Fair Poker Rooms

Elegant Venetian Poker Room "A Sure Bet"

Can You Believe It? Butler Service in a Poker Room!

The Venetian's 10,500-square-foot poker room deals a monster hand as the largest poker room in Las Vegas. The posh room opened its doors in April last year with a star-studded invitation-only celebrity poker tournament.

The exotic first prize (a Lotus Elise sports car) was enough to attract the attention of top pro players, including Annie Duke, Johnny Chan, Howard Lederer, Phil Laak, Chip Reese, Mike Matusow, Tom McEvoy, Layne Flack, Liz Liu, Chip and Katrina Jett, Jennifer Harman, Todd Brunson, Amir Vahedi and Carlos Mortensen. Celebrity players included Shannon Elizabeth, Jennifer Tilly, James Van Der Beek, Jeremy Piven and Rebecca Gayheart. After a 9 p.m. champagne ceremony kicked off by Robin Leach, it was time to get a look at "the new face of poker," and to shuffle up and deal.

The spacious room is located in the main casino close to the sports book and Venetian entrance. The elegance and luxury that is the hotel's trademark resonates within the room, which is decorated in deep rich leathers, cherry wood and custom cabinetry, with dazzling crystal chandeliers hung from high vaulted ceilings.

When designing the $2.5 million poker playground, the Venetian paid special attention to keeping enough space between tables. "The spacing of our room is very unique for Las Vegas poker rooms," said Kathy Raymond, director of poker operations. "Players can lean back in their seats and still remain two feet away from the next table."

The main room is nonsmoking and houses 32 tables that spread limit Texas hold'em ($4-$8, $8-$16, $15-$30, $30-$60, $60-$120 and higher), no-limit hold'em ($2-$5, $5-$10, $10-$20) and seven-card stud ($1-$5 spread limit and $20-$40). Those playing at a level of $30-$60 or higher receive $1.50 per hour in comps, while players below that level receive $1 per hour. Daytime tournaments have buy-ins from $60 to $540. Evening events range from $180 to $330.

Players can enjoy a plush relaxation and seating area while taking a break or waiting for the next game. "The relaxation areas are also a truly unique feature of our poker room," said Raymond. Additionally, Raymond believes that the poker room staff is superior, both in knowledge of the game and service. "We have a tremendous team that has come from all across the country to work here," she added.

Every table on the main floor has auto-shufflers, drink holders and comfortable adjustable swivel poker chairs. The room also offers 21 large-screen plasma TVs and state-of-the-art poker technology, including a computerized waiting list, safe-deposit boxes and pagers for waiting players.

To accommodate the high rollers, the Venetian built an exclusive poker salon with five high-stakes tables and a private relaxation area. In addition, an enclosed two-table salon offers celebrities and elite players an even more intimate setting in which to do battle. VIPs can enjoy tableside butler service; those who desire something exotic can simply send their personal servant (one per table) to the hotel's gourmet restaurants to fetch their order.

"This is the sexiest poker room on the Strip," Antonio Esfandiari commented.

By 3 a.m., the 284 players were whittled down to local player Beatric Stranzixger and 2001 WSOP champ Carlos Mortensen. At first, Mortensen held a 3-1 lead, but Stranzixger caught up and eventually won the Lotus with a J-6 suited.