Where are the best poker cardrooms in the world

Live Poker is played all over the world, at a huge variety of venues. I can think of 50 or more in England alone, but that's just the tip of the iceberg, Poker is completely global.

So where are the best venues internationally? Here's my list, based on personal experience, and some wonderful memories.

Binions Las Vegas, USA

This one might raise an eyebrow or two, as these days, Binions is a small time hilly-billy room, the standard of dealing is woeful, and the place itself is in a terrible state of disrepair.

That misses the point, though - Binions was the historical home of the WSOP (World Series of Poker) until it moved across to the Rio just over 10 years ago, and it reeks of history and tradition. OK, the dealers are not so hot these days, and the building is almost a health hazard, but there is no place like it on Earth for traditionalists. You've not played live Poker - real live poker - until you have experienced Binions. It's located downtown, on Fremont Street, which is a sort of posh version of the front at Blackpool, with live music, street performers, and it buzzes 24/7. 

Concord, Vienna, Austria

Until around 2005, the Concord in Vienna was the Headquarters of European Poker, no question about it. The biggest games in Europe took place there, the dealing standards were excellent, and the food magnificent. It was the home of something called the European World Series of Poker back in the day, which was a sort of warm-up, or trial, for the WSOP Proper, as well as the World Heads Up Championship.

The Tournament Director at the time was Thomas Kremser, who went on to fame and not a little infamy later as the EPT (European Poker Tour) TD (Tournament Director), and was the TD on the iconic Late Night Poker TV Show. The petite and beautiful Marina, now his wife, was also a dealer at Concord and dealt most of the games on Late Night Poker. They married in Las Vegas - proper Poker wedding venue, that.

Concord was in an odd part of Vienna, almost hidden away at the back of an industrial estate in the bad part of town. This suited many, though, as adjacent to Concord was what we might call a "Gentleman's Club," which was frequented by many Poker players, especially those flush with Poker winnings. Quite what went on in that Gentleman's Club I can't discuss here - you know the drill, what happens in Vienna, stays in Vienna.  

Taleon Club, St Petersburg, Russia

The Taleon Club was actually a converted palace, and as far as I know, the only real palace in the world where Poker was played. St Petersburg itself is probably the world's finest city, certainly in architectural and historical terms, and to put that in context, St Petersburg has no less than 35 palaces, so they can spare the odd one.

The club itself was nothing short of opulent. Even 10 or 12 years ago, to rent a suite at the Taleon Club would cost something like £600 per night.

Rather oddly, despite being in Russia, Poker at the Taleon Club was played in US dollars, we had to buy-in with dollars, and got paid out in dollars. It always intrigued me that when I got paid winnings at Taleon Club (pardon the chirp), it was not only all paid in $100 bills, but they were always crisp, brand new, $100 bills. If you have ever tried getting currency in and out of Russia, you'll share my intrigue as to how all those brand new $100 bills found their way to Russia. Getting the cash home was another challenge - invariably, a $500 "tip" to customs at the airport did the trick.

Dusk Till Dawn, Nottingham, England

No vote required here, DTD (Dusk Till Dawn) is simply the best in the UK, and it's not even close.

Everything about it just works so well. No problem parking, it has its own (and free) car park right outside the door, the food is great, the dealing standards impeccable, and the room, is set out so beautifully. I can't think of another building in the UK that was built specifically for Poker, either.

Information is clearly displayed on 27 plasma screens, and they have giant TV screens to watch sport.

Best of all, the tournaments are run oh-so-punctually. With DTD we know that a comp advertised as starting at 2pm will start at EXACTLY 2pm, and not a second later.

Always on hand to look after Poker matters is Simon Trumper, another name from that Late Night Poker TV show, who plays the role of mother hen perfectly. Owner Rob Yong is there every night, too, eyeing up his masterpiece and always willing to play anyone, at any game, for any stakes.

As far as England is concerned, it is simply the best.

The Venetian, Las Vegas, USA

Magnificent, in every way, the plushest room, the most comfortable (real leather) seats for the players, charger points for our iPads and smartphones at every seat, plasma TV screens right around the room showing Baseball, NFL, NBA, and most of all, plenty of room between the tables. There is nothing worse in a Poker room than tables too close together so we can't move around comfortably or stretch our legs. Remember, we can play Poker for 12 to 16 hours at a time, so we need to be comfy.

Food? Name it, you can have it, served on a trolley with a silver platter on top. If you prefer to eat away from the table, there are any number - 20 or more - restaurants in the Venetian and its sister hotel, Palazzo. Venetian and Palazzo are actually Siamese twins, they are adjacent to each other externally, but inside, it is just one big wonderful place. 

There is some resistance to playing Poker there by a few Poker purist, as the owner, Las Vegas Sands Corporation, effectively run buy a chap named Sheldon Adelson, is opposed to online Poker, so that does not go down well with some Poker players. I take the point, of course I do, but you know, life's too short. Visit Venetian, and you'll be amazed.

Rio Hotel, Las Vegas, USA

Not the best room, no, it lacks the amenities of even some regular rooms, but this is the home of the WSOP, and that alone propels it to the top of the standings.

Playing a WSOP is what every Poker player dreams of, and until you have done so, you just can't begin to imagine how spine tingling it is.

Before every WSOP event, they play some inspirational music. I call it rumpy-pumpy music, but however you label it, it's emotional, and can move you to tears.

Then the event gets underway, and the rooms, (there are at least 3) go quiet, the only sound you hear are several thousand players riffling their chips.

The Rio cardroom is actually the convention centre attached to the Rio hotel, and you gain access via the famous Rio corridor. The corridor is slightly downhill as you approach it, and so our pace and pulses accelerate simultaneously as we get ever nearer to that magical thing, the WSOP. 

And then, that magic moment greets us, there in front of us - the WSOP. Best players in the world, best Poker in the world, best Poker venue in the world.

You really ought to try it.