Live poker returns to Las Vegas

Although Las Vegas casinos got permission to reopen in early summer, poker has barely returned to the city so far, when 20 of the 31 poker rooms have already opened their doors. In this article, we will check the situation of the gaming industry in Las Vegas and its impact on online poker.

What's the current status of poker in Las Vegas?

Las Vegas casinos made the respective adjustments to their venues according to the rules established by The Nevada Gaming Control. These measures involved extra costs and limited the maximum number of players. This scenario hit the already affected poker rooms.

For example, at Caesars, only 11 tables are open Thursday to Sunday from midnight to 4 am, and this is one of the largest casinos on The Strip. Aria is currently the only venue hosting a $150 daily poker tournament, and on October 21, it was the location to film the high stakes match between Phil Hellmuth and Antonio Esfandiari.

On the other hand, according to Forbes, casinos in other areas of Las Vegas are full of visitors on the weekends; most of them are locals. Statistics show that they spend 2.5 times more money on gambling than the average American. Tourists have not yet arrived in the city, although photos from the airport show another reality.

Las Vegas Airport

Hence, we can conclude the most important offline event in the United States and around the world:

In 2020, the WSOP will definitely not return to Las Vegas.

Situation in other US cities

Besides Nevada, casinos reopened in four other states. At the New Jersey gaming hub — Atlantic City, the first poker room will reopen on October 21: The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. There are no plans to hold major tournaments, like in Las Vegas. Less than half of the 77 cash tables will work with a maximum of 7 players.

In Pennsylvania, the first casino opened last week — Mount Airy, but it won't have more than 12 tables with cash games.

The Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Florida had had poker tables since late July. During this time, seven tournaments were held with buy-ins from $250 to $1,100. In early October, an event drew a field of 182 players.

Online poker in the US

Live poker in the US is slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels. According to experts, this will happen at best in two to three years. This situation provides excellent opportunities for online poker.

Many Americans got tired of waiting for online legalization and the regular operation of live venues and have already chosen offshore poker networks.