Live Poker

While online poker rooms is where the majority of players get together to face off virtually live poker still has a more than steady following who enjoy the social aspect of the game, as well as the fact that the true high-rollers and the limits they want can't be found on the internet.

The live poker capital of the world when it comes to high-stakes is rightfully Las Vegas and that's where most of the who's who of the poker superstars can be found anting up more for each hand than what you make in a month of hard work.

The poker room of poker rooms in Las Vegas is the Bellagio, located on 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South (phone: (702) 6937290) it features over 30 tables including Texas Holdem, No-Limit Texas Holdem, 7 Card Stud and Omaha Poker with limits ranging from $4/$8 up to, well, high.

Except for the normal poker room the Bellagio also has a high-rollers room named Bobby's Room where the games start at $2,000/$4,000. The room is off limits to the public but it is possible to watch the action on a distance through the glass walls. Needless to say the room is frequented by a lot of famous players.

Not far from the Bellagio is the Wynn (3131 Las Vegas Boulevard South, phone: (702) 7703090) which opened in April 2005 and quickly established itself as one of the three best poker room in sin city, unless you want the highest action of course. All in all they boast 27 tables covering the whole spectrum of poker games with limits ranging from $4/$8 to $40/$80 and higher depending on interest.

Players playing atleast 6 hours per day are entitled to special poker room rates of $129 for Sunday to Thursday and $199 on Friday and Saturday.

The third highly recommended poker room in Las Vegas is the MGM Grand (3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South, phone: (702) 8917434) with its 23 tables including all games except for Omaha and with limits from $2/$4 to $20/40. If you play atleast 5 hours per day you are entitled to a $40 discount on your hotel room.

You won't find slot machines or roulette tables at the California casinos but you will find poker tables, and a lot of them. The Commerce Casino (6131 East Telegraph Road Commerce, CA 90040, phone: (323) 7212100) is the world's largest live poker room with over 200 (!) tables and limits from $1/2 all the way up to $500/$1000.

The game selection consists of everything from good old fashion Texas Holdem to Razz and what not, all in all close to 20 different variations. The atmosphere and quality of the casino of course can't compete with what you can expect in Las Vegas however but if you came to gamble that's what you'll get.

The 2nd largest card room in California is The Bicycle Casino (7301 Eastern Avenue Bell Gardens, CA 90201, phone: (562) 8064646) with its 135 tables featuring poker as well as "California Games" which is various variations on classic gambling games such as Blackjack and Baccarat.