The poker room had only opened last May, but never gained traction
Planet Hollywood is set to close its poker room on January 31, ending a short return that began less than a year ago. The room reopened in May 2025, timed to welcome players ahead of the World Series of Poker, but never found enough steady traffic to stay viable.
The poker room featured 23 tables and was moved to a second-floor location after the original casino-floor space never reopened following COVID shutdowns. The new layout offered a quieter setting and more room for tournament play, including WSOP Circuit events. That separation, however, came with a cost.
While the space was modern and comfortable, many guests struggled to even find it. Being removed from the casino floor meant fewer walk-ins, especially from tourists who didn’t know a poker room existed upstairs.
The closure was first shared publicly by Vegas Poker Nomad, also known as “El Diesel,” a popular poker vlogger and dealer at the venue. He said he loved working there and enjoyed the calmer atmosphere, even while admitting the location made it hard to draw crowds.
Player reaction across social media reflected disappointment but little surprise. Industry observer John Mehaffey noted that during a recent visit, the casino floor was packed while the poker room had only one short-handed game running. Visibility, not quality, appeared to be the main issue.
The timing raised eyebrows, especially after Planet Hollywood hosted a successful WSOP Circuit stop earlier this month. The $1,700 Main Event drew more than 600 entries, showing potential if the room had more exposure.
With Planet Hollywood exiting, the number of poker rooms in Las Vegas drops again. Caesars properties will continue hosting poker elsewhere, and attention now turns to future developments, including Hard Rock’s planned Mirage overhaul and whether poker fits into its long-term plans.
