Trip Report: Orleans Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, NV

It would be hard to find a better Poker Room in Las Vegas for the small/middle stakes players.

Sure, the high rollers have their 100/200 NL and 1000/2000 limit games at the Bellagio, the Venetian, and the Wynn. But what about us 1/2 and 2/5 NL, 4/8 Limit, and $60 Buy-in tournament players?

The Orleans is the answer. A very niced-size Poker Room. I am guessing around 50 tables or so. They offer 2 Tournaments per day, most of them around a $60 buy in. I believe the Friday and Saturday Night buy-ins are around $120 or so. And they don't just offer NL tournaments, but also Limit tournaments (on Wednesdays) and Omaha tournaments as well.

When I was there the Poker Room manager's name was Marlon. He made everyone feel at home, whether it was their first time playing at the Orleans, or if they were a regular players. The Orleans has tons of local players.

I really liked the Limit tournament I entered. 20 minute rounds, excellent blind/ante structure. Lots of play for your money. Of course the fact that I won the first tournament I played there, was nice as well.

I chopped it with an older man (a regular) and we each took home a nice chunk of change for our 4 1/2 hours of "work".

There are many cash games going on any time day or night. The Boyd properties really do Poker right, and they should be commended.

Grading:

Poker Room: A. I can't think of anything negative to say the 3 times I was there. A terrificly-run Poker Room. 'Nuff said.

Dealers/Staff: A. When we were down to the final 5 or 6 players, Marlon joined us and told some great stories about past tournaments he has seen. The dealers were all very professional and competent. If I lived in Las Vegas, I would make the Orleans my home Poker base.

Strength of Players: 7/10. Solid players for the most part. They get tourists too, but not as many as you would find Downtown or on the Strip. Not going to find a lot of bad players here. Since the players are mostly good, the action really hums along at a nice clip. Lotsa fun to play here.

Overall, if your last name isn't Rockefeller, and the Bellagio, et al. limits are too high for your bankroll..the Orleans is the place for you.

I keep getting offers for free rooms there - I am not sure why since I have never stayed there.

The Orleans is one of the Boyd Properties who use the B-Connected Players card. www.bconnectedonline.com

If you ever stayed at any of the Boyd properties (Orleans, Sam's Town, Gold Coast, Fremont, California, Main Street, etc.) may be why you are getting the free room offers.

Also, as we know, Vegas is kind of hurting right now..there are many free room offers out there to take advantage of.

The rooms are very nice by the way.

Sahara also offers good tournament structure at the low buy-in level (under $220) on a regular basis.
Any other tournaments sub-$100 in Vegas are complete crap, with the vig at a super high % of the buy-in and the terrible structure you are better off playing reasonable table games in the pit (or craps at the East Side Cannery and taking 100x odds!)...

Yea - that is why I am confused. I have never stayed at any of those places lol.

Is the Orleans downtown in Vegas? I will be there next month but I won't be leaving the strip.

Dakota, the Orleans is just off the Strip. It is located a few blocks away from the Rio (Home of the WSOP), Palms and Gold Coast.

Okay - I think I remember seeing it when I went to the Rio.

I wanna go vegas now
I'd tottaly check out Orleans + Binions for some fun poker time.
I'd also want to check out the Rio aswell. What is ur report on the Rio StuUngarRIP?

I've been to the Rio Poker room, but I never played there. I was in Las Vegas and at the Rio for a few days during the 2009 WSOP for the Ante Up for Africa charity event and for day 1A of the Main Event. Mostly to check it out, attend the Pokerpalooza big poker trade show, and to watch the big boys battle it out. Took a lot of pictures and got a lot of autographs..Doyle, Scotty, Gus, Sammy, etc.

The WSOP and the high stakes cash games took place in the Rio Convention area. The regular Rio poker room was bursting at the seams with the regular 4-8 Limit, 1-2 NL and 2-5 NL cash games. The Rio suspended their regular tournaments during the WSOP..

It is located off the strip, if you get off the strip, on the street between Excalibur and New York, New York go about half a mile, The Orleans is on the right.
I stayed there for a week a couple years ago and had a great time. They make you feel as though you are the only one staying there. Didn't play poker there as I wasn't into poker then.
We still get offers for free and discounted rooms 4 years later.
I would definately stay again and recommend it to all.
In fact, if airfares are good, we may head to Vegas in October.