Rio Las Vegas Poker Room

Rio is a tale of two poker rooms.  For most of the year, Rio is a low volume 10 table poker room with little in the way of action.  It is often a bunch of locals grinding out hours for the freerolls.  As soon as the World Series of Poker hits, the real Rio Poker Room closes and all of the action moves to the convention center where hundreds of poker tables are set up.  The Rio goes from a non-factor poker room to the biggest poker room in the world almost overnight.

The Rio is located on West Flamingo just west of I-15.  It is about a mile west of the Las Vegas Strip.  It is too long to walk to for most people, even from Caesars Palace.  The Palms and Gold Coast are within walking distance.  The poker room is located by the west entrance, which faces Valley View.  If arriving by taxi or valet, make a left and follow the walkway past the sports book.  The poker room is on the left.

Floormen and Dealers

The year round floormen and dealers do a great job maintaining the room for what it is, a locals poker room.  During the World Series of Poker, expect to find some of the worst dealers and floorpeople that you will ever see.

Popular Games and Limits

Rio offers just one game in their year round poker room which is 1/3 No Limit Texas Hold’em.  During the World Series of Poker, there are more games of any limit than you can ever imagine.

Tournaments

There are three daily No Limit Texas Hold’em tournaments during the off-season.  There is a $40 tournament at noon with a $20 add on.   At 6pm, there is a $60 tournament with a $20 add on.  At 9pm, there is a $75 tournament with a $20 add on.  These tournaments do not run during the World Series of Poker.

Player Rewards

Players that are clocked in during cash games with their Total Rewards card will receive $1 an hour in comps.  Players receive $3 an hour between 3am and noon.  Comps may be used at all restaurants, hotels, and shops within any Caesars Entertainment property.

Jackpots and Other Promotions

There is a bi-weekly $20,000 freeroll.  The top 40 players chop the prize pool.  Qualify by playing 25 hours during a two week period.  There are four progressive high hand bonuses.  The bonus hand is a royal flush in each suit.  The jackpots reset at $1000 and progress until they hit.

Atmosphere and Features

The poker room is nondescript and has few features.  It is certainly adequate, but shows signs of wear and tear.  Many players comment that they expected the home of the World Series of Poker to sport a more upscale poker room.  That just is not the case.

Food

There are many food options across all cost spectrums.  Poker players will most likely want to check out the deli and grill on the other side of the sports book from the poker room.  There is also an Asian restaurant there.

Accommodations

Rio’s hotel rooms are huge compared to most casinos’ standard rooms.  Rio has let them go neglected though and they are showing wear and tear.  Rio has been rumored to be for sale for many years so the assumption by many is that they are trying to spend as little money as possible to upkeep the hotel.  Rio does not offer poker players any type of discount at the hotel.  This is standard for all Caesars Entertainment properties.

Contact Info

3700 West Flamingo Road * 702-777-7650

Website * Twitter @RLVPoker