The casino claims there’s not enough interest to keep the poker room open
The Sahara Las Vegas is making a shift away from poker by closing its poker room in mid-November. This decision will repurpose the poker area for additional slot machines as part of a new slot-focused space on the casino floor. Paul Hobson, the resort’s general manager, announced that the seven-table poker room will officially close on November 16.
The change, scheduled to debut in December, promises to bring in a selection of fresh slot machine games, including exclusive trial games from top gaming companies. Hobson highlighted that this new slot area will give players the chance to be among the first in Las Vegas to try these cutting-edge slot games. The Sahara has not yet shared specifics about the new slot offerings, but more details are expected in the coming weeks.
Since the pandemic, poker rooms across Las Vegas have been downsized or eliminated as casinos focus on more profitable options. For some casinos, poker has become more of a cost burden than a profitable draw. As a result, several small and mid-sized poker rooms have been closed in recent years. The Sahara currently hosts four poker tournaments daily, but the upcoming closure will end these events in favor of slots.
This change at the Sahara follows a similar decision by Caesars Palace earlier this year. Caesars temporarily closed its poker room in August, reallocating the space for slot machines during renovations to its high-limit slot area, with no set reopening date for poker at that location.
Sahara’s shift mirrors a broader trend in the city as casinos adapt to shifting player interests and seek to maximize revenue with more popular gaming options like slots.
