Hi All -

I am going to Vegas for the first time in my life. Can't believe I've never been. I was a Moneymaker-era convert, love the WSOP history, etc.

What are some cool places to go see, related to the history of the WSOP? Binions Horseshoe, do they have any exhibits or cool stores related to WSOP history?

Any hints are welcome. We are staying in Resorts World, have a concert one of the nights, around for 4 nights in April.

It's been a while since I was there, but Binions used to have a lot of old pictures from prior WSOP they had there.

If you take the escalator to the 2nd floor, the room where they had their last WSOP final tables was in a bar/lounge area down at the end of the hall. I saw Fossilman win there and I'm pretty sure that's where Moneymaker won also. Idk if they have any memorabilia in there, but you would at least see that room where history was made (assuming it's still there).

Binion's had a wall with 'Hall Of Fame' pictures up there back in 2018 at least, but not sure if it still exists. Might have been removed along with their poker room in 2020.

Horseshoe has a nice wall with pictures of Main Event winners (?) surrounding their poker desk now. There are also some small memorabilia items to the left of the room, like a WSOP bracelet and a few other things in a glass display.

Binion's Wall of Fame was still there last summer. Far right side of the building toward the back. Along with pictures there is a framed felt table top with signatures of players from one of the early events (1980s or so). The main room for the poker events was a bingo parlor on the second floor - far left hand side. Now it is event space for weddings and such.

Suppose you could go to the Rio Convention Center where the series was for 20 years or so. Wouldn't be much to see except standard Vegas event rooms - maybe some poker ghosts wondering around. You could go out in the parking lot and try and figure out which lightpost Hellmuth ran the race car into while making his grand entrance one year.

Since you haven't been before I would recommend the Mob Museum and the Neon Sign Museum ( signs from old casinos) both of which are near downtown,

Thank you! This is great info.

Never been myself, but you might consider stopping by the Gambler's Book Shop. I think it's downtown (not on the strip), and I have no clue whether it is worth the trip, but I have heard it thrown around every now and then and it might have some souvenirs and such that interest you.

http://gamblersbookclub.com/

Somewhere that 20 years ago I promised myself I would sometime visit, but still never have……

+1 recommend stopping at the Gambler's Book Shop, they have some old photos up in the "back room" with some funny handwritten notes to the effect that this is not a library and lingering and reading is not allowed! Despite the place being essentially empty the few time I've been in there in past few years.

Sadly, the Wall of Fame at Binions on Fremont is gone, and the old poker room now is just filled with slot machines.
Its possible the WSOP Wall of Fame might be reconstructed in some way at Bally's now the rebranded Horseshoe.

Check out the Bellagio Poker Room and take a peek through the frosted glass into Bobby's Room.

There is also the Oasis Motel on Las Vegas Blvd, near the Strat, where Stu Unger spent his last days. This is detailed in the book One of a Kind by Nolan Dalla, A great read that covers a lot of history of WSOP and other poker tournaments from the 80's and 90's.

I also recommend Positively 5th Street, by Jim McManus which which covers the WSOP in 2000 and provides some locations that might be of interest, although I think Cheetah Strip Club is closed.. It's re-opened but called The Library or something like that.

I've been there once a few years ago and I was the only customer in the store. The girl behind the counter was helpful though. I bought a couple of decks of KEM poker cards (the style of cards you find in most poker rooms) which aren't commonly stocked at games stores. They have pretty much everything you would want to start your own mini-casino, books and some other oddities.

Agree that the wall used to be outside the last poker room they had at Binion's - which was on the left side almost right as you walked in. It was a couple of steps down and with 8-10 tables. Closed like 3-4 years ago and now filled with a lot a. slots. Evidently they moved it to the far right side of the casino as that is where it was last year. Near to Benny's Bullpen - which has pretty decent bbq. As OP is going anyway maybe he will take the time to confirm. The Gamblers Book Shop has moved several times and imo is a shadow of it's original self - though probably worth a stop, In the same area is Spinettis which has a huge collection of poker chips, some memorabilia and gambling supplies such as used card decks, dice and so on from various casinos. Have fun,

Or outside the convention center, down the steps, and the patch of grass on the side is where Negreanu parked his RV for a couple years.

Or out back through the long corridor by the amazon room where for a couple of the earlier years we played in a tent with poker tables - out by the trailers of port a potties - good times.

If OP wants to experience what non wsop poker was like at Binions in the late 80s/90s I would suggest a trip out to Boulder Station and a session at the 4/8 Omaha high game. All that is missing now is the cigarette smoke in your face and the hump in the table which helped the dealer push you a mountain of $1 chips when you won a hand, You would win a hand and spend the next two stacking chips - poker heaven,

The toilet trailers were a lot better than schlepping all the way down that long hall, then standing in line anyway, then schlepping all the way back. The trailers were right outside the main room.

Not necessarily a 'history' suggestion here, but my standard recommendation for most 1st time visitors to large cities is to check out GoCity.com and see if any of those offerings fit into your schedule or desires. IMO it's one of the best, least talked about, discount programs. A couple of the venues noted above are part of the Vegas offerings .. I believe there are over 50 to choose from, including The High Roller Ferris Wheel, Blue Man and other shows, various tours (GoCars are FUN) and some of the various 'thrill' rides.

What you do is make a commitment to 'X' TOTAL number of venues .. you don't have to lock in which venues you go to, just that you will go to 'X' of them. Then you pay for your pass and it works like a punch card for entry to 'any' of the venues. So if you are in a certain area and have more time than expected, you can just go into a venue for free or highly discounted.

I think there's a 'limited' option as well as a 'full access' Pass. You need to at least take a look at this.

I believe the 'pass' has a time limit, so make sure you pay attention to that as well.


You're a bit 'out there' at RW, but when I stay at Flaminggo I pretty much walk everywhere and/or get a bus/trolley 3-day pass as well. GL


PS .. If you travel a lot, there's also a site called City Pass, but they don't have a program in Vegas. I'm definitely not a paid spokesman for either of these sites!

The WSOP Hall of Fame was part of the purchase by CET, and the new wall of fame featuring all the Main Event winners (no Russ Hamilton) now is at the Horseshoe (old Bally's) on The Strip. The room is called the Hall of Fame Poker Room. All the ME winners pictures are as you enter the room.
The rebrand of Bally's now also include a newish Jack Binion's Steakhouse to the back of the casino. Its a very worthy joint, with typical high Strip prices for a steakhouse. The Shrimp Cocktain on a block of ice is notable.

The poker room at Resorts world where you are staying is decent. It is not on Bravo, but is on PokerAtlas.

For a first visit to LV, just enjoy yourself. Each casino has a unique set of things to see and do. Wynn and Bellagio are two places to be sure and see.

I know the last time I was there, the upstairs was closed off, at least at the escalators, because maybe there weren't working? I'd imagine you could still take the elevator to the second floor, regardless. The old Benny's Bullpen stays locked (unless in use, I suppose).

me too

honestly, i feel this bookstore should be supported by membership cards. i'd gladly give $30 a year just to know it still exists

not sure it's been mentioned but maybe visit the old Bobby's room.. although OP probably knows that

also, cools things related to gaming