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Social / Tourist Friendly Poker Rooms

Discussion in 'The Poker Room' started by RTG10, Sep 23, 2015.

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  1. RTG10

    RTG10 Tourist

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    Hi Guys,

    Both myself and my wife are heading to Vegas in November and we both (separately) love to play Poker online. We would both fancy playing a bit of live tournament poker but worry about being stuck with a cluster of hardcore locals when we would want to be having a few drinks and having more of a social experience. Do any such tournaments / poker rooms exist? I'd love to know if there are some rooms that tend to appeal more to tourists / friendly in nature as opposed to be sat for 4 hours with everyone wearing headphones.

    Appreciate any advice! Thanks in advance!

    Rich
     
  2. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    Wherever the fish are, the sharks will follow.

    I've never seen people having fun at the poker table.
     
  3. NeonTurtle14

    NeonTurtle14 I Run the Vegas Hotdog Stand

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    The nicer/bigger rooms tend to have better and more serious players. I would avoid those rooms if you are trying to avoid sharks and stiffs :) (Wynn, Aria, Bellagio, Venetian...)

    I would look for some of the smaller rooms in some of the lower-mid tier properties - they tend to get a lot of drunk tourists and soft, fun games. Luxor, Flamingo, Linq, PH are a few which come to mind.
     
  4. bta15

    bta15 Tourist

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    Like others have said avoid the Venetian, aria, Wynn bellagio rooms if you don't want the grinder filled atmosphere.

    I think generally tournaments with smaller buyins (say less than $300) will be more rec player friendly than cash games.

    I've had good luck with social games at MGM Grand and some of the CET properties mentioned in the post above.
     
  5. RTG10

    RTG10 Tourist

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    Thanks guys, I'm staying at PH (Comped for 6 nights) and Cosmo (Paid for 4) so will probably go for a PH tourney even if they have moved their room to be in the open now (not a fan). Thinking an $80 buy in probably isn't meaty enough for a High Roller / shark to hang around for?
     
  6. NeonTurtle14

    NeonTurtle14 I Run the Vegas Hotdog Stand

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    Correct, the low prize pool and small stack / quick blinds would be a turnoff for most. Probably get a couple of regs/locals but mainly a soft fun (read: drunk, there to have fun) field.
     
  7. kps

    kps High-Roller

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    I've had fun and success at Planet Hollywood's poker tables. Harrah's the times I have played there seemed very laid back and were mostly people staying there like I was.
     
  8. marsdude

    marsdude High-Roller

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    The Monte Carlo has a nice tourney schedule and a friendly room. I played the morning tourneys for the last few days and we all had a great time at the table. $50 for $6,000 chips and 20 min blinds. Not too bad of a structure.
     
  9. mjames1229

    mjames1229 # of visits includes only trips w/ hotel stays

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    I went a few weeks ago and my buddies and I played 9 poker tournaments (priced from $40 + $20 add-on at Monte Carlo to $75 at Harrahs) in four days. Our adventures are in my trip report.

    Note that all of these games are playable by those looking for a good time, though South Point and Orleans had more locals and seemed to be a little more serious than the others.
     
    USBC Nationals are back in Vegas
  10. Mario's Backroom

    Mario's Backroom Low-Roller

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    I second this...played three tourneys back in April at Monte Carlo and had a fun time...even chopped a pot! Good luck! :beer:
     
  11. PopMegaphone

    PopMegaphone VIP Whale

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    IMO Monte Carlo has the best newbie friendly poker room on the strip.
     
  12. RTG10

    RTG10 Tourist

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    Thanks guys it sounds like MC is the place to go!
     
  13. celticnoel79

    celticnoel79 Low-Roller

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    Planet Hollywood is always good for a drink and social game. I find their cocktail waitresses to be one of the quickest on the strip. I'm Scottish therefore I like my alcohol while playing poker. Good fun games to be had and I've always done well in PH which helps too. Enjoy your trip
     
  14. blahblah

    blahblah Tourist

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    Another option if you just want to donk around and goof off is 2-4 limit at Flamingo. You'll never beat the rake and make money, but you can stretch a buck. I've never played for less than 4 hours on $100. And I've always had good luck with the drink service. Either way, have a great time!
     
  15. TXactuarial

    TXactuarial VIP Whale

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    MC has a very social $2 - $6 spread limit game with some awesome drink service. I remember getting drunk with some Italian guys and I would pretend to talk Italian buy stringing together sentences like 'Perelli Corelli lasagna james gandolfini' and they would respond with 'hamburger hamburger statue of liberty'. Come to think of it, I must have been really really drunk
     
  16. 6Mermaids

    6Mermaids Low-Roller

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    this made me lol! :beer:
     
  17. fenway68

    fenway68 VIP Whale

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    I concur, Ever since the pre-milenials/milenials decided this was a way to earn a living, the poker table is no longer a "fun" place for me; I used to love the social aspect of a low limit game, that is gone now IMHO, but folks are either too quiet, or too mean and critical, it became a turn off for me to play any more in a casino. I come to LV to have fun, not be bullied or belittled.
     
  18. mjames1229

    mjames1229 # of visits includes only trips w/ hotel stays

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    I hate their new location in the mall entrance between the sports bar and Earl of Sandwich. Way too much ambient noise that it was hard to have "fun" because you could barely hear anyone at the table.

    [​IMG]
     
    USBC Nationals are back in Vegas
  19. IvanBeausky

    IvanBeausky Low-Roller

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    I've heard that the PH room is moving again. That being said, going back to an earlier post, I too go for fun and social aspect of the game. Somebody starts berating anyone they instantly get called Phil (as in Helmuth) and I continue that until the asshat leaves or I do. While it is passive/aggressive for sure, it is a lot of fun.
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2016
  20. touche22

    touche22 Low-Roller

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    Wow, that locations sucks! Right in the hallway.
     
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