Say the word poker, and everyone’s mind races straight to La Vegas, Nevada. The state has been on the front line in amending its laws to include gambling and poker games.
It was the first to legalize all forms of gambling in the country, and the second to regulate online poker behind Delaware.
Thanks to its libertarian nature, Nevada’s economy is booming.
Apart from hosting some of the World’s highest-stakes and busiest poker games, Nevada has also been the significant host of World Series of poker tournaments for over 48 years.
History of Poker in Nevada
Nevada wasn’t always the poker hub it is today. Just like most states in the country, poker was illegal in Nevada from 1910 to 1931. However, the Great Depression brought the state to its knees, forcing it to legalize gambling in 1931 to generate much-needed revenue.
This is just what the state needed to rise from its misfortune into a gaming mecca it is today. Reno became the first city to flourish as a poker center. It held this spot from 1935 to 1947, on account of its lavish casinos that catered to patrons’ needs.
But it didn’t take long for dam project workers to discover another hotspot for poker, the drudging, desert outpost community, Las Vegas.
The 1950s and 60s saw Las Vegas grow into a poker capital with luxurious casinos popping up in every corner. This paved the way for a new casino epicenter, the Strip, where most popular clubs and resorts like Stardust, Sahara, Ceasars Place, and Tropicana now exist.
Owing to this, Las Vegas and Nevada rose to their feet again, and since the 1970s, they continue to enjoy financial profitability stemming from the gambling industry.
Is poker Legal in Nevada?
When the state legalized gambling in 1931, poker also became legal to play within its borders.
And in 2013, the state also allowed online poker, but only if its providers held Nevada’s licenses. However, the online poker market wasn’t massive enough to generate a lot of money, so Nevada pooled their market with Delaware and New Jersey.
Since there’s legal and regulated poker in the state, Nevadans can enjoy all that comes with it. They can join satellite events like the live WSOP, large guaranteed tournaments, and cash games offered around the clock.
The poker site must comply with the state’s law or risk losing their licenses. Also, poker players can’t send or receive gambling information across Nevada’s borders or internationally, except as provided for by the law. They can only share multi-jurisdiction liquidity if the multi-state gaming compact between Delaware, New Jersey, and Nevada allows it.
Those who do not abide by this rule are guilty of a misdemeanor and risk having their licenses forfeited.
However, this law has never been used to prosecute a player and mostly focuses on the game operators. Thus, players are free to enjoy poker and online poker within Nevada fearing nothing from the law.
Casino/poker rooms in Nevada
Everybody knows Las Vegas, especially for its bubbly gambling scene. It is home to many renowned casinos with huge poker rooms that light up the Strip with uninterrupted poker action. The World Series of Poker takes place in Las Vegas every summer, pulling in residents and tourists alike.
But Nevada has some great poker rooms outside of Las Vegas. Reno and Lake Tahoe, too, command a flourishing poker economy with 14 poker rooms.
Laughlin is also a major poker hub with lively poker rooms because of its proximity to California and Arizona. It is strategically located to serve the three states, hence you will find some good action here.
And if you are in southern Nevada, you can also stroll to the various casinos scattered around that offer great poker rooms and tables.
In a nutshell, Nevada’s live poker rooms are as follows;
Aside from the bubbly poker going on in these rooms 24/7, Nevada also hosts the World Poker Tours throughout the year.
Best online sites to play poker in Nevada
Not only is Nevada a great place for players who love live poker games, but it is also one of the few states which allow regulated online poker.
Its land-based casinos partner with some world-leading poker providers to offer an extended list of online poker choices to residents.
Also, residents can sign up to any Nevada friendly websites to play online poker for real money if they want to. Some of the best sites for online poker in Nevada include;
WSOP.com poker
WSOP is the biggest online poker provider in the State of Nevada, and its regulated by the Nevada Gaming Commission and Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Nevadans qualify for seats in WSOP to play against New Jersey and Delaware residents in several poker tournaments and even win official WSOP bracelets.
WSOP poker games
WSOP offers variants of Omaha, Texas Hold ‘em, and Seven-Card Stud as cash games and tournaments. The limits start at pennies and run up blinds in several hundreds of dollars.
Bovegas poker
If you want to experience Las Vegas poker without leaving your house, then BoVegas is your best choice. Nevadans can play online poker at this deluxe online site and get daily rewards, exciting bonuses, and monthly specials that will cater to all their needs. Over the years, the site has held top ranking thanks to its first-rate customer support, hassle-free banking, and quality poker games. You can play Texas Hold’em Poker, Tri Card Poker, Caribbean Stud poker among others.
Intertops Poker
Launched in 1996, Intertops is among the oldest casinos offering poker rooms in the USA Market, operating under Horizon Porker Network. Players can take advantage of the generous welcome bonus of 200% match up to $1,000 when they sign up. At Intertops, you can enjoy ;
Nevada is a great place for poker enthusiasts. Although Las Vegas is the ground zero of all the action, you can still find some other great options in the Northern and Southern tips of the state or even Laughlin. And if that isn’t enough, you can always join online WSOP tourneys.