by Richard Lloyd Evans

Created on: March 06, 2008   Last Updated: March 11, 2010

Cable and the Internet has made poker a global phenomenon and there is no better place to play it live than in Sin City - Las Vegas - and played in most of her rooms. Here is the ultimate insiders guide, updated for changes in 2010,  to the best Las Vegas Poker Rooms:

Big Rooms: Aria - Bellagio - Caesar's Palace - MGM Grand - Mirage - The Venetian - The Wynn

The big rooms, those with more than 20 poker tables, are destination poker heavens, but they are not all the same. Each caters to a different type of player.

THE BEST DESTINATION POKER ROOM: Many love it, many hate it, but there is no doubt that the Bellagio Poker Room is the destination for poker. This is the favored room of the top poker pros like Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivy and Doyle Bronson. The “Big Game” is in Bobby’s Room, and if you happen to bring along $100,000 or more to slap on the table the high end poker sharks will love for you to sit with them. But there are games farther down the food chain, and a buy-in as low as $100 can get you in a game. While it is fun to see top pros wandering about, the Bellagio also has a reputation of being a bit snooty. Players with big money wads are catered to and low–end players tend to be ignored – trying to get the attention of management can be like dealing with a Paris cafe waiter. CLOSE SECOND: Venetian, Aria.

BEST FOR WINNING MONEY – The big room with the easiest games to win undoubtedly are at the MGM. The biggest reasons for this are the game limits and the location. The MGM Grand Poker Room is situated in a space between the sports book and the noisy Centrifuge Bar, near Studio 54 and the Lion Habitat. This brings lots of people (often drunk) strolling by who decide to take a crack at this poker thing. The games are small limits, buy-ins range from $40-$500 and can quickly become drunken orgies, especially during the wee hours of the morning.  CLOSE SECOND: Mirage.

MOST LUXIOURIOUS - While the smallest on this list, the Wynn is a big room in luxury. It is popular with a number of the young poker pros in town. For those playing poker on a smaller bankroll, this is probably not the place to play, but if you have a larger wad of cash the Wynn has great games and wonderful food and service. CLOSE SECOND: Venetian.

BEST OVERALL POKER ROOM - Many people, me included, consider the Venetian the best poker room in Vegas now for experienced players. It has everything Bellagio and Caesar's have, but no one can beat

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