MGM Grand Poker Room Vegas

To understand the MGM Grand Poker Room, you must first understand the MGM Grand. This property is a little different because poker players don’t flock to the MGM Grand Poker Room, and that’s not what the MGM Poker Room wants. They want the tourists and party crowd to visit their poker room during their stay. With 6,852 rooms, it’s one of the largest hotels in the world, so there will be plenty of people visiting the poker room. Even if they’re not poker players, it’s a numbers game.

MGM Grand Poker Room Players

The MGM Poker Room is located on the casino floor, which is more of a rarity these days. This isn’t just any casino, either. It’s a casino with 171,500 square feet of gaming space. When you combine that with almost 7,000 rooms, there are going to be a whole lot of people in that casino, especially on weekends. This is going to lead to many people trying their hand at poker.

You also have to figure in the party crowd. The MGM Grand is known for its pool parties. Wet Republic Day Club usually opens in mid-April and has events through the end of September. The Day Club isn’t open every day. You need to look at the Events Schedule to see what hot DJ will be spinning on what dates.

If there is an event that piques your interest, the party begins at 11 a.m. and usually runs to about 6 p.m. You can buy a ticket online, it’s $25 for a female and $30 for a male. If you go to this party, you will find dipping pools, daybeds, party cabanas, and an open-air covered lounge. You will also find a lot of people drinking alcohol and getting to know one another.

If you can’t make one of the Wet Republic events, the MGM Grand Pool is still open year round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. And if you would prefer to stay dry, you can hit the Centrifuge Bar, which is in the center of the casino and plays high-energy music.

From a poker perspective, can you figure out why I’m telling you all of this? The subheading is a hint. A lot of people come here to party. Poker might not be the highlight of the party, but it’s part of the party experience for many people. This is why a lot of people at the MGM Poker Room tend to drink. This is more so the case at night, and at a much higher ratio on the weekends. If it’s a Friday or Saturday night, some of the people here know the poker rules, but that’s about it.

The MGM Grand Poker Room is kind of blah during the day, and it’s okay on weeknights, but if you understand basic poker strategy and want to make a little money, then you should definitely consider playing here on the weekends.

MGM Poker Room Cash Games

Did you notice that I wrote ‘make a little money?’ I wrote that because the stakes here aren’t high (most of the time). You can play here for easy money (more often than not), but it’s not often that you will be able to play here for big money.

The poker games spread at the MGM Grand Poker Room are listed below…

1/2 NL
Buy-in: $100-$300
Runs: Always

2/5 NL
Buy-in: $200-No max
Runs: 1 table

5/10 NL
Buy-in: $500-No max
Runs: Rarely

There is one opportunity to make big money here, which is at the 2/5 NL game on the weekends. Since the MGM Poker Room switched to ‘No max’ on the buy-in range, more people have been playing in this game. Some of these people are local poker pros looking to prey on fish that came to town with a lot of money. So, you have to watch out. But if those poker pros are playing in this game because there is opportunity, that means there is opportunity for you as well.

I wouldn’t recommend playing in this game if you’re a beginner who is just learning poker rules for winning, but if you’re a decent player and understand basic poker strategy, then you might want to give it a shot. Just make sure you play fewer hands than usual. There are going to be some big stacks on the table, and there is no reason to rush.

I usually buy-in to 2/5 NL games for $300 regardless of the buy-in range. Some people ask why I don’t buy-in for more. I used to buy-in for more, but I found that I’m a little too aggressive when I have more chips in front of me. When I buy-in for $300, I know I will need to climb to be the chip leader at the table.

When I know I need to climb, I’m a lot more focused. For me, it’s like working for something instead of having it handed to me. If I can climb to the chip lead, then I’m going to treat that stack a lot better than if I just bought in for the same amount.

If you choose to take the same approach and buy-in to the 2/5 NL game at the MGM Grand Poker Room for $300, then you must practice patience. When the opportunity comes, you will know. Every poker player in the world can win big pots when they have strong poker hands, but not many can remain patient and disciplined and fold until that opportunity arrives.

There is no need to get impatient in this game because the average pot is likely to be at least $100. Would you remain patient for an opportunity to make $100 in just a few minutes? Of course you would, and that’s the way you need to look at it.

Even if the other tables at the table saw you as a Nit, who cares? Are you ever going to see them again? Even if you did, do you think they’re going to see you on The Strip one day, point you out, and shout, “That’s the Nit from the MGM Grand Poker Room!”

That’s not going to happen. Zero chance. And even if it did happen, you don’t know the people on The Strip anyway. Additionally, if you’re a Nit in a game where the players you’re up against are better than you, that’s good! It means you’re playing fewer poker hands, which is what you’re supposed to do when you’re an underdog. It also means that your opponents are going to respect your bets. This is good because you will be picking up at least $7 pre-flop (when you’re not one of the blinds) without any risk.

Is the MGM Grand Poker Room a place to play for big money in cash games? Not really, but there is one opportunity, which is the 2/5 NL game on weekends. If you prefer to play 1/2 NL, you will find plenty of fish.

MGM Poker Room Amenities

The MGM Poker Room has 13 tables and pretty much every amenity you can think of for a Las Vegas poker room. It doesn’t look amazing or bad. It looks like a regular poker room, but you will have WiFi, massage therapists, tableside foodservice, auto shufflers, cocktail service, and nearby restrooms. The restrooms are in a perfect location because they’re not in the poker room but they are directly across the casino floor.

Comps at the MGM Poker Room are $1/hour in 1/2 NL games, and $2/hour in 2/5 NL and 5/10 NL games. The rake is a staggered $5 in the 1/2 NL and 2/5 NL games. The rake in the 5/10 NL game is $6 every half hour. I despise time rakes. They force you to play more poker hands and can take you away from your style of play. I wouldn’t play in the 5/10 NL game at the MGM Poker Room solely because of the time rake. Stay away from time rakes. They can eat up your chip stack.

Now that we have covered the poker games at the MGM Grand Poker room, let’s get to what you’ve all been waiting for: Texas Hold’em poker tournaments at the MGM Grand Poker Room.

MGM Grand Poker Tournaments

I feel so-so about two of the daily poker tournaments run at the MGM Poker Room, and I dislike the other two tournaments. For the most part, the same four Texas Hold’em poker tournaments run every day at the MGM Poker Room. The only difference is the guarantee for one of the tournaments on Sunday, which is much higher. Below is the list of poker tournaments that run at the MGM Grand Poker Room every day of the week…

11 a.m.
Buy-in: $100 ($71 Entry Fee + $29 Deductions)
Starting Stack: 25,000 chips
Blind Levels: 20 minutes
Starting Blinds: 100/100
Breaks: 10 minutes every six levels
Late Registration: Unlimited until 1:15 p.m. (until the beginning of Level 7)
GTD: $2k ($10k on Sunday)

I’m on the fence with this one. The deductions (fees/rake) are relatively high but not astronomical like some other daily poker tournaments in Las Vegas. You can definitely find better opportunities in regards to rake, but the MGM Grand Poker Room attracts so many bad players due to a party atmosphere that it still might be worth the risk. With 25,000 chips and 20 minute levels, a good poker player should be able to make this a profitable venture, but it’s not going to make you a living. I would play in the Sunday tournament because of the guarantee.

2:05 p.m.
Buy-in: $65 ($44 Entry Fee + $21 Deductions)
Starting Stack: 15,000 chips
Blind Levels: 15 minutes
Starting Blinds: 100/200
Breaks: 10 minutes every five levels
Late Registration: Unlimited until 3:15 (until the beginning of Level 5)
GTD: $500

This is a horrible poker tournament. You’re paying an astronomical rake and the blind levels are every 15 minutes, which makes it a bingo poker tournament. Plus, the blinds are starting at 100/200 opposed to 100/100. The 15 minute blind levels are even worse here because you’re going to have tourists and drinkers that take a long time to act.

7:05 p.m.
Buy-in: $100 ($71 Entry Fee + $29 Deductions)
Starting Stack: 25,000 chips
Blind Levels: 20 minutes
Starting Blinds: 100/100
Breaks: 10 minutes every six levels
Late Registration: Unlimited until 9:15 p.m. (until the beginning of Level 7)
GTD: $1k

Despite this tournament being at prime time, it still doesn’t offer as much as the 11:05 a.m. tournament. That’s probably because a lot of people staying at this property are eating dinner, having drinks, or socializing in any way at these hours. People who stay at the MGM Grand and are awake at 11:05 a.m. will be looking for something to do, and a poker tournament fits the bill. Once again, this structure is okay at best. The $1k guarantee is pretty weak, but at least it’s a guarantee.

10:05 p.m.
Buy-in: $65 ($44 Entry Fee + $21 Deductions)
Starting Stack: 15,000 chips
Blind Levels: 15 minutes
Starting Blinds: 100/200
Breaks: 10 minutes every five levels
Late Registration: Unlimited until 11:15 (until the beginning of Level 5)
GTD: $500

This is the same exact structure as the 2:05 tournament. I wouldn’t recommend playing in this event. Only consider doing so if you’re incredibly bored. Even if that’s the case though, you will still be better off playing in the 1/2 NL game at the MGM Grand Poker Room. One big pot can make you more money than winning the entire tournament, and the tournament is much more time consuming.

Final Thoughts

The MGM Grand Poker Room is a mixed bag. It’s not the best or worst poker room in Las Vegas. It has some bright spots and some letdowns. I would recommend using it as a location to get back on track or to take it down a notch. When you play against softer competition, you tend to get your confidence back. You will find some soft competition at the MGM Poker Room because the majority of players are in Las Vegas to party, not to play poker.

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MGM Grand Poker Room – FAQ