What tournaments or casinos do you like to play while the Wsop is running? Looking to play at some casinos while not at Wsop.

Check out Poker Palace.

I've often wondered... do the tourneys in other parts of town (e.g. the Strip) get softer during the WSOP because so many regs will be at Rio? Or are they harder because the tourist/rec crowd disproportionately play in the WSOP events during that span?

Obviously, it could just even out and there's no discernible difference. It seems like it would be the former, as most WSOP events would be out of the price range for many amateurs.

I think everywhere gets softer in general. Even non-Rio casinos get jam packed with waiting lists

I would check out Venetian or Wynn probably. I’ve been to Vegas 3 times this year and the Venetian was really good each time I went. Wynn, play was also soft but ran kinda bad there.

I would say check out both places. I’m pretty sure neither are requiring a vax so I would assume the player pool could be super soft and spicy as the unvaxxd crowd will be at the WSOP. Venetian deepstacks has an amazing structure. Would check that out over the wynn daily’s as the structures are much better. If you are just looking for a daily soft donkament that won’t go too long, Wynn is a great place. Feel the Wynn gets a lot of rich folk who suck at gambling if they aren’t playing the highest stakes. Just my thoughts.

Things look a little leaner this year but there are still a lot of options.

For tourneys, some of the standard "lesser" series that run in parallel to the WSOP aren't going this year (Planet Hollywood being the greatest loss). That said, Venetian, Aria, Wynn, Golden Nugget, and Orleans all appear primed for lower price point tournaments to round out your schedule. Google those poker rooms for their details - I think all are out except for the Orleans which can't be far behind at this point. There will also be the standard daily (mostly) bad structure tourneys everywhere that has opened their poker room, but doesn't doesn't have a series if you are just looking to pass some time.

If you enjoy cash, consider the WSOP cash games - although I haven't played them b/c I gravitate to tourneys during the WSOP season. Mentioning b/c they tend to be soft by reputation. The other normal rooms at the casinos around town will be standard busy - at the lower limits that I play cash I don't really think it's any tougher or softer than anywhere else - pretty standard but at least in the non-Covid past, probably a bit busier. Final note on cash: Do keep an eye on promotional rake which has even moved into some of the higher end rooms - if there is one be sure it's for high hands, bad beats, or a freeroll that you actually are free to play vs a freeroll where you'll be back home and others are playing for your share of the prize pool.

Good luck and enjoy!

Some actual helpful advice in this thread. NVG might be making a turn from the muck.

This guy has it all figured out. But you miss out on the best point. Wynn has the best looking waitresses. Now you can call me whatever but I keep it real. If i have to look at a bunch of slobs for hours many of them bitching and moaning, it is a nice break to look up and see an attractive woman just as a break from it. So hands down I love the Wynn just for that.

Haha dude I agree with that though. The Venetian also has some cuties roaming around with drinks. Btw, it’s hilarious how some of the lower limit casinos have older women/ ugly chicks working with drinks. Even at my local casino, the girls serving drinks in the poker room are really bad looking compared to places like Borgata (AC), Wynn, Venetian, other higher end casinos. In Vegas, I think the waitresses at Caesars looked horrendous when walking the gambling floor.

Not sure why you wouldn’t make it a priority to hire attractive cocktail waitresses.

I believe the waitresses at MGM and CET properties are unionized, so you will see women that have been working there for potentially a very very long time, whereas the waitresses at Wynn and Venetian, and from what I remember at least years ago Borgata was the same way.

Aria just released a tournament series per Trooper .. rarely, if ever, hear complaints about Aria tournaments .. other than you'll meet a few Pros. GL

Stardust Casino used to have cocktail waitresses that were close to 70.

The old waitresses fill up their trays with drinks and are efficient. So many young waitresses are so inefficient it’s embarrassing. Anyway, free drinks is free drinks. I have lowered my expectations after Covid. If I get a drink within 15 minutes, regardless of service, I consider it a win!

Is the WSOP still the only place requiring the jab?

The Grand Poker Series at GN is fun. From what I recall the structures aren't great, and the rake is borderline abusive, but they host a lot of low buyin non-NLH tourneys, which are a lot of fun.

Three sources which may be helpful:

1) there is a "Tournament Events" subforum here that has discussion of tournament activity for series of special (i.e. non-daily) tournaments. Things like WSOP, WSOPC, WPT, Venetian Deepstacks etc.

2) this link takes you a Google sheet that conveniently lists all such tournaments in a spreadsheet: http://bitly.com/WSOP2021

3) http://vegas-poker-schedule.com lists most tournaments, from crappy $50 dailies on up. You can filter there by casino, buy in range, game type, etc. too.