Wynn vs Venetian; Orleans vs Golden Nugget vs Resorts World

Hey, LVL crew. I would like to pick your collective brains.

As I have previously written, depending upon my results it is possible I will have a few days in which I don't have any WSOP NLHE bracelet events to play in. If that happens, WSOP daily deepstacks are an option.

But if I don't go that route there are plenty of other non-WSOP tournaments I can play in. The problem is, I have never played at any of these other hotel/casinos. Thus, I am curious as to the thoughts you may have.

My questions are:

1) Wynn versus Venetian, which is the more enjoyable poker site and why?

2) Orleans versus Golden Nugget versus Resorts World, which is the more enjoyable poker site and why?

Thanks in advance for any insight.

1) When comparing the Vegas card rooms, I find it helpful to think of them in tiers. There is no clear cut “best” room in Vegas for 1/3, tournaments, PLO, or whatever.

But there are the larger rooms that compete with each other for market share, trying to be the best. The short list of these rooms are Wynn, Venetian, Aria, and Bellagio. I’d include Resorts World as a 1B, because they’re just as big and well run, but haven’t been there as long to have established a following.

Which is a longer way of saying, if you’re comparing Wynn to Venetian, they’re both large, well run rooms with a wide range of stakes and games to pick from, so you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for at either place.

Comparing Wynn to Venetian specifically, it’s helpful to think about the reputations of the rooms. Wynn markets itself as the classiest casino in Vegas. It’s among the most expensive hotels to stay at, has more expensive food options, and attracts a more international clientele. Consequently, they have deeper cash game buy in limits than most Vegas card rooms. 1/3 has a 500 cap, 2/5 has a 1500 cap… with lots of straddling, so the games play much bigger than similar stakes in other rooms. This attracts tougher regs, but you’ll also see LOADED Euro rec tourists dusting off thousands of dollars like it’s nothing.

Venetian aims to be more of a comprehensive universal resort for everyone… with the shops, the spa, the pool, and the food options. They have fine dining, but they also have more and better value food options, too. The 1/3 has a 300 cap, and 3/5 (not 2/5 lol) has a 1200 cap. They also spread a goofy stake, 2/4 NL with a 600 cap… but it doesn’t run as much because most people self select into 1/3 or 3/5.

Both rooms have a similar approach to tournaments. As markets oversaturate, they specialize. If you’re looking for the biggest MTT you can find, only the WSOP has the space and the infrastructure to have their festival every summer. Wynn and Venetian have finite tournament space, yet both want to be known for their poker and their tournaments, so they offer MTT’s with a higher average buyin, but a generally better structure. This experience caters to pros and recs alike.

Hope this helps!

2) I’ve never made it over to the Orleans, but I know from their reputation that they are known for spreading mixed games, and good, low buyin daily tournaments.

Golden Nugget is known for having uncapped games. There’s no max buyin at 1/2 or 2/5, so if you want to sit with 20k and make every hand $50-$150 preflop at 1/2, you can. The games are hit or miss, but they always have the potential of getting big and crazy.

Ever since Resorts World opened, they’ve tried to elbow their way immediately into the discussion of the best resorts in Vegas. They haven’t cemented that reputation yet, but I like that they’re trying. I really like their card room… they raided most of their dealers and floor staff from the Wynn when they opened. Their 1/3 is 400 cap, and 2/5 is 1200 cap. I also think they have the most comfy chairs in Vegas poker rooms. Free self serve coffee/espresso machine and soda fountain, too.

The food court is right outside the poker room, with a wide range of cheap options. My favorite food stall there is Goggleman’s Noodles, a Malaysian street food place.

2024 WSOP buildup: May 25, 2024
Last Chance Saloon for my family

Today is the day that we get the House of rppoker in order. Everyone in my family knows I'm leaving soon for Las Vegas, so the line is long for my guidance.

My mom comes over to have me balance her checkbook. I also help her write checks for her quarterly tax estimates, and I take them in to the post office for certified mail return receipt delivery.

My younger daughter wants my opinion on her car insurance renewal.

My older daughter wants to know if I know where her voter registration card is (I do).

I turn over the checkbook to Mrs. rppoker in case a bill comes in the mail while I am gone. A year ago she convinced me to leave the stone ages and start paying almost all of our bills via autopay. I joined the 21st century kicking and screaming, but I finally relented (Mrs. rppoker is very persuasive). There are a couple of bills that don’t have autopay as an option, so it’s possible she may have to write a check in my absence.

Finally, I buy a birthday card and a gift for my brother.

OK, I have met the needs of my wife, my kids, my mom and my brother. Is there anyone I’m missing?

TJ thank you for the poker room insight. You are like Poker Google.

2024 WSOP buildup: May 27, 2024
My dog Astro is not going to be happy

I leave tomorrow for the WSOP for 12 glorious days in Vegas.

Who will I be missed by the most?

Obviously, Mrs. rppoker will miss me. I hope. I know. But she and I will talk each day/night. Plus, she has plenty of friends and family to keep her entertained and help her as needed because she is recovering from a fractured ankle (she is out of the walking boot, physical therapy has begun and she started driving again yesterday). My biggest concern is the fact that the once-every-17-years invasion of the cicadas is underway. The cicadas have not overrun the environment yet, but it is ramping up slowly. Mrs. rppoker hates creepy, buggy creatures. I think it will only take one cicada getting inside our house for her to change her mind about me leaving for Las Vegas.

My daughters are young adults, living in their own apartments, are gainfully employed, have boyfriends I like, and they are developing lives of their own. Dad help may still be required (see prior post) at some point during poker breaks, but they have become independent young women. They’ll be fine.

The answer is obvious. My dog Astro. Every night when I come home, he is waiting for me by the door. After dinner he and I go in the basement where we play for 30-40 minutes with me flipping his favorite mini soccer ball (almost the size of his head) into the air with my foot and he catches the ball in his mouth. He is like a frisbee catching dog only he does it with a mini soccer ball. No one else can be a substitute for me. Only I know the precise placement of the ball that he prefers for him to catch it. No one else knows our routine of when I follow him around the basement, and when it is his turn to follow me. Astro loves Mrs. rppoker (she is the primary treat giver throughout the day), but when it comes to the 30-40 minutes after dinner, I am magical in Astro’s mind.

His daddy is about to go missing for 12 days. Astro doesn’t know it yet, but he is about to experience a life bad beat.

Astro seems like a good boy and has clearly run good when it comes to his owners.

Regarding what/where to play, I'm something of a structure junkie. I like slower tournaments that give more play for your $$$, so I gravitate towards anything with 40+ minute levels when I have the choice. That's not to say faster events can't also be a lot of fun. I wouldn't say one is better than the other. I would just advise people to know what they are getting into. 40+ minute levels is going to be a legitimate multi-day tournament where you're not even going to hit the $$$ until deep in the first day. 30 minute and lower levels are really meant for single-day events, or at least to reach the bagging/cashing stage much faster. The 10 minute difference may not seem significant, but it's palpable when you're out there. After a few hours, the faster tournaments are going to be significantly further along.

That's a lot of rambling about structure, a topic most people don't find very interesting. As it turns out, there won't be a lot of marathon type events next weekend anyway, so it's mostly a moot point. What will probably be more relevant to you than the level length is the general ambiance and experience. Of course the WSOP is in a tier of its own in terms of scale and spectacle. After that, I'd say you should really aim to play something at the Wynn. I think most people will agree that in 2024 it's the de facto poker capital of Vegas. Resorts World is a great venue too and I highly recommend firing something there if a day or night opens up on your schedule. The price points will be lower than the Wynn, which can be more relaxing sometimes. It's a nice property and a great room.

The Venetian is a strong venue for poker tournaments, though it's more of a no-frills experience than Wynn or RW. The venue is perfectly decent and the poker room is well-run. I have no complaints about the Venetian as a poker venue, but it just lacks a little bit of the sizzle of the other options, so if you're just looking at the overall experience, it's more of a purist's destination than something special to see.

Aria and Bellagio are good for cash. Aria single day tournaments are solid options if you need something to play.

I've actually still never been to the Orleans, but the reputation is that of a more modest property catering to mixed games and low-ish stakes.

That's a lot of words without giving concrete advice, so let me try to distill it. WSOP is something special to experience. After that, I'd really try to find a spot for Wynn and at least make a visit to Resorts, even if only for a quick nightly event. Aria is a nice property that will be fun for a single-day event. Venetian is perfectly serviceable, but they run stuff throughout the year, so I wouldn't necessarily prioritize them if you have a wealth of options.

Astro has changed a bit since he left the Jetsons.

He'll be happy to see you when you get home--toting all those high dollar bones!

Here is a pin I have of the original Astro.

That exactly what I pictured rppoker looking like

Awesome!

Go get 'em!

Thanks to Dogface for the breakdown of the different poker rooms. If I have an opening in my WSOP schedule for a high-end ($1,100) alternative poker room tourney I think he has convinced me to go Wynn over Venetian.

As for the less expensive alternative tournaments, I hadn't been considering Resorts World all that strongly, but given comments from Dogface and TJ, I think I am going to give it a shot.

That leads to a new question. For summer series tournaments at Wynn and Resorts World, can I register the night before or can I only register the morning of those tourneys? If anyone knows, I'd be grateful to hear the answer.

I knew I was opening myself up for that!

+1 for Resorts World. I played there my last day last summer and it's a very nice room with decent rake/structures for $200 tournaments. You register day of but it's not wsop...you can show up 20 mins before and you'll get a seat.

Orleans is not as nice, but I've looked at the structures making similar alt-WSOP plans and they are the best/deepest in the $400 range. You also will likely find less hoody-wearing 20-somethings and more OMC types.

Will also put in a plug for mgm grand, which is on my potential list too... They have 1- and 2-day events with decent structures while you're there at the $300/400 price point.

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2024 WSOP buildup: May 27, 2024
I am a taskmaster, so no days off for me; refining my schedule

In 2019, on days when I had no WSOP NLHE tournaments to play in I took the day off from poker. Not because I was tired. At no time did I feel burnt out by poker. I took the days off because as a WSOP first-timer I was totally unaware of a) WSOP daily deepstacks, and b) that other hotels were running tournaments at the same time.

This time around I know better. As a result, I plan on playing somewhere on every day of my 12-day trip. Obviously, I might call an audible if poker exhaustion sets in, but I don’t think that will be the case. In 2019, I did not ever feel poker fatigue, but I had some days off back then.

I am curious, at age 62, if I can grind hard every single day. I am challenging gray-haired poker to be up for this physical and mental challenge. I intend to push the envelope. I can rest when I die (or when I return home).

Based upon feedback from people in this thread, I have further refined my tournament schedule as follows. If I fail to make Day 2 in anything (boooo) this is my gameplan. If I make Day 2s then some of my planned tournaments will be eliminated.

-- I will play in four WSOP bracelet events (#3, #5, #14 and #17). I will enter between one and three flights of event #5 (Mystery Millions).

-- I will play in one Wynn $1,100 event.

-- I will play in one WSOP Daily Deepstack.

-- I will play in one Resorts World and one MGM event.

-- If I make Day 2 of the Mystery Millions on an early bullet, I will add a Venetian $1,100 to my schedule.

-- If I have a decent cash in anything, I may replace the MGM tournament with an Aria $1,100.

I think this is a good combination of lots of WSOP while still eating at the buffet of other summer series offerings.

Looks like a great schedule! I think you'll have a blast and am looking forward to the coming days of tourney excitement.

Looks like a good, action packed schedule!

2024 WSOP buildup: May 27, 2024
I’m going to degen in a way probably never before degened in Las Vegas

As I have previously written, I don’t do drugs and I almost never drink because I don’t like the taste of alcohol. But I have made a decision about a bad behavior I intend to embrace.

Mrs. rppoker is always telling me how bad soda pop is for me. Constantly. Relentlessly. As a result, I limit myself to 3-4 Dr Peppers a week. It’s the best I can do. Giving it up altogether would be an impossibility. I love Dr Pepper. I crave Dr Pepper. I’m addicted to Dr Pepper.

Hi, my name is rppoker, and I’m a Dr Pepper-holic.



And I have decided I will degen Dr Pepper during my time at the WSOP. I am eliminating my weekly Dr Pepper limit. I intend to drink as much Dr Pepper as I want at the WSOP. No Limit Dr Pepper while I am playing No Limit Hold’em. I wonder, can I use an empty Dr Pepper can as my card protector? If I make a final table, I think Dr Pepper needs to give me a patch to wear on the stream. And yes, I do have a Dr Pepper t-shirt.

I just ask one thing of the 2+2 LVL community. Please don’t rat me out to Mrs. rppoker.

All the kids are putting pickle slices in their Dr Pepper these days.

Being a Texan, I proudly support your addiction.

The cocktail servers at the larger poker rooms have a wide variety of juices you can order for free (for a tip).

I like grapefruit juice, carrot juice, or watermelon juice. At the Wynn you can order a strawberry Julius, with or without liquor in it, and it’s like a cross between a daiquiri and a smoothie.

rppoker 1, technology 0

My flight is tomorrow.

I am notified via text by the airline that I can now check in for tomorrow's flight. I do something I never do. I check-in using only my phone. I use an app. An actual app!

I notice that my frequent flyer number is missing. I add it. I am asked to check a bag. Uh, oh, I bet this is where I get tripped up. But no, this is a breeze.

I do not screw anything up!!!!!

I am catching up with the times. I'm not a dinosaur anymore.

I can barely contain my excitement! I tell myself to remember to breathe. The WSOP buildup, which seemingly lasted an eternity, is over. The time to play poker is imminent. I can practically feel the WSOP cards in my hands. Even though this will be my second WSOP, I still can't believe that a universe exists where I get to play in the world's biggest, most important poker tournament series of the year.

Breathe ... breathe ... breathe ...

Seems like I've been told that Red Vines (the licorice-like candy) and Dr Pepper are crazy good together.

GL, rp! Safe travels, run good, play better!

Nothin sweeter than the pre check in notification for a Vegas flight.

Well, except maybe a Dr Pepper float. That’s pretty damn sweet.