attention to the cost of playing poker. But there is a cost, as we serious players know. It's called the 'rake' — the amount that the house takes out of every pot. Sometimes the rake is the difference between a player winning or losing money in a public poker room.

The lowest rake in Las Vegas at this time is $3 maximum per pot, while the highest is $5 maximum.

Not all rooms rake the same amount. The lowest rake in Las Vegas at this time is $3 maximum per pot, while the highest is $5 maximum.

Similarly, many rooms offer players compensation for playing poker in their casino. It's generally not nearly as much as they offer to players who want to play 'house advantage' games like blackjack, slots or craps. But it can add up, with some rooms paying considerably more in 'comps' than others.

Some poker rooms offer nothing at all to players, while others offer as much as $2 per hour. Most pay around $1 an hour or thereabouts.

At face value, it might seem like the rake and comps are too insignificant to make much of a difference. But think about this. A room that charges a $5 maximum rake is charging 25 percent more than a room that charges a $4 maximum rake. Similarly, a room that gives players $2 an hour in comps is paying 100 percent more than a room that pays only $1 an hour to its players.

Some practices regarding the rake are fairly standard from room to room. All rooms take out the rake at roughly 10 percent increments. Nearly all follow the rule that there is no rake if the betting ends before the flop (a.k.a., the 'no flop, no drop' rule).

In the chart below, I refer to the maximum or cap on the rake. Meanwhile the comps refer to the amount per hour that a player earns that can usually be used on hotel rooms, beverages and food. Some places also allow comps to be spent on other casino merchandise.

Keep in mind that just as rooms change the games they spread, they also change their rake and comps from time to time. If you want to be certain about the most current information about each room, I suggest you check with them directly beforehand.

One other note about the rake. Most rooms offer bad beat jackpots and/or other promotions. These promotions are nearly always paid for by the players with additional 'jackpot drops.' Though this money is returned to the players, it still comes out of the pot, and it may reasonably be considered additional rake by some.

I am not considering these jackpot drops when listing the maximum rake below, since promotions and drops change too frequently for me to be sure what will be in place when you play. That's something else to keep in mind, though, as you choose where you want to go play when venturing outside the Rio this summer.

*changing systems soon and will go to two tier comps, $1 or $2 depending on rating card.

_{Lead image c/o Kyle Peyton/Flickr, Las Vegas photo copyrights Moyan Brenn}

Ashley Adams has been playing poker for 50 years and writing about it since 2000. He is the author of hundreds of articles and two books, Winning 7-Card Stud (Kensington 2003) and Winning No-Limit Hold'em (Lighthouse 2012). He is also the host of poker radio show House of Cards. See www.houseofcardsradio.com for broadcast times, stations, and podcasts.

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There were 31 Las Vegas poker rooms before the closure. So far, 19 have reopened.

The four casinos that opened poker rooms the first weekend were Golden Nugget, Orleans, South Point and Venetian. Five more followed later in June and in July. August brought six more rooms online.

Gaming regulations originally only permitted four players per table. South Point led the way in getting that increased to five. All Las Vegas poker rooms are now spreading at least seven-handed games. Most offer eight-handed games. Bally’s poker room opened with nine seats, the highest in Las Vegas, but later dropped to eight seats.

On June 17, Nevada gaming regulators added a requirement for masks at table games that later included all casino patrons. Las Vegas poker players must wear a mask. Most Las Vegas poker tables have partitions to separate player seats.

Aria

The Aria poker room opened with the casino on July 1. It will use 15 of its tables. These are partitioned so eight players may be seated per game. The standard Aria cash games are spread. There is one daily tournament.

Bally’s

The Bally’s poker room reopened on September 25. It deals 1/3 no limit Hold’em and 3/6 fixed limit Hold’em. There are regular tournament series dealt at Bally’s. There are nine seats per table.

Bellagio

Bellagio opened its poker room at 10am on June 18. Tables have eight seats and partitions. Cash games include Texas Hold’em, Omaha, stud and mixed games. The Bellagio poker room is open 24 hours a day.

Boulder Station

Boulder Station reopened its poker room on August 3. It is home to Omaha Hi in Las Vegas. It also spreads no limit and fixed limit Texas Hold’em.

Caesars Palace

Caesars Palace’s poker room is open 24 hours a day. Cash games are 1/2 and 2/5 no limit Texas Hold’em. It also deals four daily tournaments. It seats eight players per table.

Flamingo

The Flamingo poker room reopened on July 2. It deals no limit and fixed limit Texas Hold’em. It is open 10am to 4am Thursday through Monday. Promotions include high hands and an hourly freeroll. It has four tournaments Thursday through Sunday. There are eight seats per table.

Golden Nugget

Golden Nugget was the fourth poker room to open in Las Vegas after the COVID-19 closure. Cash games of no limit and fixed limit Texas Hold’em are spread. The max rake is $4. There is a $1 jackpot drop. The room is open 24 hours. There are eight seats at tables.

MGM Grand

MGM Grand’s poker room reopened on July 3. It is open from 4pm to 4am Thursday through Sunday. It is closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The tables are eight-handed with plexiglass dividers.

Orleans

The poker room at Orleans opened with the casino on June 4. It is open 24 hours daily. The rake is capped at $4. The Orleans poker room has the widest variety of cash games. These include no limit Texas Hold’em, fixed limit Texas Hold’em, pot limit Omaha, fixed limit Omaha hi/lo and fixed limit Omaha Hi. There are two daily tournaments.

Planet Hollywood

Planet Hollywood reopened its poker room on October 16. It hosts ten tables. There are eight seats at each. The main games are 1/2 and 2/5 no limit Texas Hold’em. It is open noon to 4am Thursday through Sunday.

Poker Palace

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Poker Palace is a small North Las Vegas poker room. It is open on Friday and Saturday nights for a 6:30pm no limit Texas Hold’em tournament. A cash game sometimes appears when the tournament concludes.

Red Rock Resort

Red Rock Resort is the only poker room in the Summerlin area of Las Vegas. It reopened on August 3. It spreads mostly fixed limit and no limit Texas Hold’em. Tournaments have not returned to its poker room. There are eight seats per table.

Sahara

The Sahara poker room reopened on June 18. It is home to mostly no limit Texas Hold’em and mixed games. The rake is capped at $4. There is a $1 jackpot drop. The hours are 4pm to 2am during the week and noon to 4am on Saturday and Sunday. The Sahara poker room will remain open if there is a game running. There are seven seats per table.

Santa Fe Station

Santa Fe Station is one of three Station Casinos poker rooms that reopened on August 3. It deals no limit and fixed limit Texas Hold’em, as well as Omaha Hi/Lo. It is in the far northwest part of the Las Vegas Valley. There are eight seats per table.

Silver Sevens

Silver Sevens offers one live poker table in its table game pit. It is usually a 2/4 fixed limit Hold’em game.

South Point

South Point’s poker room, the last to close before the shutdown, opened with the casino on June 4. It operates 24 hours a day. Games are eight-handed. The cash games offered are no limit Hold’em, fixed limit Hold’em and pot limit Omaha. There is a large variety of promotions available. It deals four daily tournaments.

Venetian

Venetian was the first poker room to announce its return. However, it opened the day after the rest of the casino did. Tables are eight-handed.

Venetian offers cash games and single table tournaments. The hours are 9am to 3am daily.

Venetian offers a wide variety of tournaments. This includes some daily ones and tournament series. According to Bravo Poker, the main cash games are no limit Texas Hold’em and pot limit Omaha.

Westgate

The Westgate poker room reopened on September 10. It opens at 4pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays and 10am on weekend days. It is dark Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The Westgate poker room is located in the sportsbook area. Tables are eight-handed.

Wynn

The Wynn poker room reopened on September 30. It was moved from Encore to Wynn. It is home to no limit Hold’em, pot limit Omaha and mixed games. There is a daily no limit Hold’em tournament. Plexiglass partitions are at all 24 tables, allowing for eight seats at each.

Las Vegas reopening poker room FAQ

How many poker rooms are open in Las Vegas?

There are 19 open poker rooms as of March 6, 2021.

Are Station Casinos poker rooms reopening?

Station Casinos reopened poker rooms at Boulder Station, Red Rock Resort and Santa Fe Station on August 3, 2020.

Are there poker tournaments in Las Vegas right now?

Yes. About half of Las Vegas poker rooms have brought back tournaments.

Is smoking permitted in Las Vegas poker rooms?

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No Las Vegas poker rooms permit smoking.

Are masks required at Las Vegas poker tables?

Yes. Masks inside casinos are mandated by a governor’s order.

Are there partitions at Las Vegas poker tables?

In most cases, yes. Any poker room with more than six seats at the table has partitions.

Which Las Vegas poker rooms are still closed?

Binion’s, Cannery, Club Fortune, Excalibur, Green Valley Ranch, Harrah’s, Mandalay Bay, Mirage, Palace Station, Rio, Sam’s Town and Skyline have not reopened poker rooms that closed due to the pandemic.

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Last updated: March 7, 2021