Bathroom selection tips:

Busiest bathrooms are Horseshoe right across from the main poker area and Paris right outside the main ballroom.

Shorter lines are to be found in Horseshoe events center (same room where the TV table will be), Horseshoe basement (approx. across from Johnny Rockets), and Paris high limit area (near Eiffel Tower elevator).

The last of those is quite far from the poker area, but also has the most space and the thinnest crowds.

This is great information. Thanks.

It's not super cheap, but for a good breakfast, I do really like Mon Ami Gabi right there in Paris. Worth making a reservation, especially for weekends. Good crepes, steak and eggs, excellent coffee, etc.

Yeah, I second this (and also copy-pasted it for future reference ).

On the Bravo app : I assume this is the first year using an app for registrations or not? I am asking because the WSOP+ app in Bahamas was amazing/made registrations a piece of cake after you had loaded up your account with a deposit or had a decent score, so my question is : does anyone know if you can load up your app with let's say a cash deposit (if you buy into a 2k event but buy in using 4k, as to have an extra 2k on your app for a potential rebuy) or if you have the possibility of leaving monies in Bravo if you get a decent cash? Would be nice to know in advance, if not will ask over there, of course.

You know you are in the USA when...

Funny, especially since it's a French restaurant! And don't knock it.....https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rbKbt_9heYU

GL this summer!

Thx, you too friend

1. I would suggest registering in the evening or late night the day before the event. If it’s a massive vent, like the low-buy-ins, you might want to register a couple days earlier if you plan on playing the last starting flight, to avoid being an alternate if it sells out.

I highly recommend depositing cash into the TBIC account and then using the. Bravo app or website to register for events. The TBIC has a counter in the WSOP payout lounge. You can ask for it when you arrive.

2. There are a few cafes and kiosks in Paris/HS which will have salads and lighter fare. You won’t find anything super cheap in the vicinity of the WSOP though. Outside of HS is the Grand Bazaar shops, where you will find lots of smaller kiosks with international food and also a Subway sandwich shop and other casual dining chains. Dave’s Hot Chicken is a favorite of mine and reasonably priced, though not what I would call healthy eating.

There’s a “True Food Kitchen” location in the Caesar’s Forum
Shops which specializes in healthy food. Might be worth checking out, but it’s a 10-15 minute walk from HS. You could also Uber.

If you’re really looking to eat healthy a lot, I would hit up a grocery store, as others have mentioned, and keep food in your room. You should have a fridge, but make sure your room has a microwave, if one is needed. They were removed from HS rooms a while back. You can find grocery options using Google maps. There’s also a Trader Joe’s store about 15-20 minutes Uber ride from Paris which has some pretty high quality grocery options.

3. You won’t have any problem finding a handicap-accessible toilet. Whether you find an unoccupied one during the WSOP breaks is a different matter. Breaks are 20 minutes long and if you plan things by leaving the table a minute or so early, you should have no problem getting to your hotel room and back in that timeframe, even if you are playing at HS. Be aware the hallway out front of the HS ballroom gets super congested at the start and end of breaks. Paris does too but it’s not quite as bad. Again, if you will need a little extra time, just plan to leave before the start of break. Level lengths for most events are pretty long, so it should cause a major issue.

5. The hospitality industry has always been heavily tip-based since upwards of 80-90% of employees’ wages come from tips. When ordering drinks it’s customary to give a dollar for each drink, though some people are more generous. When you get housekeeping to clean your room, it’s also customary to leave something. I’m pretty neat, so I feel comfortable leaving $3-5, and I only get housekeeping about once a week. But I have seen the disgusting state of some other people’s rooms and I would be embarrassed to leave so little in their case. But of course, it’s up to you.

As for tipping while gaming, it’s highly variable. Some players leave a percentage of winnings if they win. Some tip for every pot they win in cash, or table games. For my part, I hate how tipping has corroded the dynamic of gaming and I like to leave a certain amount per hour I play. That way I am supporting the dealers in a way which is fair to me and them, and also avoids the uncomfortable and annoying mentality which many hold that they are entitled to a percentage of my luck and/or skill. Most dealers are just happy when players tip anything, but you will encounter some who will give you a dirty look or even say something (though this is really frowned upon by management) if you never tip.

If you are so lucky to cash, the person at the payout counter will ask you if you want to leave a tip. Again, it’s totally up to you, but there’s a reason many poker dealers hate tournaments. It’s because they make far less in tips in them than cash poker.

Tipping at restaurants is typically in the 15-25% range. Be aware that you will be asked, either implicitly or explicitly, if you would like to leave a tip for virtually every food-related transaction you make, even those where you don’t sit down for a meal. It really is a ubiquitous thing now. Use your own judgement for what, if anything, is appropriate for the situation.

As for the rest:

A) bring some sweaters, sweatshirts or other warmer clothing. It may be 115 degrees outside, but it is usually kept quite cool inside the casinos. And if you are unlucky enough to find your table under an AC vent, it can be uncomfortably chilly.

B) Be prepared to walk a lot, even if you’re not going to be going up and down the strip. The resorts are enormous and things which seem like they should be close on a map may not be so close. So bring some comfortable shoes. If lots of walking will be difficult, as someone else suggested, there are motorized 3-wheel carts you can rent. But if you do, be careful as there are lots of crowds. They certainly save on the walking but it’s not always convenient to get around in them during rush-hour times of day like around dinner. Other than saving on walking, they also won’t help in the congested hallways during breaks.

C) when you arrive, take some time to get the lay of the land. Do some recon on food options, restrooms, etc. Use the info in these threads, as well as Google to find your way. The hotel concierge can also be a good resource.

D) Jet lag is an issue. Be prepared. It may not hit you the first full day because of adrenaline. But eventually it will hit you. When coming out for so long I usually like to take at least a day or two before playing just to get my body a little acclimated. WSOP poker days are long (upwards of 14-15 hours, if you’re lucky and/or good). Be prepared to just be tired a lot by the third week.

E) Since you will be there so long, try to do some touristy stuff, so long as you are physically able. It will do you good to get your head away from the poker tables at times. Definitely plan to take a few days off when convenient for your scheduled events.

If you’re into the NBA, rookie summer league games are usually held during the middle of July and you will often see players all over Vegas during this time.

There are also obviously tons of shows, concerts and attractions for ALL tastes and interests.

The tipping paradigm in poker tournaments is all screwed up for a number of reasons which don’t need to be discussed in this thread. However, dealers get zero or very little in the way of tips from the rake which tournaments charge. Even in cases where the venue advertises a “staff fee”, dealers don’t always get all of that. So that 20% the WSOP charges in rake for some events is not being given to the dealers as tips.

However, WSOP tourney dealers are paid fairly well for the industry. But tourney tipping is still a thing. Here’s hoping someone smart and brave can come up with a better system for everyone involved.

This is what I was seeking, thx!

Anyone have any insights on booking tickets for boxing or MMA fights while in Vegas - will not pay 1.1k min for seeing the overated Mcgregor though

Question about Payfiniti for anyone who has signed up already - how long did it take for them to approve your account after you submitted your information?

Dubnjoy
Hey it's not cafe' au lait, bread butter and Jelly or Croissants and brioches but we make do as best we can on this side of the pond. Or you could always go with the SPINACH & GOAT CHEESE OMELETTE

Black - I didn't realize Mon Ami Gabi served breakfast and per the menu its actually cheaper than the Cafe Americano. They absolutely serve quality meals so thanks for pointing this out.

Spinach and goat cheese omelette sounds amazing

I have back troubles too. Vegas casinos are huuuuge. Just the walk from room to the casino area can be daunting. You may want to inquire about renting an electric scooter.

The 24 hour cafe in Paris is not bad. Vegas is not like it used to be - finding food past midnight isn't easy. Be ready for sticker shock. EVERYTHING on the Strip is outrageously expensive.

Weed is still illegal Federally here. State governments defy that law but if you plan to bring anything, Customs my give you some trouble, I have no idea.

All I'll say wrt that is that everyone is charged a "tip" when they register, so I don't leave much of an extra tip if I cash a tournament. Maybe a couple percent at most. The fact that they make everyone tip galls me a bit.

For almost anything that involves a human in Vegas, they always have their hand out. You can find some info by searching, but I keep a handful of ones in a side pocket.

I've stayed at Horseshoe since it was called the MGM Grand on and off over the decades, and I've never seen a microwave in my room. Never saw one in a Paris room either. They will bring one if I ask?

In OP's case he can easily buy one at Walmart for $55 and save enough on 2 meals to pay for it. Heck, as long as he's staying he can buy a freezer too, for frozen dinners.

I've talked to a few dealers. They make plenty, although I'm sure plenty of them complain about not making enough. If they weren't being paid enough they wouldn't be there. WSOP tournament events have forced tipping, so no dealers are are going poor while there.

I also thought no casino hotel provides a microwave. !!!!

Did anyone ever asked for a microwave and they provided in Paris or HS ?

I distinctly remember having a microwave over a decade ago. And when they got rid of the bedside clocks at HS I was talking about it with a maintenance guy and he said they had a storage room full of clocks, coffee-makers and microwaves. I doubt it if every room had one at some point and have no idea if this applies to Paris as well.

My comments have nothing to do with whether or not dealers are fairly compensated by the WSOP. And I’m not sure what you’re referring to with forced tipping in WSOP events. When you cash, you are asked if you want to leave a tip. You don’t have to.

Having a microwave in the room will definitely increase convinces for people like me who like to avoid junk food and has many dietary restrictions.

Will definitely ask this year.

But I don’t have hope of getting one !!

Vdara is the way to go. And the walk is 90% indoors, just need to cross the strip from bellagio to horseshoe via the overpass walkway.

By following this thread, I have feeling that Vegas has changed tremendously over the past decade+ (since the last time that I was there) and especially since the pandemic... I have a feeling that the prices have skyrocketed (I remember options like Denny's and whatnot being cheap alternative options and not having any markup at the time...), the homelessness issue is much more of a concern/visible, and that tipping demands will tilt the living shyt out of me (and am used to tipping culture)!!! A week was enough for me back then, so I fathom I will definitely need to get out more, see a sporting event etc.

Right you are. No microwave. They don't even provide a coffee maker like they do at the Gold Coast. I bring a coffee mug, instant coffee, and a Norpro 'immersion heater' (Amazon, Ebay, etc).

https://www.wsop.com/2024/payoutcalculator/

That's good news. Silly to play 16 hours to 1.5x your buy-in.

Looks like 1st place is being reduced by around 10% from last year as will other spots. This decision makes lots of sense since they are keeping payouts to the top 15% of the field.

Hey guys,

I qualified for WSOP ME but don't have the time to go myself. So i'm selling the 12k$ package (10k seat + 2k$ for travelling).

Package also includes access to the exclusive GG Platinum Lounge, a Gift Bag with official WSOP / GG Merch and participating in the 1,000,000$ promo for wearing the GG badge.

If you are interested, DM me.
Good luck to everyone playing ✌️