Arizona Charlie's Poker Room Review
Last updated: 07/08/08
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Phone: (702) 258-5200
Web: www.arizonacharliesdecatur.com/decatur_pokerroom.html
Email:
Address: 740 S. Decatur Boulevard
Editor's Review
Arizona Charlie's Poker Room News
Arizona Charlie's Poker Room Information
Tables: 4

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Betting Limits:
| Game | Bets | Frequency |
MinBuy-in | MaxBuy-in | Notes |
| Holdem Limit |
$4/8 half kill |
Regular |
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Game plays with Overs, using red and white chips |
| Holdem No Limit |
$1/2 |
Regular |
$50 |
$200 |
Usually at night, when the 4/8 Overs game votes to change over to NL |
Arizona Charlie's Poker Tournaments: Yes
| Game | Days | Time |
Buy-in | Admin fee | |
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Weekend Wait-Time: Short. Five to 10 minutes.
Smoking Allowed: Yes
Arizona Charlie's is one of the last remaining poker rooms in Vegas that allows smoking at the actual poker table. And boy do players love to smoke here!
On my last visit, there were no less than four people at my poker table smoking at once. One of them even puffed away on a big fat cigar, even though according to a sign in the poker room, no cigars are allowed.
If this wasn't enough to convince you that smoking is tolerated, take a close look at the picture of the dealer on the right. Notice the freshly lit cigarette loosely gripped in his hand? Unbelievable.
Poker Room Rate: No
Editor's Review - Arizona Charlie's Poker Room
Total Rating: 2.80
Room Quality Rating: 2
Arizona Charlie's poker room is a piece of work. You'll find this little Vegas jewel tucked away between the Noble Romans pizza joint, and the sports book. It's a semi-real room, with a half-wall around the perimeter. Honestly, it's about one notch above the El Cortez in terms of atmosphere. And frankly, I love it.
There are four old tables, all with extra-worn felt. The red rims around the tables have drink holders, but you won't find any auto shufflers in these bad boys. The tables do have Arizona Charlie's logos plastered on 'em. Nice touch.
The lime green poker chairs are obviously not meant to match anything, but really, who cares? If their colors matched something, that would ruin the vibe. The chairs are very basic, but are plenty comfortable for me.
Hanging on the wall, there is a tapestry of some dogs playing poker. This picture sort of reminds me of a poor man's Monte Carlo. You got to love that.
Arizona Charlie's is one of the last remaining poker rooms in Vegas that allows smoking. But don't worry, if there is nobody smoking at your table the ambient smoke from the casino festers nicely inside the poker room. Heck, even the dealers have been known to get in on the smoking action (see pictures at right). Did I say this place reminded me of the El Cortez?
Amazingly, the poker room does have two plasma screen televisions. You definitely aint gonna find nothing this swanky at the big El C.
Don't let those plasma televisions fool you however - this place is a dump. But it's a dump I can appreciate, because it's like retro-Vegas. This is sort of what poker used to be like in Vegas, before the Mirage and its offspring changed the landscape forever.
If you're looking for an old school Vegas vibe, with "real" people and not a bunch of pseudo-poker pro�s, Arizona Charlie's might be your ticket. If you're looking for anything else, don't even get near this place.
Competition Rating: 2
The folks that patronize Arizona Charlie's are what I like to think of as real people. Here, you won�t find a bunch of kids who think they can out-play Gus Hansen with their super-elite poker skillz. Nope, the folks at Arizona Charlie's just like to play a nice friendly game of cards. A real poker game, if you will.
Most of the players here know how to play cards too. They probably didn�t read any books to learn however.
Of course, they've been playing poker for so many years, some could probably write a few books on the subject. Most of the players here are quite decent. You won't find too many drunk tourists in this pond.
The players are genuinely friendly too. At a typical game, you might find a local barber-shop owner, or a manager of a Vegas restaurant. These are the sort of people that know how to carry a conversation. Nobody here is hiding underneath a hooded sweatshirt, or listening to Britney on their bright pink Ipod. Like I said, these folks are real.
One really interesting final point, is that players at Arizona Charlie's have the option of playing with an "over button." This is very unusual in Vegas card rooms these days. Basically, it's a way to create a hybrid no-limit game. If you're sitting at a $4/8 table with an over button in front of you, and you get heads up with an opponent who also has an over button, then you guys can play no limit poker. The over button is totally optional, and I personally don�t like playing with it.
Dealer Rating: 5
The Arizona Charlie's poker dealers are something else. Don't be surprised to see one dealer slinging the cards, while the other dealer sits in seat 10 just waiting to catch his pocket rockets. Evidently, dealers here are allowed to play poker while they work. Nice gig.
One thing I've seen here, but never anywhere else in my life, was a dealer who wasn't dealing at the moment actually sit down in a game, and play over another player's seat. For example, assume the player in seat 8 steps away from the table to grab a bite to eat. Then, dealer on break sits down in seat 8, puts his chip-rack OVER the player's chips, and proceeds to play poker until the player returns. When player gets back, dealer picks up his chip-rack, and player sits back down to resume playing. You've really got to see this to appreciate it.
I jokingly asked the dealer I saw play over the other player whether his little stunt made him a prop or a shill. His response? "I'm the asshole!" -- Um., Okay.
When the dealers are actually dealing cards, they are competent, friendly, and efficient. I can�t ask for more. And, when you combine their actual dealing skills with their unusual antics, I�ve absolutely got to rate these guys a 5.
Cocktail Rating: 3
For such a dump of a casino, the cocktail waitresses at Arizona Charlie's are actually pretty attractive. More importantly, they�re friendly and they bring drinks fast.
Also, they serve Red Bull in the can, which is always a big plus.
Management Rating: 3
When I've been to Arizona Charlie's, the dealers are usually managing the poker room by themselves. This place aint exactly a suit and tie sort of joint, and their management-style reflects this.
Usually there is no list to worry about, and I've never seen the management have to get involved in a hand dispute.
Comps Rating: 4
If your Aces get cracked, you get to spin the "mystery wheel".
I call it the mystery wheel, because I'm told prizes range from a hat to $50 in cash, but the spots on the wheel are not marked. This is really pretty funny, especially because the dealers don't even know which colors win which prize. Most dealers only know yellow equals $50 bucks. I guess you better pray for yellow if you get to spin.
Four of a kind and straight/royal flush jackpots up to $599 are also offered.
A $5 food comp is available for 3 hours of play.
Arizona Charlie's Poker Room News
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Arizona Charlie's Poker Room Player Reviews
Summary of Player Reviews:
Overall: 3.00
Room Quality: 2.80
Competition: 3.00
Dealer Rating: 3.40
Cocktail Rating: 3.00
Management Rating: 4.00
Comps Rating: 2.60
smoking Poker
By: BxFitz 08/26/08
Total Rating: 2.95
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By: BxFitz 08/20/08
Total Rating: 3.15
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By: Yappy Dave 01/16/08
Total Rating: 1.95
Arizona Charlie's Review
By: jorgenj 03/12/06
Total Rating: 2.85
So sue me, but this is what ALL Vegas Rooms should be like....
By: LasVegasMichael 11/24/05
Total Rating: 4.10
Trip Reports About Arizona Charlie's Poker Room
smoke'm before you enter the poker rooms
04/04/06, Player: candykisses
For Rooms: Arizona Charlie's,Binion's,Boulder Station,Golden Nugget,Harrah's,Hooters,Imperial Palace,Sam's Town,Tropicana,
SPPerry and LVMike's Excellent Adventure III
05/27/08, Player: SouthPointPerry
For Rooms: Arizona Charlie's,Riviera,Stratosphere,Wynn,
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Entrance to Arizona Charlie's poker room.

Side view of Arizona Charlie's poker room. Notice "Mystery wheel" on left.

Dealer smoking on the job.

Am I reading this right?
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