After spending the past year checking out this site and reading trip reports I made my trip to Vegas/Mesquite for some poker.

Virgin River (Mesquite) - Small room with lots of locals. I played a 4-8 game with a 1/2 kill pot. First time playing with a 1/2 kill, but once I understood I didn't mind it at all. A lot of the players are locals so you have to play smart and get lucky at times. Most memorable hand was the four of a kind Aces I received through the flop, turn, and river. One regular player told me the Oasis Casino, in Mesquite, has an evening NL tourney which is pretty good with decent payouts for about $50.

Orleans - Very nice rooms with comps. Played off and on during my three day stay there. Very busy with lots of action in the early part of the evening while it tapers off come around midnight. Played a 2-4 game and could not win a hand. Each hand I was in, and there were several, I had to split with another player. Oh well no loss in the money department. Played a 4-8 game and lost about $40. A lot of regulars there.

Gold Coast - Poker room is roped off from the slot area. Each time I was there they at least had 2-3 tables running. Played in a 2-4 game with a 1/2 kill and made about $150. It was a good night and the cards just kept coming. I also played in a morning tournament at 1000 am. $22 buy in for NL. My aces got busted on the river which put me in short stack and then my KQo made a two pair, but got busted on the river by the same person with the same damn flush. Oh well it was fun and the staff was pretty friendly.

Boulder Station - Very small poker room and everyone was crammed in to this room. Played a 2-4 game with some regulars and held my own until I started playing stupid. Would not recommend playing there until they get a bigger room.

Sunset Station (Henderson) - Stayed there for 2 nights and played for about 4 hours one night. I woke up at about 130 AM after finally getting some sleep and made my way down to the room. It is an actual room with enough room. They had about 4 tables going when I arrived at around 200 AM. Management and staff were awesome and friendly. Played a 3-6-9 game which had a lot of action. I fluctuated up and down at times. This table broke after about 1.5 hours and then I played a 4-8 game. Came in as small stack due to everyone else having at least 2-3 racks if not more. This table was making all the noise earlier on while I was playing 3-6-9. Made some full houses and walked away up about $60. Each pot was decent size going into the flop so you had to play smart and conservative. Waitresses were on the ball and you could order food from the 24 hour Cafe and they would deliver it to you while you played. For the four hours of non-stop play the manager said I earned $5.00 in comps and put me on the list for the morning tourney. They had a $25 buy-in with a $3 buy for an extra $100 in chips for the dealers. You could rebuy for $10 only once. Played stupid and was out early. Pokerbeat Television Show was in the process of taping there at the casino.

Cannot wait for my next trip.