Virtually each time I walked into the Resorts World poker in Las Vegas, the identical factor would occur.
Earlier than I even reached the tables, somebody would name out throughout the room: “Hey Robbie! Nice to see you!”
Generally it was a seller. Generally a floorperson. Generally an everyday sitting in one of many blended video games.
And naturally, the greeting went each methods. I knew their names, too.
That’s what made the place particular.
Which is why the information that the Resorts World poker site will shut on the finish of this month has hit so many people so laborious.
For me — and for lots of people within the poker neighborhood — this wasn’t simply one other poker site. It was residence.
The De Facto “Residence” of the Combined Recreation Competition
Over the previous 4 years, Resorts World poker site virtually turned synonymous with our Combined Recreation Competition.
Eight of our first 12 festivals have been hosted there, and our thirteenth was purported to be working there proper now. That alone accounts for 40 full days that I’ve spent inside that poker site — and that’s simply throughout pageant weeks!
Once I’m internet hosting the pageant, I’m often on-site 14–15 hours per day. Greeting gamers. Serving to video games begin. Answering questions. Leaping into conversations. Ensuring everybody feels welcome.
Add within the many different visits I made simply to play, rail Poker Corridor of Famer Eli Elezra in his massive $300/600 blended recreation, or meet pals, and also you begin to perceive why this room turned such an necessary a part of my poker life.
It’s additionally the place I first performed within the $80/$160 blended recreation — a milestone I’ll always remember.
There’s by no means been a poker site that I’ve promoted wherever close to as a lot or wherever close to as wholeheartedly.
Resorts World Poker Room: The Mecca of Combined Video games
Each poker site in Las Vegas wants its identification. For Resorts World, that identification turned blended video games.
Certain, there have been at all times a pair $1/$2 No-Restrict Maintain’em tables working. A few times every week there was a $5/$5 double-board bomb pot recreation. Sometimes there was even an “influencer” livestream recreation.
However what actually outlined the room have been the blended video games.
We at the moment are as much as FOUR seller’s selection tables working right here on Day 1 of Combined Recreation Competition XII
A GREAT kickoff at @PokerRoomRWLV 🥳 pic.twitter.com/TCtXNQLCd4
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) November 16, 2025
Common weekly video games turned staples of the room’s tradition — like tables at a neighborhood café the place the identical group gathers each week.
Coach’s $8/$16 recreation.Ernie’s $6/$12 recreation.Raul’s $4/$8 recreation (could he relaxation in peace).
And, in fact, the large excessive stakes blended video games, too.
These video games ran frequently and created the spine of the Resorts World poker site neighborhood.
A very good outdated $8/16 combine at @PokerRoomRWLV … win or lose, it’s a really blissful place, certainly 😁 pic.twitter.com/WvrnU4luKR
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) November 10, 2025
Identical to an amazing café, you may need vacationers who cease in as soon as. However what offers a spot its soul are the regulars. And people blended video games introduced them in.
It wasn’t simply locals, both. Gamers from out of state and everywhere in the world would particularly plan to play at Resorts World when visiting Las Vegas due to its stellar repute for being the world’s most inviting place to play blended video games.
Naturally, the room stored an ample provide of plaques prepared for just about each poker variant possible to be unfold throughout a number of tables.
For blended recreation gamers, that sort of consideration to element — and and at all times affordable, low rake — meant all the things. Plus, the state-of-the-art espresso machine and self-serve soda fountain have been fairly superior, too.
My First Resorts World Poker Room Reminiscences
I distinctly keep in mind my first go to to Resorts World Las Vegas in late 2021. Gary Hager, the room’s first Director of Operations, proactively launched himself and volunteered to offer me a tour not simply of the brand new room, however of your complete property. He spontaneously cleared half an hour on his schedule — identical to that — to make me really feel like a VIP.
I used to be with my father on that journey, and it was Dad who recommended that I ask if our (second ever) Combined Recreation Competition might be held there. Little may I’ve recognized that that second can be the beginning of an unimaginable run, and the harbinger for a bevy of fantastic skilled and private relationships I’ve come to treasure.
I quickly realized that greater than half of the poker site’s preliminary cohort of sellers and floorpeople had adopted Gary throughout the nation to Las Vegas from Encore Boston Harbor to workers the brand new room. Good, good folks, most of whom have been at Resorts World for it’s whole practically five-year run.
Inside a number of months, Gary left the room within the extremely succesful fingers of Leon Wheeler. I don’t suppose I’ve ever witnessed a poker neighborhood be happier for somebody than when information unfold of Leon taking the helm at Director of Poker Operations. Equally, when information of his departure broke a pair weeks in the past, I don’t suppose I’ve ever seen a poker neighborhood extra heartbroken. Certainly, Leon was tops by each conceivable measure, and from the highest down, the Resorts World poker site workers have been merely distinctive.
When The Room Was Buzzing, It Was Superb
The room itself was beautiful. Spacious. Brilliant. Snug. Trendy.
A everlasting house for 30 poker tables may need been a bit too bold, however on events when all these tables stuffed up? It was unimaginable.
Everybody on this image is right here at @PokerRoomRWLV due to Combined Recreation Competition XII ❤️
Two “rookies” $1/2 women A-5/2-7 tables going plus two $4/8 mixes and one $8/16 combine.
And we haven’t even began as we speak’s giveaways but 😉
Come be a part of us for all of the enjoyable! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/JJeQH478u1
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) November 19, 2025
The vitality, the chatter, the sound of chips flying throughout the felt — it created a one-of-a-kind environment that was laborious to match wherever else.
Nonetheless, stunning areas alone don’t create reminiscences.
Individuals do.
The Sellers and Poker Room Employees Who Made It Really feel Like Residence
What actually made the Resorts World poker site particular was its workers.
The sellers embraced blended video games in a method you not often see. Over time, ALL of them turned extremely proficient at dealing advanced rotations of video games; one thing that not often occurs staff-wide. Some even joined us on the felt after they received off shift!
Sellers rotated by way of all the things from low-stakes video games to the large $80/$160 and $300/$600 blended video games. Take into consideration that — the identical sellers who dealt with the large video games with whole professionalism have been the exact same ones dealing our humble $4/$8 blended recreation tables on the Combined Recreation Competition.
And there was no hierarchy of respect. Everybody mattered equally. Each hand was handled the identical talent. Each seller sat at each desk with the identical pleasant smile.
Having a whole workers exude that stage of sophistication and professionalism speaks volumes.
Occupied with some particular folks over the previous couple of days… listed here are only a few, amongst dozens. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/CQwkGXIi8e
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) March 15, 2026
Why Casinos Generally Shut Poker Rooms
After all, casinos in the end must make enterprise choices.
Poker rooms take up a variety of beneficial ground house, they usually merely don’t generate the identical income as slot machines or desk video games. So, from a enterprise perspective, these choices are comprehensible.
Nonetheless, a part of me can’t assist however marvel if there may need been one other path — maybe a smaller poker site somewhat than closing it solely.
A comfy 10–12 desk room may nonetheless have preserved all the things that made the Resorts World poker site so particular.
However these choices and calculations usually are not mine, or the neighborhood’s, to make.
The Room Might Be Gone — However the Group Isn’t
Whereas the poker site itself could also be closing, the individuals who made it particular aren’t going wherever.
The sellers will discover new houses round Las Vegas. The gamers will collect at different tables. The Combined Recreation Competition will proceed doing what it does finest: bringing folks collectively by way of poker.
I’m trying ahead to seeing lots of these acquainted faces once more, wherever that may find yourself being.
Nonetheless, the subsequent time I land in Las Vegas goes to really feel a bit completely different.
For greater than 4 years, I’ve had the privilege of strolling into Resorts World and heading straight to a poker site crammed with pals.
Nothing lasts eternally, in fact. Poker rooms open and shut. Generally they even come again once more.
Maybe sometime a brand new Resorts World Las Vegas poker site will rise as soon as extra like a desert phoenix.
Till then, all we will do is maintain on to the reminiscences.
As a result of for an exquisite stretch of time on the north finish of the Las Vegas Strip, there was a poker site the place all people knew your title.
And each time I walked by way of that entrance, somebody would smile and say: “Hey Robbie! Nice to see you!”
And identical to the ultimate scene of Cheers, the lights will quickly exit on a spot that meant way more to its neighborhood than sq. footage or income ever may.
We’re actually going to overlook it.
