Photo Courtesy (Nevada Casino History)
Downtown Las Vegas will once again have a summertime tournament when Binion's Poker Classic gets cranked up at the end of the month (May 30). It will compete directly with the WSOP at the Rio, which starts on May 31.
While the WSOP started at Binion's, it has moved uptown, and so have the room rates and tournament costs. However, you can play at Binion's without busting your bankroll and have a great time.
Most of the tournaments are $100 or $150 buy-ins, and even the Main Event is attainable for many players at just $1,000. Rooms are available in the downtown Las Vegas casino area and are quite reasonable.
The last time I stayed at Binion's I had a decent room, but I felt like a giant. At 6 feet-two inches, my feet stuck way-out over the end of the tiny bed. The dresser and TV were only a couple feet away, and I was almost claustrophobic in the no-window room. It was $39 a night and I survived.
Plus, they had the best deli pastrami sandwiches around. And, when I got tired of those, I walked over to the Golden Gate and had $1.99 shrimp cocktails. Not those itty-bitty ones some clubs try to pass off as a snack, but a full ice cream sundae goblet full!
If you happen to have kids, forget the Gate - because they now have strippers, er, dancing girls in the pit. I know, it's Vegas after all, but really? In the pit?
It didn't used to be like that - and I can prove it. Take a look at the "View Timeline photos and stories at the Golden Gate website and see what I mean.
Comments
the last time i was at binions, no cafe anymore and no rooms. so check ahead
I played The Binion’s Classic back in 2008. I got my first ranked tournament cash there with a 5th place finish in event #32. Binion’s runs an excellent tournament. It is well worth the time to check this series out.
As far as the strippers in the pit at the Gate, my local casino has been doing that for about a year now. They deal to the idiots that will take 6 to 5 on black jack in exchange for free booze and eye candy. I’ll sit three tables away and take my 3 to 2 payouts thank you very much. I don’t drink and my vision ain’t THAT bad yet!
OMG – You are right. No rooms are available at Binion’s anymore. I will admit I was dismayed the last time I was walking downtown because the casino is nearly all slots – but hadn’t checked with the hotel. Bummer.