Binion’s was once home to the World Series of Poker. It lost poker’s main tournament series in 2005 after the casino was acquired by Harrah’s Entertainment, which is known today as Caesars Entertainment. This started a freefall for Binion’s relevance in the poker scene.

The casino is now owned by TLC Enterprises. This is the same company that owns Four Queens. Many changes have occurred on the property since Binion’s changed hands. Its hotel closed, valet service was discontinued, and players must now earn free parking on visits.

Four Queens Hotel and Casino features a variety of card games including blackjack, roulette and three card poker. On-site dining options include Magnolia’s Veranda, a 24-hour eatery with an assortment of American dishes. Chicago Brewing Company and Cigar Lounge, also on site, offers a selection of beer, snacks and entrees. Poker Room at Four Queens There is no active poker room at Four Queens. To the best of our knowledge, the poker room closed at Four Queens somewhere in the early 2000’s around 2004 as that is one of the last years that the Four Queens Poker Classic event was active. Sportsbook at Four Queens.

The quality of casino games has since fallen off a cliff. All blackjack tables there now pay 6 to 5. The best video poker game has a house edge of nearly one percent.

Binion’s once spread dozens of poker tables. There was a cash game section near the front of the casino. A tournament section was found at the rear of the casino where the hotel’s front desk was once located. The cash game section is now occupied by virtual table games. The tournament section is now a retail area with some historical memorabilia to its better days.

In 2017, Binion’s moved its poker room. It is now found at the rear of the table game pit. It now hosts just six poker tables. This is ample space during most times of the year. The capacity is generally only needed for the summer Binion’s Poker Jam and an occasional weekend guaranteed tournament.

It is rare to find more than one cash game table at Binion’s and the tournament action is slow. This is a significant drop from its business just a few years ago. Most of the Downtown Las Vegas poker action is now at Golden Nugget.

Best and Worst Features of Binion’s Poker Room

The best part of playing poker at Binion’s is its deep poker history. Many of the dealers from the peak years are still around. This means the games have a high level of professionalism. The sportsbook and restrooms are just a few steps away.

Four Queens Poker Room

It is difficult to find a game here these days. When one does run, the games tend to be tight and full of regulars. The tournaments tend to only draw one or two tables, if they get off the ground at all. The room is more like a pit. This can make it smoky from nearby table games, slots, and the sportsbook.

The only regular cash game at Binion’s is 1/2 no-limit Texas Hold’em. The minimum buy-in is $100. There is no cap.

Binion’s advertises a fixed-limit game, but this has not been a regular fixture there in years.

Binion’s rakes 10% up to $4 per hand plus a jackpot drop. The poker room gives players $2 per hour in comps.

Cash game and tournament players receive free parking. Comps may be used for food on the property or at the Four Queens hotel.

Although the hotel rooms at Binion’s have been closed since 2009, poker players do receive a discounted room rate at Four Queens. This is a sister property of Binion’s.

Little Kings And Queens Poker

Binion’s offers a $45+$15 tournament every day at 1 pm and 6 pm. This tournament has $20 re-buys and add-ons. Players start with 10,000 in chips. The first level is 50/100. Limits go up every 20 minutes.

The schedule varies on Saturdays. The 1 pm tournament has a $120+$30 buy-in. The starting stack is 20,000 chips. The first level is 50/100. Limits go up every 30 minutes. This tournament does not have re-buys or add-ons.

There is a summer tournament series that runs during the same time as the World Series of Poker. It is called the Dog Days of Summer Poker Series. The buy-ins tend to be from $200 to $1,000. There is a wide variety of games spread during this event. In addition to no-limit Hold’em, players will find pot-limit Omaha, pot-limit Omaha Hi/Lo, fixed-limit Omaha Hi/Lo, as well as stud and mixed games.

Four Queens Las Vegas Poker Room

Binion’s offers poker promotions that rotate. These are typically high hand bonuses.

The hotel accommodation offer mentioned earlier comes with no minimum play requirement. For full details on this offer, you can call 702-366-7361. It tends to about $29 on weeknights and $60 on weekends.

The only non-gaming amenity at Binion’s is restaurants. The Top of Binion’s Steakhouse is a hidden gem downtown. Guests may access it through a glass elevator that overlooks the Fremont Street Experience. Otherwise, there is a café and deli.

There is plenty to do outside of Binion’s. The Fremont Street Experience offers light shows at the top of every hour at night on its canopy. There are bands playing outside Binion’s each evening.

During the summer, classic bands perform. One of the biggest parties in the world takes place on New Year’s Eve at the Fremont Street Experience. There is a zip line that cruises the length of it that operates day and night year-round.

Golden Nugget is the only other poker room left in Downtown Las Vegas. It offers 1/2 no-limit Hold’em with the same $100 minimum as Binion’s. There is also no cap in this game. Players will find fixed-limit Hold’em at Golden Nugget, too. The casinos are across from each other on the Fremont Street Experience.

If you are looking for tournaments, Golden Nugget is a great choice. Like Binion’s, it has a summer tournament series.

The series includes at least two daily events with many non-Hold’em tournaments. Golden Nugget spreads four daily tournaments each day. The buy-in is $50 at 3 pm and 10 pm and $70 at 11 am and 7 pm. On Sundays at 11 am, Golden Nugget spreads a $125 tournament with a $5,000 guaranteed prize pool.

The only other poker room close to Binion’s is at Stratosphere. It struggles with cash game and tournament traffic in the same way Binion’s does. We feel you are better off checking out the action at Golden Nugget if you are not happy with the play at Binion’s.