CityCenter’s Aria Casino Brings New Poker Room to the Las Vegas Strip

The Grand Opening of the Aria Casino marked a big day for the City within a City on the Las Vegas Strip. A huge turnout emerged to take part in the first Aria experience including big names in the poker world. Poker players were lining up to get a glimpse of the huge 24 table poker room found inside the newest Vegas casino. Within minutes of opening its doors, the only casino within CityCenter had players already showing up in crowds to begin playing poker for the first time ever in the brand new poker room.

18 tables make up the main playing area of the poker room where among them can be played $1/$3 and $2/$5 No Limit Hold’em and $3/$6 Limit Hold’em. Mixed games were also seen being played from the very beginning including $4/$8 Omaha High-Low. The other six tables are split up between a high stakes gaming area in the back and a 1 Table VIP lounge where players can enjoy the game from the comfort of a secluded room. In addition, the high stakes game tables are curtained off to provide a private environment as well which keeps noise out for better concentration.

The Bobby’s Room at the Bellagio has some competition as many poker pros have been spotted playing in the new poker room. David Benyamine, Tom “durrrr” Dwan, Patrik Antonius and Cirque Du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte were all hanging out in the poker room’s VIP lounge just one day after the casino’s grand opening. The room is mostly closed off to the viewing public except for the glass front door. The VIP lounge could be getting a name soon. Rumor has it that Phil Ivey may be loaning out his name just like Bobby’s Room at the Bellagio is named after Bobby Baldwin. So there may be some real high stakes action going on at Phil’s Room in the near future.

Poker News Daily caught up with a few of the players who have experienced the brand new poker room for themselves including Jimmy “gobboboy” Fricke and Team UB player Bryan Devonshire.  Both players seemed to have good things to say about their first impression of the poker room.

“I was impressed,” admitted Devonshire. “I felt like I was in a cozy, futuristic lodge.” Aria Casino uses natural sunlight instead of wasting energy to keep the poker room bright for players and also maintain its green status.

Fricke also commented on the poker room saying that is was “pretty good.” One small problem that he and other poker players were having was with their cell phone reception inside the poker room. The issue with the cell phones is apparently linked to specific carriers.

Players were also a bit frustrated with the volume level coming from the main casino area while seated at main poker player area. The poker area is secluded with a low wall and large columns decorated with golden cards, the sounds of the other casino passersby and slot machines was a little too loud for some players to be able to concentrate on the action. The staff members in the poker room are aware of the situation and are moving to resolve this matter quickly.

Other than a few tiny imperfections, the new poker room is a fresh new alternative to the average casino poker room and is getting better and better. The poker room service is impeccable and players can take advantage of a beverage service while playing. A food service is also coming soon. The wait to be seated is extremely short and chip runners help to keep the ball rolling. Overall, the new Las Vegas poker room is a real treat and definitely worth the trip.