Rio Poker Room
Brand new, just opened in mid-2004
The Rio Poker Room sits next to the sports book and is taking up space that the sports book used to have. On busy nights the bikini clad blackjack dealers are just outside the poker room near the entrance to the Bikinis Beach & Dance Club. The Rio Casino is quite an eyeful to begin with especially if you're fortunate enough to go through there during one of the "Masquerade in the Sky" shows. A very sexy place.
When we visited on Mar. 12, 2005, the Rio was hosting an event that they called the "World Series of Poker". This one is part of a circuit tour in 5 large cities. There were 379 entrants in the very first event of the Mar 12-23 series of tournaments, featuring a $1,000 buy-in no limit Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament. A prize fund of $367,630 with 1st prize of $113,965 was generated. The circuit tournament culminated in a $10,000 buy-in "World Series of Poker Circuit Championship" main event. They have another event coming in June and July also called the "World Series of Poker". This one is the one that used to be held at Binion's Horseshoe Casino, the one that's gotten so much TV time the last few years. The Rio will be holding this "World Series of Poker" in their brand new 90,000 square foot convention center. The last 2 days of this event will be held at good ole Binion's for old times sake. Whether or not the usage of the "World Series of Poker" name for 2 different events, both held at the Rio Las Vegas has caused any real confusion, we're not sure, but we do have one friend who was convinced that he was coming down in March to play in the authentic version. Rio is a great casino, lot's of fun, be sure and stop in there and play some poker!
