Poker is among the most popular casino games in the world. While Las Vegas attracts all kinds of gamblers, poker players are unique in the level of skill and strategy that they need to develop in order to be able to play the game well. As a result, the biggest poker tournaments in the world attract some of the biggest names in the game.
In addition to the relatively small number of professional gamblers who come to Las Vegas, there are also a huge number of amateur players. Many of the biggest poker tournaments in Las Vegas attract players, not because they offer them a small chance to win millions of dollars, but because they bring in such large numbers of lower level players who are looking to make their mark.
The following poker tournaments are some of the biggest in Las Vegas in terms of the number of people who show up to enter. Many of these tournaments are run daily and have no trouble filling the casino halls each and every day. If you are a poker hopeful who wants to compete at the highest levels of the game, then these are the tournaments that you need to know about.
Aria Resort and Casino
With a massive 24-table room in which to play poker and other card games, the ARIA Resort and Casino is one of the most popular casinos on the strip. Being easily accessible and busy throughout the year, the ARIA provides a variety of options for players. There is a multitude of tournaments and cash prizes for players to win. See some poker sites on Fliptroniks.
Not only is the ARIA popular with punters in Vegas, but it is also the site of many of the biggest poker tournaments in the world. Among the big tournaments that are contended here are the World Poker Tour and the Super High Roller Bowl. Both of these tournaments bring in some of the biggest names in poker today.
Tournaments are held at 1pm and 7pm Monday to Thursday and at 11am and 7pm on Friday and the weekend. The buy-in for the Monday to Thursday games is $140, while the Friday, Saturday and Sunday games are $240 buy-ins.
Bally’s Hotel & Casino
Bally’s is another popular high-end casino on the Las Vegas Strip. There are a number of tournament games available here that cater to all levels of player. The daily $500 guaranteed tournaments have a buy-in of $60. These tournaments are run every day at 9 am, 3 am, 5 pm and 11 pm. At noon each day, there is a $1,000 guaranteed tournament with a $75 buy-in and finally, there is a $2,000 guaranteed game with a $100 buy-in at 8 pm every day.
The average turnout for a tournament at Bally’s is somewhere in the region of 20-30 players. Bally’s is also known as a friendly location for new and inexperienced players, so if you haven’t played a tournament before, then this is a good place to start.
Bellagio
The casino hosts daily tournaments which begin at 2 pm with a minimum buy-in of $130. There is an average of 40 to 50 participants in each tournament, so you need to be pretty confident in order to enter. Big names who regularly appear at the Bellagio include Doyle Brunson and Eli Elezra. Bellagio is known as one of the best venues to play card games in, owing to its large capacity of 40 individual tables.
The casino itself is very easy to access using the Las Vegas public transport system. Alternatively, you can walk here from many of the other nearby casinos. Bellagio features large crowds every single day and is the host of a range of events every year, including the daily tournaments.
Binion’s Gambling Hall
Binion’s gambling hall is perhaps most famous for being the birthplace of the biggest poker tournament of them all, the World Series of Poker. The ambience in Binion is that of a classic casino; this is another reason why it is so popular with players of all skill levels and from all backgrounds. There are several tournaments hosted at the casino. The million-dollar wall, as it is known, contains photos of all the most famous poker players to have won the World Series of Poker, including Doyle Brunson and Stu Ungar.
Tournaments are hosted every day at 1 pm and 8 pm. There is a $60 buy-in with the option of rebuying at $20. There is an average of 35-40 people that enter the tournaments every day, so there is plenty of competition. You can also treat yourself to some of the best food in Las Vegas here.
Caesar’s Palace
This is one of the most instantly recognisable names in the whole casino industry. So, it’s fitting that it also hosts one of the most popular tournaments in all of Vegas. There is an average of 55-60 competitors who compete in the daily tournaments at Caesar’s Palace and the stakes are higher than many other daily tournaments.
To get a seat at a table in Caesar’s huge 16-table, 4,500 square-foot poker room, you will need to put down at least $100 with $1,000 guaranteed, or $125 with $1,500 guaranteed, or you can dive in at the deep end with a $150 buy-in for a $2,000 guaranteed game.
Other Options
As with any city, Las Vegas is a constantly evolving place. As a result, there are bound to be new tournaments being drawn up all the time and many casinos will change their offerings to suit shifts in the demographics of the market itself. You can check out this list of some of the biggest poker tournaments in Vegas for a more comprehensive run-down of all the tournaments that any Vegas fan needs to know about.
There are plenty of tournaments for players to choose from in Las Vegas. No matter what your prior experience or skill level, there are plenty of big tournaments that welcome ambitious beginners. Just make sure you do your research beforehand.