By james art Sahara Las Vegas, located at the north end of the Las Vegas Strip, is preparing to close its seven-table poker room on Nov. 16, with plans to replace it with a new slot machine area that will debut in mid-December. The decision reflects a continuing trend in Las Vegas, where smaller poker rooms are struggling to maintain profitability and adapt in the wake of the pandemic, often leading casino operators to repurpose spaces for more lucrative slot machines.
According to a statement from Sahara’s general manager, Paul Hobsonquoted by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the new space will introduce “dedicated slot banks where players can be among the first in Las Vegas to play the latest test games from the best gaming content providers.” This shift away from poker to a slots-focused environment mirrors similar moves by other Las Vegas casinos. Many venues have repurposed their space to feature high-demand slot machines, capitalizing on their appeal to a wider range of players.
Fun atmosphere lost as poker makes way for slots
The Sahara Poker Room was a lively hub, featuring seven tables, five televisions and a welcoming atmosphere. with regular tournaments, including the unique weekly Crazy Pineapple gameand frequent cash games with affordable $50 buy-ins, the room has attracted a loyal player base. However, as Sahara adjusts its offerings to align with changing market trends, these activities will be discontinued.
This closure also fits in a broader model in Las Vegasas poker rooms, especially those in smaller or mid-sized casinos, have found it challenging to thrive in recent years. The pandemic has exacerbated these challenges, leading to the permanent closure of several venues, including Planet Hollywood and the Mirage. Although some casinos maintain poker offerings, the operating costs and limited revenue potential of poker make it less favorable for casinos, which can allocate space to more lucrative gaming options such as slots.
The Caesars Palace poker room closed in August to make way temporarily for high-limit slots as the casino renovates that part of its property. While Caesars intends to reopen its poker room at a later date, other Las Vegas venues have closed their poker operations permanently. In addition to the Mirage and Planet Hollywood, Excalibur, Flamingo and the Cannery have discontinued their poker offerings in recent years.
The broader trend is seeing many venues re-engineer their playing fields, moving towards slots and other gaming options with higher revenue potential. This is noted by industry observers poker is increasingly considered to be “loss leader” from many casinosunable to reach the profitability of slots and other gaming attractions. At Sahara, the upcoming slot zone is expected to attract players who want to explore the latest slot innovations, adding a new dimension to the gaming experience.
However, while the closing of the Sahara Poker Room signals a decrease in live poker opportunities on the Strip, some developments could bring new poker venues to town. Bally’s is expected to include a poker room in its future casino project associated with the new Oakland A’s stadium. Also, as the Seminole Tribe moves forward with turning the Mirage into a Hard Rock property, there is speculation that they may add poker facilities as part of its plans given Seminole’s established poker presence in Florida.