I am a local Las Vegas resident and i play cards for a living. I thought it might be helpful if I fill you guys in on on vegas poker from a local's perspective. I have gone from grinding it out in the cash games to tournaments in an effort to make a million. I've been playing professionally for 6 years on mid-limit and no limit cash games and for the past 5 months or so I have been playing tournaments throughout town in order to prepare myself for the wsop in july.
Anyway here is a quick review of some tournaments to you should and shouldn't play. The best tournament in terms of value is at Ceaser's. This tournament has the best structure with 4500 starting chips and 40 minute rounds and doesn't stretch your wallet too much with the noon tournament costing $130(80 buyin, 50 rebuy) and the night tournament costing $220(120 + 100). If you have a little more money, try the wynn $330, or bellagio weekend tournaments $1000.
If your gonna play smaller buyin tournaments the best value is at the sahara. For $62(40 + 20) you could earn up to $3500 and you get 3500 starting chips with 20 minute rounds! This tournament has a good mix of tight local players, good tourists, and drunks. Binions also has a decent tournament as does the aladdan, the Orleans, and MGM all for about $100.
If you want to play in a real poker tournament, stay away from the Luxor, Mandalay Bay, the Plaza, Imperial Palace, and Circus Circus. Only play these for fun. It is still poker to some extent and they are inexpensive and a good way to see cards, have drinks, and maybe even learn a thing or two.
Good luck everybody, I'll keep writing and filling you guys in on the Vegas scene and how my quest to "make a million by the end of 2006" is going - - - Nokes06