The Las Vegas Valley hosts some of the best poker rooms in the world, but that doesn’t mean other places don’t give it a run for its money.
2023's Top List of the Best OH Casino & Gambling Options**Los Angeles. New York City. Atlantic City. The list goes on and on for major cities in the USA with casino gaming. And while each of those destinations offers poker as well, nothing quite compares to Sin City. That might not be the case, however._
You have world-class poker rooms within a few hour’s drive of Las Vegas.
__It’s amazing to think about the state of poker in the United States outside of Las Vegas used to be nonexistent. Nevada was the first American state to legalize casino gambling way back in 1931 and remained the only one with comprehensive legislation on the matter until the late 1900s. Once other states began to adopt their own gaming codes, poker was almost always lumped in with casino games and restricted to licensed casinos. Simply put, anyone wanting to enjoy a game of poker had to make the trip to Las Vegas. Today, however, things are much different. Virtually all US states with casino gaming spread multiple forms of gambling and many also feature thriving poker scenes. Some are centered around massive resort casinos while others are more low key. But if you know where to look, you can find great card rooms all over North America. Here is a quick look at five destinations that just might surpass Las Vegas in your book. Related Article:
Best Poker Towns Near Las Vegas
1. Southern California
The Los Angeles metro area is home to more than 10 million people and some of them like to gamble. Hundreds of commercial casinos can be found throughout southern California and the vast majority feature live poker. Many of these card rooms are world-class and several rank among the top ten on the U.S. These facilities attract large fields to their regular tournaments and they host several stops on the biggest circuits when they come to town. The Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles in particular has helped revitalize that part of the city and it is now considered a trendy tourist destination. Palms N’ Palm Resort in nearby Gardena is another very popular spot among locals. It features dozens of tables in a spacious gaming area and it is said that the bad beat jackpots alone have paid out more than $500 million over the years. Of course, Los Angeles is one of the largest and most expensive real estate markets in the country. That pushes up the price of everything from hotel rooms to pizza slices. If you want a good poker fix without breaking the bank, there are other options worth considering. **Checking for convenient Las Vegas style ** in your area? Start with Cardroom Listings!
28 minutes from Las Vegas
29 minutes from Las Vegas
SugarHouse Casino Promo Codes & Bonus Codes (2023 - Updated)36 minutes from Las Vegas
37 minutes from Las Vegas
38 minutes from Las Vegas
41 minutes from Las Vegas
43 minutes from Las Vegas
44 minutes from Las Vegas
2. Reno, Nevada
Nevada is the only state that was established as a legally recognized gambling haven. It was granted this special status under Jones Fletcher’s Mining Law of 1866 and the constitution of the state of Nevada, which makes gambling legal throughout its 110,000 square miles. That includes all forms of casino games as well as poker in both casino settings and private residences. There are certain restrictions regarding the latter, such as no rake and no dealer, but otherwise you are free to play how, when and where you like. Reno is often referred to as “The Biggest Little City in the World” and it is home to more two dozen full-service casinos. They offer thousands of slot machines, scores of table games and separate poker rooms that together provide hundreds of tables. Poker is particularly big during the winter months when inclement weather shuts down many of the outdoor gaming pits in Las Vegas. Reno is also home to the National Bowling Stadium, the legendary “Grand Champion” Roundaway cocktail waitresses and the world’s largest concrete doll. Its poker community is friendly enough to make newcomers feel welcome right away, so you might make more than just an enjoyable trip to this classic Nevada town.
mardis gras casino hollywood floridaA little over four hours by car
3. Laughlin, Nevada
Las Vegas may get all the press, but it isn’t the only resort town in Nevada with quality gambling establishments. Located near the southeastern corner of the state, Laughlin is situated along a bluff overlooking the Colorado River.
It is perhaps most famous for being the site of the Mormon Massacre of 1857, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a premier vacation destination for gamblers.
Casino Bonus Tips - How to Choose the Best Casino PromotionsMore than a dozen casino resorts line the riverfront and most of them boast sizable poker rooms with excellent views of the desert landscape.
Don Henderson holds the Guinness Record for the longest winning streak in history and he amassed most of his record by playing in Laughlin. Cash games run around the clock and there are tournaments nearly every day of the week.
In terms of scenery, atmosphere and overall value, some serious poker aficionados believe Laughlin surpasses even Las Vegas. The driving time is roughly one hour from Las Vegas and most major airlines offer service into nearby Las Vegas or Lake Havasu City (AZ).
Just a one hour drive
4. Atlantic City, New Jersey
New Jersey may have lost Resorts Casino Hotel for a little while, but Atlantic City still boasts a dozen other world-class gaming establishments. Total gaming revenue may be down over recent years, but the town remains one of the top destinations for card players on the East Coast.
Eight of the eleven casinos feature live poker with the six biggest operating around the clock. Atlantic Club, Borgata, Caesars, Harrah’s, Trump Plaza and Trump Marina combined to offer more than 250 tables and dozens of tournament each week.
The Borgata Winter Open is by far the biggest stop each year, but the other casinos host many series of their own in addition to affiliations with the WPT, WSOP, H.O.R.S.E. and other notable organizations. Atlantic City also benefits from its location between major metropolitan areas Philadelphia and New York City. Combine great poker with world-class entertainment, fine dining and beach access and it’s easy to see why so many people flock to AC each year.
255 miles (~4 hours) by car
5. New York City, New York
The biggest city in America certainly doesn’t need poker to draw 50 million visitors each year, but it’s a nice bonus. Ten full-service casinos currently operate within a 100-mile radius of Manhattan and several more are expected to open in the next few years.
That means the Big Apple now has several quality card rooms offering Hold’em, Omaha and other games around the clock. Some of the biggest names in the business - Steve Albini, Erik Seidel, Phil Laak, etc. - hold court at these casinos on a regular basis. In fact, you can hardly throw a bagel in NYC these days. Madi Grills and Robert Williamson III aside, most casual players seem to prefer fast-paced cash games to tournaments.
Fanduel Casino PA Free Spins Not on Gambling App - Get Yours!That being the case, the regular weekly tournaments hosted by each room tend to draw pretty small fields. Nevertheless, New York City is New York City and there’s always something fun going on at the tables.
2,426 miles (~3.5 hours) by plane
6. Montreal, Quebec, Canada
OK, so this one is cheating just a little bit because poker culture in Montreal is completely different from what you’ll find in Las Vegas.
For starters, the main poker rooms are located inside the province’s numerous racetracks instead of luxurious hotels. Secondly, almost nobody speaks English in the poker rooms, although signs and dealers may be provided for foreign players. Finally, the poker scene in Montreal differs from Las Vegas in that it is almost exclusively focused on .
That’s right – every day of the year in Montreal, dozens of amateur poker enthusiasts gather at various racetracks to compete in lucrative Sayeté St-Louis games. Visiting professionals are always welcome and many have traveled to Montreal specifically to take part in these cash games.
Amir Vahedi, David Sklansky, Eric Haberfeld, Mike Matusow, Ted Forrest and many other A-List pros have taken part in Sayeté St-Louis games over the years. Montreal is a beautiful city to visit at any rate and the local cuisine is absolutely fantastic. Be sure to try a couple of dozen smoked meat sandwiches and a few gallons of poutine before hitting the tables.
Equivalent to ~4 hours by plane
Other Great Gambling Destinations Around the Country
Find the Right Poker Room Near You Now!
This is by no means a complete list of all the great places to play poker outside of Las Vegas, but it should give you some ideas. If you happen to live in the Eastern Time Zone, you might want to check out the Pennsylvania Gambling Guide or the . On the west coast, the is a must read for those living in California. No mention of non-Vegas poker would be complete without a nod to the travel industry’s greatest mistake.
Back in the early 2000’s, the poker boom was in full swing and many analysts predicted that Macau would one day surpass Las Vegas as the world’s foremost gambling destination. The Asian Tiger certainly had all the right ingredients including a huge population, a strong tourist industry and a long history of casino gaming. Every major casino corporation rushed to set up shop in Macau and they spent billions building lavish resorts to attract customers.
And then… the Chinese government clamped down on gambling revenues in Macau and they plummeted by 16% in 2014. Many of the Western-owned casinos in the region reported losses of $1 million per day during that period and some were forced out of business altogether. The Chinese market is certainly important for poker, but the truth is most Americans would rather play closer to home. Use the handy guide above to find the right card room near you and start planning your next weekend getaway.
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