The first time you step into a new poker room can be a mixed experience; it can go either way.
Certain poker rooms can be found in obscure areas of the casino; others utilize complex procedures; and a significant number are dismal, emitting an unwelcoming atmosphere.
None of these things is applicable to the Aria Poker Room in Las Vegas.
I visited the Aria Poker Room for four days in a row recently, and played for a combined total of 8 hours.
Although my stay at the Aria was only a week and thus a small sample size, it was an exceptionally enjoyable experience. It made me believe that the claims about the decline of live poker have been significantly overstated.
The layout and aesthetics of the poker room
The room is conveniently located just outside the Aria’s sports book entrance and is easy to find. Despite being positioned at the back of the casino, it’s in a zone with a high volume of traffic due to the presence of both front and back entrances of the Aria. The poker room is unmissable, marked by an open half-wall that separates it from the main casino floor, adorned with artistically carved playing cards and bearing the words ‘Poker Room’.
Compared to giants like Commerce, The Bike, Foxwoods, or Borgata, the Aria Poker Room, with its 24 tables, is relatively small. However, in Las Vegas, it is considered a good-sized poker room.
The majority of the tables are situated on the primary floor, while a few are placed in a slightly raised section at the back of the room. Additionally, the main attraction is “Ivey’s Room,” a solitary high limit table that can be seen from the floor, but is housed in its own exclusive room.
You can observe the proceedings in Ivey’s Room from a distance, but you won’t be able to get near the action.
The layout is quite pleasant overall, providing ample space between tables.
Game options at Aria
In 2014, similar to other poker rooms, the Aria primarily offered No Limit Holdem, with $1/$3 and $2/$5 NLHE being the most popular cash game options. The room also frequently hosted $1/$3 and occasionally $2/$5 PLO games.
Aria will also generate interest lists for various poker games such as Omaha 8, Limit Holdem, and more. This includes larger NLHE and PLO games and any other game that players request.
The Aria also offers a distinct game for players seeking a unique experience. A $9/$18 12-Game Mix is available nearly every evening. Additionally, Aria presents the game of the day in Ivey’s Room.
During the evening, the room is bustling, but it becomes notably quiet in the early morning with only a few tables running. The first signs of activity begin in the early afternoon when the Aria hosts a well-liked 1 PM tournament.
The Aria’s 1 PM No Limit Holdem tournament, with a buy-in of $100+$25, often attracts more than 100 players. On the days I attended, around 125 players participated, creating a prize pool of about $12,000. The Aria’s 7 PM tournament, which also has a $100+$25 buy-in for the NLHE event, typically draws between 50-75 participants.
Perks
The Aria provides a Players Club with a fairly good reward rate.
Poker players typically earn $2/hour, however, between 5AM and 10AM, players at the Aria receive $3/hour in rewards, irrespective of the stakes.
You can redeem these rewards at several Aria eateries, including Jean Phillippe, Lemongrass, 50/50, and the Aria Café, by requesting a voucher from the floor.
Room rates are discounted after playing poker for five hours.
- The rate for the Poker Room at Aria from Sunday to Thursday is $119.
- The rate for the Poker Room is $159 on Friday and Saturday.
Players also have the option to merge their play time in order to qualify for the Poker Room rate. This means that two friends, or a married couple, who each play for 2.5 hours, can jointly receive a room at the reduced poker rate.
The intangibles
I dedicated my time to the $9/$18 Mixed Game, where I found the regulars to be quite friendly and the table’s atmosphere very laid-back. Having been accustomed to the unhappiness and grievances of players at Foxwoods, the attitudes exhibited at the Aria were a refreshing change.
As soon as you enter, you’ll immediately spot several professional players dispersed across the room. Despite the room’s relatively small size, these players are quite conspicuous. During my brief stay at Aria, I had the opportunity to play games with Karina Jett and Jimmy Fricke, and noticed many other familiar faces. Many were frequently entering and exiting Ivey’s Room, including Eli Elezra, Jean Robert Bellande, and Orel Hershesier, who, I learned, is a regular at the Aria. These were just a few of the recognizable individuals that I encountered.
I was pleasantly surprised by the infrequent occurrence of disputes. The typical shouts for “FLOOR” were practically unheard of, the dealers were highly proficient (considering I was participating in a 12-Game Mix with games like Pineapple RazzDeucy), and the floor staff were both polite and accommodating. Even the cashiers at the poker cage exuded positivity and cheerfulness.
You’ll also observe the power supplies beneath the table for phone charging, an outstanding dining menu at your table including desserts, and the most comfortable chairs in any poker room that I’ve ever come across. Similar to a computer chair, the chairs in Aria’s poker room have an adjustable height and reclining feature.
The Aria is an excellent poker room overall. It offers a good variety of games and has a positive ambiance compared to other poker rooms.
