Ive read some other threads on this and wanted to know the latest info on poker in Reno. Im planning to go this weekend and wanted to know where the best poker games are. And also poker tournaments if there are any good structures for them.


I want to play 1/2 NL, and tournaments upto around $100ish. Thanks

Just Did a weekend trip a few weeks ago, stayed at harrahs. Tournaments were scarce, but harrahs had basically a one table $40 every morning that was easy. Get a coupon at the buffet first.

1/2 Was best for me at el dorado. Called it the fish tank the whole weekend.

peppermill is great. i stayed there back in July. brand new room with new tables, chairs, and TV's everywhere. bathrooms are a couple steps away which i thought was great since any room i've played at in a casino you have to walk halfway across the casino to use the john. the floor says they always have 1/2 games running as well as various limit games up to 20/40 (i played 3/6 limit no kill). dont' know much about tourney's but they have them listed on their website. i saw a sign that they run PLO8 once a week also.

Grand Sierra during the pot of gold series, peppermill at other times.

Peppermill's new room is solid, making it the best in town, IMO.
Now- this weekend is the "chop-Pot Classic", tournaments run at noon and 700pm, all split pot stuff, O8, Stud 8, HORSE, so the normal schedule is shot. Cash games should be plentiful.
Atlantis cash games should be good as well this weekend. Check web for tournaments, some weekend buyins were around 75.00 if i remember.
I don't go to GS.
Downtown, I play at el Do, always pretty good 1-2 NL action. No MTTs there.

When are the Atlantis Daily tournaments? Website does not say.

I will be in area later this month (2 days in Reno/3 days in S.L. Tahoe) so any more info on soft play is appreciated. I need all the help I can get.

I have played at Harvey's last year, but did not venture to Mont Blue or Lakeside Inn. Any insight is appreciated.

Atlantis MTTs daily are 11am and 7pm.
My prior post is one I'll still stand by. The new room at Peppermill attracts the most play. Atlantis OK, ElDorado OK, all others sketchy play. call ahead.
I rule out the GSR on a personal level because the place is filthy. Others are OK with it.
Harveys is the only Tahoe room that is dependable for cash games.

Dave..I just saw that Harrah's in Reno closed its Poker Room. Is this temporary?

I would think its a more permanent move, PB. The place was doing nothing for several months. I stayed at Harrahs for a week in Oct2010, working in Carson City for a week. I did not play poker there once, for lack of any game. I played at ElDo or Peppermill.
It may reopen, but they'd need to do something drastic. The room suffered on many fronts: no walk-by traffic, stuck in a dead corner, poor MTT structures, and very poor promotioning. Same fate as the Cal-Neva next door (and for the same reasons)- not sure if they are operating at all either.
I'm going to be at Peppermill and Atlantis this weekend, I'll ask around. Peppermill has a little mid-winter series going.

Harrah's Reno update:
according to casino spx:
"there are no plans to reopen the poker room"

Thats it then for Harrahs downtown poker. ElDo remains the busiest place to play in DTReno, with its easy access, lots of walkby.

the last time i was at mont blue was a few years ago, but its the only time in my life i wouldntve been surprised if there was cheating going on. mightve been coincidence but over the course of three days the dealers buddy was on the right side of more coolers than ive ever seen, and the room had no supervision or rule enforcement whatsoever.

Might not matter. Wife and I were at the lake last week, no games going and no staff present at about 7p, which can't be a good sign.

MM MD

Thanks for the info on Harrah's.

I know the Grand Sierra is not highly recommended but I will probably play there on a Sat night when I arrive in 2 weeks. I decided to stay Sat there since the rooms were so cheap, and I need to pick up friends at airport next day anyway.

On the tail end of my trip I may try the Eldorado. Had anyone played in the 6pm $25 tournies? I would assume that it is a short stack since it is only $25, but is it worth it (even if just for entertainment and playing good poker, and not for making cash per se)?

Cal Neva closed their poker room?

When I was there a little while ago ElDo was fine. As stated the bathrooms are far away, but the drinks came quickly and the room had decent action. I play limit, and the 3/6 with a full kill was a good game. Played with 1/2 blinds.

I was there earlier this week. I'm NOT a "real" poker player, just a low-limit LHE recreational < insert your own noun >.

Circus-Circus has closed it's poker room.

Silver Legacy is electronic tables and low buy-in tourneys. They "might" occasionally have a cash game but, according to the poker room guy when I walked by.....don't bet on it.

I walked by El Dorado and it seemed pretty busy. Didn't check out anything there but 5 or 6 tables were going at noon on a Tuesday.

Cal-Nev was open. They rarely have a cash game going and run 3 or 4 very low buy-in tourneys each day. "Real" poker players will laugh but for the rec player on no budget it's pretty good. It's only $10 (8-2) with a 5$ dealer fund and a $10 (8-2) re-buy (must be below 1000 chips). You wind up with 3 or 4K chips. Blinds start at 25-50 and the rounds are 15 minutes. From my limited perspective that's a good structure for such a cheap tourney. But the room is now downstairs right by the entrance and it's well...... Cal-Nev.

GSR says they have LHE but the manager said they almost never have a table open. I'ts all 1/2 NL and 2 tourneys per day. The evening is $60 with only $45 going to the prize pool. No add-on/rebuy. 10K chips, 20 minute rounds, blinds start at 50-100 with an ante at level 2.

Peppermill was busy and was the only place I actually found a 2-4 limit table. The "problem" is that they only had one such table and a long wait list. Even with 11 people on the list they did not open a second table.

I just came back from my trip to Reno and Tahoe as well. Much thanks to all for the low down on Reno.

I really liked Grand Sierra. It was small, and yes 1-2 NLH was the only game, but it had many plusses. I could not believe how dead Harrah's was for ALL GAMES (it was like a ghost town). Cal-Neva poker was closed by 10pm. I did play at El Dorado, and enjoyed it, but I was too tired to play a long time.

Here is my list of reasons to go to Grand Sierra.

1. Easy to pick out players. Either regulars who play a similar way, or tourney players who do not know how to play cash games or people passing by who do not know what "check" means and think middle pair is a good hand to call large bets with.
2. Good food and bathrooms close as mentioned. Room service delivers to poker room.
3. Supervisors were VERY attentive and friendly (Danny who is the daytime supervisor was awesome and fair). Also, the supervisors are allowed to be shills in Nevada which can be an advantage. They will not play stupid cards, and gives you a chance to win more house money when the game is shorthanded. They will usually limp in just to make sure a flop is seen (which will then increase their rake rate). They will raise with quality hands.
4. GREAT comps. $2 and this counts even when you play tourney. I was there 2 days and racked up enough for 3 meals comped. I also was able to use the health club when I was there even though I was not a guest at that particular time. I just showed them my GSR card (not sure if I needed comp points or not). But I was able to take in a steambath and shower after playing for about 6 hours straight, and then get re-energized for the evening---sorry maybe TMI).
5. The tourney structure was good, enough chips (8K or 10K with 50-100 blinds) and had the antes which most are not used to playing with antes.
6. Room rate was $35/night (usual rate is $50-$70, but if you plan ahead you can get this lower rate if you look on Priceline, Hotwire or AAA).
7. Yes, the slots are close by, and can be annoying. The band was not too loud when I was there Saturday night.

I know the Peppermill is probably the best in the area, but I did not get a chance to go there---but I had a great time at GSR.

My experience in Tahoe was similar to other posts. Harvey's is only consistent game in town, but they play 2-3 NLH, which really play more like a 2-5 game most of the time and I felt shortstacked even when buying in for $120. Lakeside is non-existent and Mont-Blue was good, but once the 3-4 tourists who did not know how to play were felted, the game fell apart about 10pm.

We live in Las Vegas now, but my wife may have a business opportunity in Northern Nevada in a year or so. Anybody know about the poker scene in the Reno/Tahoe area?

this thread is in the general brick and mortar area.
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/27...-reno-1092551/

I play most at Peppermill. recent renovations make it the best in town. Best series of tournaments are the Pot of gold at Grand Sierra.
Best downtown room is ElDorado
Near Peppermill is Atlantis, nice room, not that busy, but worth a visit.

There are a few other rooms, but not worth mentioning. Harrahs downtown recently closed their room.

Was at the Peppermill last weekend..and wow. The renovation makes it a very, very good room. Couches for waiting, sodas/waters available to grab, and the games were good, lots of tables. Overall a very comfortable room to play in.

Best room is Peppermill, but I always go to the Eldorado since it's downtown. GSR is also worth a shot.

Eldorado: The nice thing about this place is that the rake is cheaper. They don't charge $4 until the pot gets to $50 instead of the standard in the area which charges it at $40. Also, games run pretty much 24/7. Every once in a while I see people playing stud and there's often a limit game going as well. It's downtown. Oh, dealers often play in the games--I wish they wouldn't. When I say often, I mean something like 60-70% of the time.

GSR: Always has games. Good, free food. Casino is far from everything.

Peppermill: Lot's of regs, sandwiches in the evenings, always a game, close to the Atlantis but far from downtown, there's often a highish limit game going. It's like 10/20 or something like that. Also, 3/6 limit game on the weekends. Usually 2-3 1/2 NL tables running.

Atlantis: They are the only place I know of that doesn't play 1/2. They run 2/3 or something close to that. Close to the Peppermill.

Circus Circus: If they have a game, it's going to be a limit game.

Silver Legacy: They have those computerized tables. They run lots of tournaments. 1-3 tables, usually one table. $30-60 buy in, rake is atrocious. If you have a group, they will run your choice of games--cash, tournament, Stud, Plo, w/e. They've cut their hours recently, and I doubt if the tables will be there in coming years. I've actually played tons of cash at this place. You don't have to tip a dealer, and the players are the worst in town. The problem is that it's tough to get people to play. People simply like the idea of having cards in their hands.

Cal-Neva: It's downtown, old-school Reno. Cardroom is upstairs. They have a limit game that runs a lot and lots of low-stakes tournaments. Like, $15 buy in low... Start w/ 5k chips, blinds start high and go through the roof in the third level, that sort of thing. Fun place, though.

Nugget in Sparks: I've never played there, but I've heard they have games sometimes.

South Lake Tahoe: There's only one place to play that I know of. It's the Harvey's, I think. I've played there a dozen times or so. They don't play 1/2. It's 2/3 or something like that. I think it's one of the best places to play in the area, b/c they have the most tourists. Skiers suck at poker. I've seen nights when they have +12 tables going, two w/ limit and the rest NL. That's unheard of for this area.
I've had problems w/ the service. Getting a drink brought to you can be impossible, and I've had dealers tell me they can't/won't spread the pot out so I can count it. I know it slows the game down slightly, but I don't remember any Reno dealers refusing to do it.

Carson City Nugget: Usually have a limit game going on the weekends and some evenings.

Bottom line: If you want a 5/10 NL game, you're out of luck. The Eldorado and the Peppermill are the go-to rooms.

Thursday-Sunday Peppermill has been spreading 5-10NL, 30-60FL, and sometimes 10-25NL.

The back room at the Peppermill is the nicest I've ever played in. This is a huge compliment considering I've played in ~50 poker rooms in Las Vegas, Macau, Southern Cal, Northern CalNeva, ect.

Edit:jonlock is a bit off on a couple things: See above for consistent Peppermill games & 5-10 comment; Circus no longer has a poker room; Tahoe has a 3/5nl on weekends with a 1k buyin, then after an hour you can match largest stack. Mont Bleu across the street also has a poker room, usually 1/2nl

I take poker trips up to Reno about once a month. Being a 4th generation NorCal native, heading 'up the hill' for the weekend is a family tradition going back to the 1940's. And it's also cheap as hell for my lady and I to live like/be treated like high rollers in that town. If we went to Vegas there's no way we could afford to spend 3 nights in a plush tower suite with a jacuzzi and a steam shower or drink excessive amounts of Chivas Regal at the bar, but dammit, we can in Reno. Yeah, these days as a town it's pretty low-rent and run-down overall. But hey, so are we, so what the ****...

The El Dorado is definitely the premier downtown poker room. The chairs could be a little more comfortable, but I've sat in worse. There's always a cash game available 24/7, and their daily tourneys have a reasonably decent structure (with antes!) and a slew of horrible players. I played in the monthly $2500 freeroll over the weekend, where players earn entry with a 1st through 3rd place tourney finish or 25 hours of cash play, and was just constantly amazed at how poorly most people were playing. I figured that condensing down to the winners and regs would make for a little bit tougher overall field, but this was not the case. Also, instead of their usual solid-color tournament chips, they broke out these weird white and pastel-striped chips that confused the hell out of people with vision issues. Over and over I saw people declare a raise and then throw in the wrong amount, one dealer needed constant help counting the pot, and there were all kinds of dirty stacks. Had to keep a super-close eye on the pot and get dangerously table-captainish a few times. But the final two tables were mainly populated by the usual suspects.

The Cal-Neva is a mixed bag. I love playing there - sometimes. Their daily tournament, when the right people are playing and Win and Justin are dealing, can be one of the friendliest and most fun poker games in town. Not very profitable, but a lot of fun. Donkaliciousness abounds, everybody's laughing, chips are flying, rebuys are a'flowin', and you can ABC TAG your way to the money if you can fade all the 2 and 3 outers along the way. Other times, when the twitchy tweeked-out drunk ratio creeps up too high, and they make the tables 11-handed (or if one particular dealer who shall remain nameless is having a bad day), it can be one of the most frustrating and unpleasant games to be in. I've actually seen people get pulled from the table and 86'ed from the premises on three separate occasions. I find the 10AM has the best crowd because the older, friendlier regs are there for their coffee/social time and most of the hardcore degens are still sleeping it off, but the ElDo 10AM has 3 times the players and a way better structure for the same money. But even so, I continue to play at the Neva to do my very small part to keep their poker room running, because as sketchy as the clientele can be at times, I truly love that place for keeping Old Reno alive. They'll never shut down as a casino because they never over-expanded their operation, they have super-loyal locals and their sports book is a massive cash cow, but it would be a crying shame to lose any more Downtown poker venues. I've yet to play cash there, the few times I was there with a cash table running it was 2/4 limit. Um... no. I think a 1/2PLO game would be rad there, because Neva peeps loves to gambool. But that ain't gonna happen...

The Sands Regency typically has one table of 3/6 limit running, and their poker room closes at 10pm or something. I've never played there, just walked past on my way to a 99c beer, looked at all the $20-$40 stacks and said "nah".

Atlantis runs a daily $40 10K chip deepstack, but if I remember correctly the juice was a little high. It is nice to be able to play that deep in a $40 daily, though. And the room is pretty nice.

But the Peppermill is in a whole 'nother league. A few miles outside of Downtown, but hands down the nicest room in Reno. Those leather chairs (I think they're Herman Millers) are "I want to take one of these home" comfortable. Headed there in May for the HORSE and Stud/8 tourneys at the Chop Pot Classic. Proper mixed-game action in a luxe venue... I can't wait!

If you've ever seen "Dogtown and Z-Boys", there's a quote from Skip Engblom reminiscing about Venice Beach in the 1970's that sums up Reno pretty well for me - "It was dirty. It was filthy. It was... Paradise.". Love that dump...

As far as tournaments on the weekend, which gets more players: Grand Sierra or Peppermill?