Mandalay Bay

Since 1999, Las Vegas’s Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino has been home to a well-presented poker room that spreads at least 10 tables of action on a regular basis. Following the global trends of poker, no-limit hold’em is the most popular game here. At least three no-limit tournaments run every day at an affordable level for tourists and locals, with buy-ins starting at $60. The cash-game action follows a similar trend, as players can jump in no-limit games up to $2-$5 stakes and limit hold’em as high as $10-$20.The poker room also offers Pot Limit Omaha as well as a featured round by round game on Saturdays containing both No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha.

The Mandalay Bay poker room can be found just beyond the sportsbook in its own elevated area of the casino floor. The raised platform is surrounded by Roman-style pillars and a low ornate railing and heralded by an enormous glowing “poker room” sign. There are several monitors spread around the high points of the surrounding walls which serve different purposes. Some give information about the tournaments that are in progress or upcoming, and others supply sports broadcasts for interested players. Meanwhile, the far end of the raised area is the location of a massive scoreboard-style screen that displays waiting lists and details about the cash games in action.

The Mandalay Bay poker room’s comp rate is $2 per hour. Players earn comps while they play with their MGM Rewards card which can be used at 14 Restaurants throughout Mandalay Bay and Mandalay Place. Poker promotions offered include a unique progressive tiered high-hand system. High Hands (Quads or Better) paid every time they are hit, all day, every day the room is open. On certain days, separate prizes are additionally awarded to the players who make the best hand of the hour in Hold’em. Various other promotions are run intermittently.