Poker is a hobby for many, but it is a way of life for some, and this article aims to uncover the four best cities in the United States for hardcore players. These places ideally blend card action fun with livability.
Las Vegas
It should be no surprise that Las Vegas is the first pick on this list. Nevada has long been synonymous with US poker, the birthplace of the WSOP, and a global card gambling mecca. Nevada’s most populous city features twenty poker rooms, some based inside top casino resorts like the Venetian, Wynn, Aria, and Bellagio. It hosts the Main Event of the World Series of Poker each summer, now at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, which is the game’s most prestigious extravaganza.
Per Poker Atlas, the Venetian has the most tables in Sin City, at fifty, with the Bellagio falling in second place at thirty-seven. Poker is a cultural pillar of Las Vegas and a cornerstone of the city’s identity. Its card community is tight-knit and diverse, with local rooms, like the ones at South Point or Red Rock, catering to residents with smaller buy-ins and a more relaxed vibe.
Apart from the super high number of gambling locales here, many professional gamblers flock to Vegas because the city’s cost of living is slightly below the national average. Nevada also has no state income tax, and we will not even go into Vegas’ 24/7 lifestyle, which is unmatched in terms of diversity.
Atlantic City
Everyone knows that Atlantic City is the second biggest gambling powerhouse in the United States and the Vegas of the East Coast. New Jersey legalized casino gambling in 1978 and poker in June 1993. Two decades later, it allowed online gambling, ноњ dominating this US arena by a wide margin. Even so, hubs like LegalUSPokerSites.com that rate the best cities to live and play in select not to rank it in their top ten.
It will likely be a shock to most that AC only has three poker venues. These are the Tropicana, Harrah’s Atlantic City, and the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. The latter is the central card hub of the state, as one of the top venues for the World Poker Tour, boasting fifty-two tables, running the MLife card system. This new digital technology ensures accurate tracking and allocation of re-entries, registrations, and contest payouts.
Given the low number of card gambling establishments, the community here is smaller, and the rooms are more social hubs for locals. Home games are too familiar in New Jersey, as are illegal ones. Living expenses in AC are slightly higher than the national average, and unlike in Vegas, the lifestyle here is not as dynamic. Still, many gamblers are fans of the primarily mild climate that Atlantic City enjoys, except for its harsh winters. Its boardwalk leisure, beaches, and seafood restaurants like Dock’s Oyster House are too some of its top appeals.
Los Angeles
While Las Vegas bears the World’s Entertainment Capital nickname, Los Angeles is the base of America’s entertainment industry. It is home to most of Hollywood’s stars and many musicians, comedians, podcasters, and people from all walks of life who make money by entertaining others. It is a curious place gambling-wise because it does not allow casino gaming, yet permits poker rooms, with six venues offering card gambling, including the largest one ever. That is the Commerce Casino, built in 1983, featuring over two hundred tables. The Gardens Casino and Bicycle Casino are also impressive poker spots, housing over a hundred tables apiece.
Living expenses in Los Angeles are way above the national average, as are homes in LA and the surrounding areas. This is not a cheap place to live in, and it has a 1–13.3% state income tax, depending on how much money a person is pulling in, which applies to poker winnings as well. Despite these cons, LA has a highly competitive scene with sharp players and high-stakes games. Daily tournaments and festivals like the Cal State Poker Championship are what keep the blood of the local community here pumping, and celebrities can often get seen at Hollywood Park and the Hustler Casino.
L.A.’s cultural allure, with Santa Monica beaches and Hollywood nightlife, creates a vibrant atmosphere for those who can afford to live and play here.
Chicago
Many would have expected to see Detroit, Tulsa, or Philadelphia in the fourth spot, but we opted for Chicago. Chicago has fourteen poker rooms in the Windy City and the Hammond area. The biggest one is the Rivers Casino Des Plaines, located at 3000 South River Road in the shadows of O’Hare International Airport.
Illinois law restricts card gambling to only rooms in licensed casinos, where blue-collar regulars and regional players from Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin usually mix chiefly. The culture here is not glamorous, and Chicago has mainly a sports-centric culture. Nevertheless, Rivers Casino offers daily tournaments; the same goes for any of the city’s other gaming locales.
Chicago is pricier than Las Vegas or Atlantic City, driven by housing and taxes. However, dining is affordable at local spots, and cultural offerings are accessible and low-cost.
