Poker Rooms - Evaluation and Ranking

Theres just no absolute ranking. One poker room is not "Better" than another poker room to all people. Each person would have different features that attract them more than another. Its very subjective, based on what that person likes. For example, if a player wants BIG games (30-60 or 10-20 NL) then hes only going to like the Bellagio and a couple other places. If he only knows how to play 1-2 NL, then Harrahs in St Louis has everything he wants.

Heres what I like;


Beatable Games 50% -- This is my most important factor. If the games are too tough, or way too tight, or the rake too high, then I'm just not going to play there. A large supply of bad players is a must for a great poker room.


Number and Variety of Games 20% -- Closely related to the above. If a poker room only had one table going, thats no good. If they had many tables of only one game, then thats a little better, but not much. I like to be able to get a table change if my table is not good, or change limits or change games. Ideal is the Mirage or Wynn in Las Vegas where they have multiple tables going of multiple limits. Horseshoe in Tunica is good too.


Room Environment 20% -- These are the things completely under control of the casino and the poker room. Clean chips, size and comfort of the table and chairs, skill and politeness of staff and dealers, cocktail service, overall decor, noise level, smoke level from the casino, closeness to parking, comps for poker play,


Goofball Factor 10% -- This is bothering me more and more the last couple years. Are the other players reasonably clean and polite? Or are they rude, talking too loud, talking when they should be quiet, etc etc. Watching poker on TV coupled with some youthful immaturity has sure made many people hard to put up with in poker rooms. These guys are usually at the 1-2 NL tables, but can be found anywhere. Some poker rooms have a large number of them -- MGM, Ballys, Flamingo, and Bellagio in Las Vegas. Harrahs in St Louis.



So theres my factors, and heres my ranking of the best:

1. Mirage, Las Vegas. Almost perfect. 30+ tables, multiple games at multiple limits, plus an Omaha game and often 7Stud. Beautiful decor and equipment. Skillful dealers and excellent management. Only negatives are; the tables are now 9 handed, sometimes a slow cocktail service and comps are limited to one every 3 days.


2. Wynn, Las Vegas. Beautiful. 30+ tables, multiple games at multiple limits, plus a mixed game and some Omaha. Games a little better than Mirage. Comps earned at hourly rate by swiping card. Best access from parking garage to poker room of any poker room in Las Vegas.


3. Horseshoe, Tunica. Everybody loves this place. 16 tables, multiple games at multiple limits. Games can be outstanding. Meal comps, etc all there for the asking.


4. Mandalay Bay. Las Vegas. Beautiful casino and poker room. Game selection limited, but games are usually good. This poker room seems to make an effort to week out nasty undesireables.



Now, for some I don't like:


President, St Louis. Dirty. Yucky tables and chairs and really nasty chips. Pretty bad customer service. Other players are not the ones you would like to hang around with. Oh well, its only in business for another few months.

Venetian, Las Vegas. Looks like they are going to become just another NL room. Beautiful place though.

Caesars, Las Vegas. Virtually all NL now. A couple 3-6 games going and thats it. Just started a bad beat jackpot drop - how silly.

Harrahs, St Louis. Such a pretty place with 30 tables. But they have been operating it so you really only have two choices; 3-6 or 1-2NL. There are usuall a couple 2-5 NL tables and a 30-60 game. Having 20+ of their tables and 75% of their players in 3-6 and 1-2NL sure makes sense from a business standpoint, but you are really stuck as a player.

Bellagio, Las Vegas. Epicenter of world poker for the last 9 years. Low limit (4-8 and 8-16) players get treated like the scummy dogs they are. Only a couple tables of these two games now and they are crowded over into a corner. Very cramped. Ask for 1-2 NL and you get cuffed backhand in the mouth with a sneer; "Sir, this is The Bellagio, We don't have 1-2 NL". Always very long wait lists for all games. Like Yogi said, "Nobody goes there anymore, its too crowded."

MGM Grand, Las Vegas. Dark, noisy - I don't get it. Games can be great late night, though.

Un-named generic Las Vegas poker room on the Strip. And theres a dozen of them - many are Harrahs properties. These allow the casino to say they do have a poker room. Most will have a 2-4 table and a 1-2 NL table. Mostly a waste of time to play in them. Upcoming industry consolidation should close many of them. Better for all of us.

Locals Casino poker rooms in Las Vegas. I've about had it with these too. Usually a little nitty, and the players all know each other. You know the casinos; Orleans, Gold Coast, Sams Town, Palace Station, etc. The Station and Coast companies have each opened a new upscale property (RedRock and Green Valley Ranch) and these are much nicer.

Any Isle of Capri casino. Seen one - seen em all.



And some poker rooms that rate in the middle:


Ameristar, St Louis. They are making an effort to spread different games. Hotel is almost done.

Red Rock, Las Vegas. Very nice and new big room. Mostly locals play there, and they just raised their rake to 5, plus 1 for jackpot.

Gold Strike, Tunica. I really like to stay and play here, but all they have is 3-6 (and sometimes 3-6 Omaha) unless its January tourney time or a big holiday weekend. Staff is great, comps are great.

TI, Las Vegas. A fun little room. Sometimes has a rocking mixed game.