The Monte Carlo Casino in Las Vegas will be closing the doors to its poker room on April 25th.
Monte Carlo Las Vegas contains a small non-smoking poker room made up of 8 tables, which all feature automatic shufflers. The Monte Carlo poker room has been operational since 1996 in its location on Las Vegas Boulevard. This venue is devoted to poker, as shown by its three-quarters enclosed status.
As part of MGM Resorts International’s plans to rebrand and restructure the Monte Carlo into two new hotels, Park MGM and The NoMad Las Vegas, the venue is gradually shuttering its facilities.
The Monte Carlo Casino in Las Vegas will lose its poker room on April 25th ahead of a major redevelopment. (Image: montecarlo.com)
Back in October of 2016 the pool and various shopping outlets were closed and in the coming weeks the poker room will join them.
With eight tables and typical cash game limits running from $1/$2 to $3/$6, the Monte Carlo’s poker room is one of the smaller places to play on the Strip. However, it was thanks to its lower limits that it became known as a place for casual players.
Strip Revenue on the Up Means More Money to Invest
Despite that fact, MGM Resorts International has plans to build two new venues in 2018 and capitalize on what appears to be an upturn in the city’s tourist trade. According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, state casinos pocketed $11.26 billion in 2016 which is getting close to the 2012 record ($12.85 billion).
Of that figure, the Las Vegas Strip contributed 56 percent, which suggests casinos in the area are starting to generate more revenue they can then use to reinvest in more developments. However, it seems as though poker isn’t high on the list of priorities.
When the Monte Carlo closes its poker room doors, the Strip and its surrounding areas will be left with just 19 poker rooms. At the time poker was reaching its peak and numbers at the WSOP were reaching record highs (2000-2007), Vegas had 26 poker rooms boasting a total of 396 tables.
Monte Carlo Poker Chips Amazon
Vegas Visitors Want More than Poker
Although Nevada poker revenue hit $117.8 million in 2016, with the Strip and surrounding areas contributing $78 million to that total, it’s a long way from the money made by casino games and other industries. In fact, part of the reason for a lack of interest in poker by casino owners is the growth in business and leisure tourism.
According to director of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), Kevin Bagger, a record 42.9 million people visited the city in 2016. Contributing to that record was 6.3 million convention-goers (up by 7.1 percent) as well as tourists from Asia.
With more people visiting Vegas for things other than poker, Bagger said that reinvestments for infrastructure are typically geared towards “amenities people want” such as the T-Mobile Arena and SpeedVegas.
Although the new venues that replace the Monte Carlo will likely have some form of poker room, it seems they’ll take second place to other non-poker facilities.
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Monte Carlo is located towards the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. The property is owned by MGM Resorts. There is a tram that connects the Monte Carlo to the Bellagio, and a walkway that connects Monte Carlo to Aria.
The Monte Carlo Poker Room has 8 cash games tables, with two additional tables that are used for tournaments outside the poker room if needed.
The main cash game found running at the Monte Carlo is a 1/3 No Limit Texas Hold’em with a $100-$300 buyin. There is an occasional 2-6 spread limit game, though this runs infrequently. No limit hold’em is by far the most popular game spread. If you want to find a list of running games you can call the poker room to find details in order to see if there’s a suitable game running.
Smoke/Noise Levels – One of the Best in Vegas
The Monte Carlo Poker Room is very quiet. It is tucked away in a corner, away from most of the casino floor. The sports book is just far enough away to not be loud, but close enough to run over and make a bet between hands. Smoke is virtually a non issue in the poker room due to its location.
Comps Gained at the Poker Tables
Players earn $1 an hour in comps while playing when clocked in with their M Life card. Unlike most rooms, the Monte Carlo Poker Room caps comps at $6 total for a 24 hour period. Players may use comps towards hotel, food, and gift shop merchandise. The casino hotel rate is offered to players that average 5 hours a day during their stay. The casino rate equates to 25% off of the advertised rate for that day.
Poker Room Facilities
Monte Carlo Poker Club
For such a small poker room, Monte Carlo offers several amenities, better than many of it’s larger counterparts. There are several TVs located around the poker room. All cash game tables use automatic shufflers. The bathroom and sports book are located nearby. Cocktail service is offered, with many higher end drinks comped. Players may alsoreceive a massage while playing.
Holdem Alternatives at the Monte Carlo
The Monte Carlo Poker Room advertises that there is a regular 3/6 Omaha Hi game. When I inquired about it, I was told it is not a common game, but they will spread it or any other game upon request when there is enough interest.
Monte Carlo Poker Tournaments
Monte Carlo offers at least three daily No Limit Hold’em tournaments. At 9am daily, there is a $37+$13 tournament. At 6pm and 11pm daily, there is a $45+$15 tournament. On Wednesdays, these tournaments become bounty tournaments and the bounty is $10 on top of the standard buyin. When one player knocks another player out, they win a bounty chip off of the player that went out of the tournament. Each Thursday-Sunday, there is a $27+$13 tournament with unlimited $20 rebuys. In all tournaments, players may reenter during the first hour.
Waitlists
Monte Carlo Poker Tournament
Monte Carlo uses the Genesis Bravo System, but like many of the other large rooms in Vegas, it does not feed that information into the Bravo Poker app. If you want to nquire about the games running or get on the waitlist you can call the poker room. Monte Carlo Poker Room’s Twitter account is @MonteCarloPKR. The Monte Carlo Poker Room’s Twitter account is not very active though.
Monte Carlo Poker Chip Set
Rake Amounts and Jackpot Drop
The Monte Carlo Poker Room rakes a sandard10% up to $4. There is also a $1 jackpot drop at $10, and a second drop at $40. There is a monthly $16,000 freeroll that pays the top 36 players. It also pays $100 each to the first two people to lose pocket aces or kings in the tournament. There are also high hand bonuses for cash games, starting at $50 for four of a kind.
Finding the Poker Room
Players entering Monte Carlo from the Las Vegas Strip should walk straight back along the far left walkway. The poker room is just past the sports book. Players coming in from the parking deck should go to the right as they enter the casino floor. The poker room is on the far right. Players coming from Aria or the tram station should make a left when entering the casino floor. Take the first right along the walkway and the poker room is straight ahead, to the right of the sports book.