Sahara Las Vegas Poker Room Shutting Down to Pave the Way for Slot Machines

Sahara Las Vegas, a casino resort on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip, announced last week that it will close its seven-table poker room to make way for more slot machines. The Sahara poker room is scheduled to close on November 16^th, and the renovated slot machine area is slated to launch in mid-December.

Sahara is one of the latest casinos to join the ongoing trend of shutting down smaller and mid-sized poker rooms that have struggled to remain profitable post-pandemic. This has led to casino operators repurposing poker spaces for more lucrative ventures like slots.

A Growing Trend

The Sahara poker room has a lively atmosphere with seven poker tables and runs four tournaments weekly, including the Crazy Pineapple tournament. The room enjoys a loyal fanbase thanks to its frequent cash games and accommodating buy-ins starting at $50. However, shifting market trends have resulted in Sahara’s decision to bring its poker room to an end.

This closure is part of a dwindling live poker popularity trend in Las Vegas. In recent years, Treasure Island, The Mirage, Harrah’s, Green Valley Ranch, the Tropicana, and the Flamingo have shut down poker operations. Even Binion’s, famous for launching the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 1970, ceased offering live poker in March 2020.

The Root of It All

Poker rooms are increasingly being regarded as “loss leaders” in small and mid-sized casinos due to their high operational costs and limited revenue potential. The ability for live poker to thrive was challenged even more by the pandemic, resulting in the permanent closure of these locations.

As a result, most casino resorts are revamping their gaming floors to accommodate options with high revenue potential, like slots. Sahara intends to attract players seeking the newest slot releases from top game developers, offering a unique gambling experience.

Commenting on the announcement, Sahara’s general manager Paul Hobson stated, “When it debuts in mid-December, the enhanced offerings will include dedicated slot banks where players can be some of the first in Las Vegas to play the newest test games from top gaming content providers.”

Hope for More Poker in the Future

While Las Vegas continues to lose more poker rooms, there is hope for new ones in the coming years. The new Bally’s casino project linked to Oakland A’s stadium is highly anticipated to add live poker options on the strip. Also, the rumor mill speculates the Seminole Tribe will add poker facilities as they transform the Mirage into a Hard Rock property.