South Point Poker Room Review
- The bartenders tend to be quick, friendly, and overall attentive, only adding to the VP experience at South Point. Poker Room at South Point. The poker room has 22 tables but oftentimes this room doesn’t feature a ton of action. The cash games are $2-$4 limit, $3-$6, and $4-$8, but $2-$4 is usually the only game that ever goes.
- Had the best time last night in the South Point poker room. The floor staff and dealers were great. Wearing masks, enclosed by plexi glass.the reality is that the room still had a great energy and positivity that made for a great experience. Well done Jason and team!
- Somuchpoker.com is a news site dedicated primarily on the poker community living in the Asia Pacific region. Founded by poker players based in South East Asia in 2014, Somuchpoker’s main goal is to provide the latest poker news and information from around the world, with greater focus on the happenings in the Asian Market.
Independently owned by Michael John Gaughan, the South Point casino has been open for business since December 22, 2005. Though it is located on Las Vegas Blvd., South Point is technically not part of “the strip” as it is a few miles south of Mandalay Bay. There is, however, a shuttle service that runs between South Point and the airport.
NUTS: South Point Poker is on its way to be the first legal online poker room in the United States! Even though only Nevada’s residents and visitors will be able to play real-money poker at SouthPoint, the website intends to increase its player pool by entering into agreements with other states and foreign countries when it’s allowed to do so.
Even though it is mostly frequented by locals, the South Point and its Southern California theme attracts a large number of tourists. In particular, it isn’t uncommon to see big crowds with people wearing cowboy hats for various special events like gun shows and rodeos in the Equestrian Center Showroom which seats 4,400.
As most strip casinos now charge for parking, the South Point’s valet, parking garage, and outdoor lot remain free. There are multiple entryways into the property aside from the main entrance, including one that connects directly to the sportsbook. Other attractions for its locals are a large bowling alley and a 16 theater movie house.
Though South Point’s casino floor is not mind blowing, it is complete with a hotel and spa so we still find it to be a most serviceable venue for locals, and for tourists who still want fast access to the strip but are also looking to budget wisely.
Casino at South Point
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There is nothing visually stunning about the 80,000 square foot gaming floor as it is simply designed in the shape of a giant rectangle. The property is only in its 13th year, but if South Point updated their casino floor they could probably earn themselves the nod for best local casino because of how close it is to the main Vegas strip. But for now, the casino floor is just par at best as its selection of table games was disappointingly a bit scarce.
Baccarat
At South Point, it seems that baccarat is not always in great demand. There are only a couple baccarat tables located on the main casino floor, which are unlikely to ever be full. Minimum bets here generally range from $5 to $25.
Blackjack
As one should always expect when visiting a Las Vegas casino, there are plenty of blackjack tables, and there are usually enough open seats. Most of the blackjack table minimums are $10, but you will have no problem finding a $5 table, especially on weekdays. The good news is that blackjack pays 3-2 all day. The bad news is there is no high limit section for any table game, no single or double deck games, or any of the other recently created blackjack variations, such as Blackjack Switch or Free Bet Blackjack.
There is one table that requires a $100 minimum bet, but it’s no different than just betting $100 a hand at any of the lower-limit tables on the main floor. All the rules are the same, and the dealer must hit on soft 17.
Craps
During our last visit to South Point, there were more craps tables than seemed necessary. On the bright side, $5 minimums are offered along with double odds for bets of $2,000-$4,000.
Roulette
Recreational gamblers may not be aware of this, but despite the fact that roulette yields the biggest edge to the house, it also gives the player a lot more time per dollar spent than most other games. For example, blackjack is always fast and furious, but it takes time to spin the wheel and then pay out.
In any case, there are plenty of roulette wheels that cost very little to play. The minimums are $1-$50 on a number, the 2-1 bets are $1-$500, and the even money bets are $1-$1,000.
Other South Point Table Games
– Progressive Pai Gow: $10 minimum
– Progressive 3 Card Poker: $5 minimum
– Mississippi Stud: $5 minimum
– Ultimate Texas Hold’em: $5 minimum
Bingo games are also offered 8 times per day. At each session is 12 games of Bingo and a Cashball Jackpot.
Slots at South Point
An exact slot count is unavailable at this time, but we don’t expect you’ll get stuck waiting for one as slots overrun the casino floor from one end to the other. You can tell many of them have been there since the beginning, but there is also a wide selection of modern slots that are large and have solid graphics. On the main floor they start with penny slots, and go up to $0.10, $0.25 and $1 on the main floor, but there is a high limit room as well.
High Limit Slots at South Point
The high limit section is right in the middle of the casino. Its limits are tame, but $1, $2, $5, $10, and $25 are available, with max bets in the $50-$100 being the highest you will find.
Video poker can also be found at South Point and is one of the main attractions in this area. The high limit slots at South Point, as a whole, are about average, with nothing particularly standing out. South Point has its locals that will frequent the casino no matter what, and high limit slots are not a primary selling point for the majority of its players.
Video Poker at South Point
There are 21 different varieties of video poker games waiting to be played, and you will find many of them at the casino bars so that you may obtained comped drinks. Payouts only go as low 98.49% at its Bonus Deluxe machines, and up to 99.81% when playing Double Bonus Deuces Wild. At the bar machines, you can play for up to $2 at some, but most stay in the $0.25-$1 range, with some allowing as little as $0.05.
South Point is a solid choice for video poker given its abundance of high payback VP machines, both at the bars and on the main floor. The bartenders tend to be quick, friendly, and overall attentive, only adding to the VP experience at South Point.
Poker Room at South Point
The poker room has 22 tables but oftentimes this room doesn’t feature a ton of action. The cash games are $2-$4 limit, $3-$6, and $4-$8, but $2-$4 is usually the only game that ever goes. No Limit is also spread, offering $1-$2 and $2-$5. With that said, $1-$2 is all you can count on as $2-$5 usually only has a chance at coming together during the World Series of Poker. All the active games, lists, and phone number are available on the Bravo Poker app, and your hotel rate can be discounted after 4 hours of play.
Daily tournaments are also played at 10 AM, 2 PM, and 6 PM. The buy-ins vary, but $50 at 10 AM with $5 bounties.
The 2 PM alternates with a $20 buy-in and addons on Monday and Wednesday, with $50 buy-ins and a $30 bounty on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Friday 2 PM is $50 with a double stack, Saturday is $125, and back to $50 on Sunday.
The 6 PM tournament is a guaranteed prize pool of $1,000 with a $75 buy-in every day but Wednesdays and Sundays when it is $100. Wednesday guarantees $3,000, with Sunday at $5,000. Whenever the prize pool is met, the guarantee increases by $50 for the next $75 event, and $100 for the $100 event. Once the guarantee is not met, it resets to its minimum.
Sportsbook at South Point
South Point has quite possibly the most underrated sportsbook in Las Vegas. Some may find it inconvenient, but the large racebook and sportsbook are totally separated by a short walk. They are near the poker room and you can access each through its own entrance by the outdoor parking lot. Surprisingly, the racebook prohibits smoking but the sportsbook doesn’t except for cigars.
The racebook holds about 160 people and has an individual TV at every seat. As drinks are no longer easily attainable for free in sportsbooks, you only have to show a betting ticket to the cocktail servers to drink up. Since the sportsbook’s edge is smaller than the race’s, $20 is the minimum bet to receive a drink ticket.
The sportsbook can easily seat close to 200 people and there are many TVs. Betting on games that have already started (aka live betting) is sometimes available for big games, but not every day. Behind the sportsbook is the Del Mar Lounge which also has a ton of TVs, seating, as well as leather booths which face the sportsbook. From normal seating, you have a solid view of everything and there is little casino noise to overhear. Perhaps the best part is there are numerous food options right nearby including a hot dog stand and the Del Mar Deli as the closest ones.
You can also bet from your phone by downloading the Nevada Sports Betting app. Opening an account is fast and free, but you need to separate accounts for the horses and sports, respectively.
Hotel at South Point
The hotel holds 2,163 rooms with nothing but suites on the top floor. The suites start at over 800 square feet and go up to 2,500. The annoying $21 resort fee at least includes the pool, fitness center, Internet, and fitness center. To keep resort fees in perspective resort they are normal these days, and strip hotels can be more than double that. Still if you’re a local or a veteran and showing up during a slower time of year, you probably have a reasonable chance at getting it waived.
The standard guest rooms which occupy the mass majority of this hotel are 500 square feet. From there are the professional suites (835 square feet), the junior suites (835 and 1,335 depending on 1 or 2 bedrooms), the 1 & 2 bedroom suites (1,000 and 1,500), and the luxury suites (2,000 or 2,500). The luxury suites are most liable to unavailable as VIP players get to reserve them.
Other than during the busiest times, Hotel pricing will stay under $100 (not including resort fee), and various hotel packages are always offered each month. Considering the room quality and the fact there is a shuttle that’ll take you to the strip, the South Point hotel offers a lot of value.
Spa and Fitness Center
The fitness center is available 24/7 for hotel guests. The spa is an additional $30 per guest per day with 20% discounted for locals and is open from 6 AM-8 PM.
The pool is open 8 AM-10 PM. It also has a deli, bar, and has yoga sessions for $5 Friday-Sunday. The pool shuts down during the colder months but reopens in March. Seven days a week there is also a barbershop open from 9 AM-6 PM. Lastly, if your kids are driving you nuts there is an arcade open until 10 PM every day and midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Restaurants at South Point
Food variety is one of South Point’s specialties. There are over a dozen different places you can chow down at, most of which are inexpensive:
– Baja Miguel’s Mexican: 11AM-10PM Wed/Thurs/Sun, and 11PM Fri/Sat. Closed Mon/Tues
– Big Sur Oyster Bar: 12PM-Midnight on weekdays. 11AM-Midnight on weekends.
– Zenshin Asian: 11AM-11PM Sun-Thurs. 11AM-1AM Fri-Sat. Closed Mondays.
– Coronado Café: 24/7
– Garden Buffet: 7 days a week. $20 for dinner. $30 for seafood and prime rib Fri-Sat.
– Steak ‘n Shake: Sun-Thurs 11AM-Midnight. Fri-Sat 11AM-1AM. Closed Mondays.
– Del Mar Deli: Sun-Thurs 8AM-10PM. Fri 8AM-1AM. Sat 7AM-1AM.
Other quick bites are Krispy Kreme, Starbuck’s, Seattle’s Best Coffee, and Kate’s Korner Ice Cream Parlor all open every day. Casual dress code for all.
Fine Dining
If you are looking for something fancy, South Point has four other options:
– Michael’s Gourmet Room: 5:30PM-10PM. Business attire. Guests 12 or older.
– Silverado Steak House: Sun-Thurs 5PM-10PM. Fri-Sat 5PM-11PM. Closed Mondays. Casual.
– Don Vito’s: Sun-Thurs 5PM-10PM. Fri-Sat 5PM-11PM. Closed Mondays. Casual.
– Primary Prime Rib: Sun/Wed/Thurs 5PM-10PM. Fri-Sat 5PM-11PM. Closed Mon/Tues. Casual.
Bars at South Point
Regarding alcohol, there are certainly numerous bars you can drink at, but most of them didn’t stand out to us. They are mainly just standard Vegas bars although they do all have video poker. The only bar worth talking about is the Del Mar Lounge located right behind the sportsbook. It is large with lots of round tables and chairs along with a cocktail menu. Apart from that, there is no casino floor nightlife going on.
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South Point is a locals casino on Las Vegas Blvd just south of the Strip. It has 22 tables. Many of these tables are only for tournaments.
The poker room is located on the south end of the property. Poker players visiting South Point may want to check out the independent sportsbook. South Point is also known for having the best bar-top video poker in Las Vegas. It spreads “No-So-Ugly-Deuces” at the bar in quarter, half-dollar, dollar, and two-dollar denominations.
South Point has grown into a respectable option in the locals poker market. The two closest casinos – Silverton and M Resort – closed poker rooms in recent years. The gives South Point a monopoly in the southern end of the Las Vegas Valley.
South Point launched a licensed Nevada online poker site in February 2014. It was called Real Gaming. It may be the worst online poker platform to ever hit the market. The software failed to even make basic features available to players, such as the ability to sit out, among other glaring bugs.
Real Gaming folded in August 2016. The website still exists, and the interactive gaming license appears to still be valid. However, there are no tables to play games. South Point once advertised this site on its table felts. Those have since been replaced.
Best and Worst Features of the South Point Poker Room
The South Point poker room is spacious and comfortable. Its dealers are experienced, and there is action most or all hours of the day. The players tend to be friendly. Most are locals with a few tourists coming in now and then. Parking is always free at South Point.
The games can be full of nitty locals, especially during weekday mornings and afternoons. This can take some of the fun away. This is not an issue during busy weekends when California tourists tend to vacation at the property.
The two main games at South Point are 1/2 no-limit Hold’em and 2/4 fixed-limit Hold’em. The no-limit game has a buy-in range of $100 to $300. South Point typically has an equal number of no-limit and fixed-limit games.
There may be a mixed game on certain weekends. This coincides with the poker room’s new HORSE tournaments.
South Point rakes 10% up to $4 plus a $1 jackpot drop.
Players earn $1 an hour in comps when clocked into a cash game with a The Club players card. This may be used for anything on the property. That includes the hotel, dining, bowling, movies, and shows.
South Point offers a $60 no-limit Hold’em tournament at 10 am daily. The house takes $15 of this for an admin fee.
The daily 2 pm tournament offers something different. On Mondays and Wednesdays, the buy-in is $60 for a bounty tournament. The bounty is $40 with $5 going to the prize pool and $15 to the house. Tuesdays and Thursdays have a $45+$15 fixed-limit Omaha Hi/Lo tournament. The Friday tournament has a double starting stack for $45+$15.
The stakes are raised on the weekends. The Saturday 2 pm event is $100+$30. Players start with 20,000 in chips and get a slow structure. Sundays offer a $100+$20 bounty tournament. The bounty is $75 with $25 going to the prize pool.
The 6 pm tournament also mixes the games up. Monday offers a $100+$25 HORSE tournament. This is a mixed game with a fixed-limit structure. The games are Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz, Seven Card Stud, and Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo. There is a $62+$18 no-limit Hold’em tournament on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. These events have a $1,500 guaranteed prize pool.
Wednesdays and Sundays have a $100+$25 deep stack tournament. This is no-limit Hold’em. The guaranteed prize pool is $6,000 on Wednesdays and $9,000 on Sundays.
Part of the juice in the tournaments goes towards high hands. In Texas Hold’em tournaments, four of a kind with a pair in the hand wins $25 cash. A straight flush using both hole cards wins $50. A royal flush using both hole cards wins three times the tournament buy-in. These are all paid in cash.
In Omaha tournaments, a player that makes a straight flush wins $50. A steel wheel (which is a five-high straight flush) and a royal flush receive three times the buy-in.
South Point Poker Room Review
South Point offers high hand bonuses and a seasonal freeroll where players meet certain hourly thresholds to qualify.
There is usually a $200,000 freeroll for players that log in 120 hours during a two-month period. All players receive at least $120 in cash.
South Point Poker Room Reviews
South Point has a large independent sportsbook. Its race section is separate. Bettors receive drink tickets, so you can sit back and enjoy a game and a cocktail.
There are several dining options at South Point. There is a Steak ‘n Shake steps away from the poker room. For a finer dining experience, we recommend Don Vito’s. It has great Italian food and an upscale atmosphere. The café offers great graveyard specials. Comps earned in the poker room may be used at any South Point dining establishment.
South Point has typical amenities found at a locals casino. There is a movie theater and bowling alley on the property. There is a show almost every night. A free comedy show called the “Dirty at 12:30” is on Friday nights.
South Point is the only poker room south of the Las Vegas Strip. The ones at Silverton and M Resort closed years ago. The closest poker rooms are at Mandalay Bay and Green Valley Ranch. Mandalay Bay is probably not worth driving to, as it has fewer games than South Point and charges for parking.
Green Valley Ranch may be a nice change of pace. It is also a locals poker room that is well managed. It spreads similar games as South Point. You may even find a 2/5 no-limit Texas Hold’em game there on weekends.