Las Vegas hosts 17 live poker rooms. Poker at Caesars Palace is temporarily closed. While Caesars Entertainment has a history of announcing temporary poker room closures that become permanent, industry followers expect this one to return by the time the World Series of Poker starts. Sahara closed its poker room in late 2024.
Large poker rooms like Venetian, Bellagio, Aria, The Orleans, South Point, and MGM Grand get most of the attention. However, many smaller rooms are typically friendlier and feel more like a home game where regulars meet up for social games away from the serious ones found at major Las Vegas Strip and locals casinos. The list below shows the five smallest Las Vegas poker rooms where this type of action exists.
Skyline – Two Tables
Skyline is home to the smallest Las Vegas poker room. This Boulder Highway casino offers just two tables. The only cash game that runs is 2/4 fixed limit Texas hold’em. It has a $3 max rake, the lowest in the Las Vegas Valley. It is the last Las Vegas poker room that deals a 2/4 fixed-limit game.
The Skyline poker room opens at 6pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. It is dark Sunday through Wednesday. Skyline does not deal tournaments. All action is at cash games.
It is tough to get into the Skyline poker games. It is full of dedicated regulars who reserve seats days in advance. Plan ahead if you would like to play. If you cannot get into a game, you can enjoy dozens of old coin video poker and slot machines and $5 or $10 3/2 blackjack at this friendly locals casino.
Poker Palace – Seven Tables
Poker Palace is another locals poker room far from the Las Vegas Strip. It is on Las Vegas Blvd in North Las Vegas near Nellis Air Force Base.
Poker Palace specializes in tournaments at its seven-table room. One starts at 6:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 1pm on Sundays. The buy-in is $25 on Fridays and Saturdays and $30 on Sundays. Re-buys are $20 and add-ons $10 for all Poker Palace tournaments.
Cash games often run after the tournaments. The main game is 1/2 no-limit hold’em with a $60 minimum buy-in. Like Skyline, Poker Palace has a $3 max rake. The poker room is closed Monday through Thursday.
Westgate – Seven Tables
Westgate is just off the Las Vegas Strip. It is known for its Superbook sportsbook, one of the largest in the world. Its seven-table poker room is located in the Superbook. It opens at noon Monday through Friday. On weekends, cards go in the air at 10am. This helps bring football bettors into the room for better action.
The main cash game is 1/3 no-limit hold’em. Higher limit and mixed games are dealt occasionally. Westgate deals four daily tournaments. All are no-limit hold’em. Buy-ins range from $45 to $65. All offer re-buys.
Boulder Station – Ten Tables
Boulder Station is on Boulder Highway southeast of downtown Las Vegas. Its 10-table poker room specializes in limit Omaha hi. Most Omaha games are 4/8. An 8/16 game might break out during busy hours. Other options are 3/6 and 4/8 limit hold’em and 1/2 no limit hold’em.
Cash games are dealt 24 hours a day. Poker tournaments are not available.
Mandalay Bay – Ten Tables
At 10 tables, Mandalay Bay has the smallest poker room on the Las Vegas Strip. It is open 11am to 3am daily, except on Tuesdays when it is dark. The main game is 1/2 no-limit hold’em. A bigger game may be available during peak hours. No-limit hold’em tournaments are offered daily at 1pm and 8pm. The buy-in is $60, except it is $100 on Saturday nights.
The Mandalay Bay poker room is now near the tram escalators. Its former location is now a BetMGM Lounge as it is connected to the sportsbook.
Last Updated on February 23, 2025 by John Mehaffey
