This Week in Vegas: Go Big or Stay Home

# Week snapshot Las Vegas is back to active tournament scheduling after the World Series of Poker period. The headline event this week is the $1,100 MSPT Nevada State Poker Championship at The Venetian, backed by a $300,000 guarantee and satellites to convert smaller buy-ins into entries. Several Strip rooms adjusted schedules or reintroduced formats that affect where players should consider dropping a buy-in.

# Championship If you can stretch to a four-figure buy-in, The Venetian's MSPT Nevada State Poker Championship is the clear premium pick. Day 1 flights run Thursday through Saturday at 11:10am, with survivors returning Sunday for Day 2 at 11am. The Venetian also runs $260 satellites on Thursday and Friday at 4:10pm and 7:10pm, which provide a lower-cost route into the main event. The tournament awards the Nevada State Poker Championship title and includes a $3,500 MSPT Championship seat for the winner.

# Where to play around town

• Wynn Las Vegas: The Wynn refreshed its daily offerings with $10,000 guaranteed daily events and a $160 nightly tournament at 6pm that costs $40 less than the noon option. The Wynn's $40,000 guaranteed Friday NLHE rebuy and $25,000 guaranteed weekend events are also solid value plays.

• The Orleans: A reliable lower-bankroll option. Friday's $200 NLHE Mega Stack at 11:05am and other sub-$200 events make it a sensible choice for grinders or visitors who want cheap action. The venue is also running a Football Mystery Envelope promotion with season-long prizes.

• South Point: Recommended for grinders and players seeking cheap, frequent tournaments. The Friday $240 event at 6:10pm and recurring $200 tournaments on other days are dependable choices.

# One to swerve: Caesars' reduced guarantees Caesars Palace has reduced its daily tournament guarantees to $1,000 while continuing to run four daily events with $100 and $160 buy-ins and a $50 add-on available only after the first break. That structure implies lower expected field sizes and makes Caesars less competitive compared with neighboring rooms that offer larger guarantees and fewer, stronger events.

# Off the felt: Pinball Hall of Fame

# Practical takeaways for this week

• Value players on a budget: use The Venetian satellites or play The Orleans/South Point $200–$240 events.
• Mid-stakes players seeking good structure and guarantee: target The Venetian MSPT or Wynn's $160 nightly event for cheaper entry and competitive fields.
• Mixed-game players: check Bellagio's Monday and Wednesday mixed-game schedule by phone before heading over.

Plan flight/day choices around the Venetian flights if you aim for the MSPT event, and call poker rooms for up-to-date mixed-game schedules and any last-minute guarantee changes.