Having gone months without live poker, players flocked to the two Las Vegas poker rooms that opened on Thursday, with both Orleans and South Point enjoying plenty of traffic.
The Orleans poker room opened to eager players on Thursday, even if they had to play short handed and were encouraged to wear masks. (Image: Facebook/Sue Rosen Soto)
That wasn’t so great for players who didn’t get to the rooms early, as the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s mandate of four-handed tables meant that wait lists were long.
Then in a surprise, both rooms began playing five-handed before Thursday ended as patrons reported that the NGCB decided to allow an extra player per table. Though it would seem unlikely for two casinos to independently put their licenses at risk at a time when the public is sure to be watching, CardsChat News has not yet been able to confirm that Nevada’s gaming regulators did indeed change the reopening rules.
Taking Poker Demand’s Temperature
Longtime poker pro and real estate agent Roy Cooke reported that Orleans used every other table and taking a max rake of $3 with no jackpot drop, while South Point took a max rake of $3 with a $1 promo rake when a flop was seen.
Casinos recommend that players wear masks, but they are not required and only about half of players wore them, according to posters on social media.
Sue Rosen Soto reported on the Facebook group RealGrinders that the Orleans did a “non invasive” temperature check of foreheads when patrons entered, using thermometers that can record a temperature without touching the skin.
She said about a dozen games were running at the Orleans, a mix of No-Limit Hold’em and Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, primarily, with players in the games that wouldn’t normally play short handed.
“No badbeat? No promotions? 4 handed? Gotta be desperate to play,” wrote RealGrinders user Mary Ingraffia.
“We are…lol,” Soto replied.
User Alexander Lindenmuth pondered why players wouldn’t want to wear a mask, since the face covering can be advantageous. “It covers your mouth. It’s perfect for live tells,” he wrote.
Others reported that while poker tables played short handed, patrons in the slots and bar areas did not appear to be practicing social distancing. The NGCB told casinos they should discourage patrons from gathering in large groups under the reopening plan.
Muted Bustle in Las Vegas Casinos
The Las Vegas Review Journal reported that light foot traffic and moderate vehicular traffic was observed on the Strip, which hasn’t fully opened up – including most of those with the biggest poker rooms, such as Aria, Bellagio and Encore.
The Venetian opened its poker room on Friday morning and the Bravo Live poker app showed six NLHE games running at around noon. Orleans was also running six games at that time, while South Point hosted nine games.
