2023 - Sacramento's Best Top Poker Tournament Destinations in Sacramento, CA

Are you a poker enthusiast looking for the best places to indulge in thrilling poker tournaments right in the heart of Sacramento, CA? Look no further! Sacramento offers a variety of venues where you can test your skills, challenge opponents, and experience the excitement of poker tournaments. In this blog post, we'll explore the top poker tournament destinations in Sacramento that are sure to satisfy your poker cravings.

Capitol Casino:

Located in the heart of downtown Sacramento, Capitol Casino is a popular destination for poker tournaments. With its spacious poker room and a diverse range of games, including Texas Hold'em and Omaha, Capitol Casino offers daily tournaments that cater to players of all skill levels. Friendly staff, excellent service, and a welcoming atmosphere make it a favorite among local poker enthusiasts.

Stones Gambling Hall:

Stones Gambling Hall is another must-visit poker tournament destination in Sacramento. Known for its well-organized tournaments and professional staff, Stones offers an impressive lineup of daily and weekly events. The stylish and modern setting, along with live streaming of select tournaments, adds to the overall experience, making it a top choice for serious players and casual visitors alike.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort:

Just a short drive from Sacramento, Thunder Valley Casino Resort boasts a spacious and luxurious poker room that hosts a variety of tournaments. With its elegant ambiance and numerous tables, this casino offers a premier poker experience. The diverse range of games, including Limit and No-Limit Hold'em, as well as regular high-stakes tournaments, ensure there's something for everyone.

Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort:

Nestled in the Sierra foothills, Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort offers a unique poker tournament experience. The casino's friendly and inviting atmosphere makes it a favorite among both locals and tourists. Regularly scheduled tournaments and special events keep the action alive, while the picturesque surroundings provide a relaxing escape from the city.

Rancho's Club Casino:

For those seeking a more intimate poker setting, Rancho's Club Casino is a hidden gem in Sacramento. With a focus on community and camaraderie, this casino offers an array of tournaments, often with smaller fields, allowing for a more personalized experience. The cozy ambiance and friendly regulars create a welcoming environment for players to enjoy their poker sessions.

Conclusion:

Whether you're a seasoned poker pro or just starting your poker journey, Sacramento, CA, has a variety of poker tournament destinations to satisfy your craving for competitive card play. From bustling downtown casinos to serene foothill retreats, each venue offers a unique experience that caters to different preferences. So, gather your chips, brush up on your poker strategy, and head to one of these top destinations for an unforgettable poker tournament experience in Sacramento. 

2006 - Where to play a good Texas Hold'em Tournament in Sacramento

Check out this amazing post from 2006 and compare it to what is new in my other post.

(Circa 2006)

Where to play a good Texas Hold'em Tournament in Sacramento

So where can one play a poker tournament in Sacramento?

Since Sacramento has about eight or nine card rooms and casinos within a 20 mile radius, the real question is where are the BEST poker tournaments in Sacramento.

The fast answer is: if you like NO re-buy tournaments, then Capitol Casino is your place; and if you love re-buy tournaments, then Casino Royale will suit your needs. Although, I must note, the Phoenix Casino came in as an honorable mention.

Okay, so the bigger question is what makes these two choices the best poker tournaments in Sacramento? I believe the measure of a good tournament comes in three parts. First, you should have a good return on your investment, which means, if you win first place you should expect to earn 20 to 25 times what you invested for your initial buy-in. Second, the game has to be consistent, which means: the rules of poker are upheld fairly and constantly, and the tournament director and the dealers must be so good at what they do as to not distract from the actual game. And lastly, the blind structure of the tournament should not be too progressive as to turn the game into an all-in gambling fest.

For both Capitol Casino and Casino Royale the turn out is very strong on a daily basis. Typically you can see from 5 to 6 ten-handed tables running per tournament. Having a strong turn-out means you definitely get your return on your investment when you win. For this reason, both casinos did very well on the first criteria: you definately get paid when you win. As for the second criteria, Capitol Casino is much more consistent when it comes to the tournament director’s ability to keep things under control, but both game rooms have respectable dealers who keep the game moving and are good about staying under the radar. And, lastly the blind structure is fairly steady with Capitol Casino, although they do skip a few levels of blinds it is not very noticeable because each round remains the same amount of time. However, the big downfall with Casino Royale is that the blind structure not only skips a few levels, but they also shorten the time of later blind levels which really changes the feeling of the game, but also ends the tournament quicker. Having said this, Casino Royale can have over 70 players per tournament with serious re-buys which makes the payout so high that it outweighs the deficiency with the blind structure problem. Bottom line, both Casino Royale and Capital Casino are great choices for tournament players.

As for the honorable mention, as I mentioned above, the Phoenix Casino is definitely an honorable mention when it comes to tournament play. The only reason it did not come in as first or second, is although they have an excellent tournament director and a strong blind structure, they just don’t have the number of players which lowers your investment return.

Here are the addresses and phone numbers of all three poker rooms:

Capitol Casino, 411 North 16th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-446-0700
Poker website in Sacramento

Casino Royale, 2052 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95821
916-929-7529
Poker website in Sacramento
Phoenix Casino and Lounge, 5948 Auburn Boulevard, Citrus Heights, CA 95621Phone: 916-334-4225

Are you a Sacramento Poker player?


What has been your best poker tournament experience in Sacramento?


What are the trends you have seen in Sacramento poker play?


To be fair to the rest of the poker rooms and casinos in the Sacramento area, and more importantly for your information, here are the address and phone numbers:

Capitol Casino
411 N 16th St
Sacramento, CA 95811
Poker website in Sacramento
(916) 446-0700

Limelight Bar & Cafe Card Room
1014 Alhambra Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95816
Poker website in Sacramento
(916) 325-1655

Lucky Derby Casino
7433 Greenback Ln
Citrus Heights, CA 95610
Poker website in Sacramento
(916) 726-8946

Rancho's Club Casino
2740 Mills Park Dr
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Poker website in Sacramento
(916) 361-9186

Silver Fox Casino
6010 Stockton Blvd
Sacramento, CA 9582
No Poker website in Sacramento
(916) 399-4929

Sacramento Casino Royale
2052 Auburn Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95821
Poker website in Sacramento
(916) 929-7529

Phoenix Casino
5948 Auburn Blvd
Citrus Heights, CA 95621
No Poker website in Sacramento
(916) 339-9623

Golden State Casino
5402 Lindhurst Ave
Marysville, CA 95901
No Poker website in Sacramento
(530) 749-2137

Wine Country Casino and Restaurant
1800 S Cherokee Ln
Lodi, CA 95240
Poker website in Sacramento
(530)749-2137

Casino Marysville
513 4th St
Marysville, CA 95901
Poker website in Sacramento
(530) 743-4038

Red Hawk Casino
Placerville, CA 95667
Poker website in Sacreamento
(530) 677-2580

Jackson Rancheria Casino
12222 New York Ranch Rd
Jackson, CA 95642
Poker website in Sacramento
(209) 223-1677

Feather Falls Casino
3 Alverda Dr
Oroville, CA 95966
Poker website in Sacramento
(530) 533-3885

Cache Creek Casino Resort
14455 State Highway 16
Brooks, CA 95606
Poker website in Sacramento
(530) 796-3118

Where to play a good Texas Hold'em Tournament in Sacramento

So where can one play a poker tournament in Sacramento?

Since Sacramento has about eight or nine card rooms and casinos within a 20 mile radius, the real question is where are the BEST poker tournaments in Sacramento.

The fast answer is: if you like NO re-buy tournaments, then Capitol Casino is your place; and if you love re-buy tournaments, then Casino Royale will suit your needs. Although, I must note, the Phoenix Casino came in as an honorable mention.

Okay, so the bigger question is what makes these two choices the best poker tournaments in Sacramento? I believe the measure of a good tournament comes in three parts. First, you should have a good return on your investment, which means, if you win first place you should expect to earn 20 to 25 times what you invested for your initial buy-in. Second, the game has to be consistent, which means: the rules of poker are upheld fairly and constantly, and the tournament director and the dealers must be so good at what they do as to not distract from the actual game. And lastly, the blind structure of the tournament should not be too progressive as to turn the game into an all-in gambling fest.

For both Capitol Casino and Casino Royale the turn out is very strong on a daily basis. Typically you can see from 5 to 6 ten-handed tables running per tournament. Having a strong turn-out means you definitely get your return on your investment when you win. For this reason, both casinos did very well on the first criteria: you definately get paid when you win. As for the second criteria, Capitol Casino is much more consistent when it comes to the tournament director’s ability to keep things under control, but both game rooms have respectable dealers who keep the game moving and are good about staying under the radar. And, lastly the blind structure is fairly steady with Capitol Casino, although they do skip a few levels of blinds it is not very noticeable because each round remains the same amount of time. However, the big downfall with Casino Royale is that the blind structure not only skips a few levels, but they also shorten the time of later blind levels which really changes the feeling of the game, but also ends the tournament quicker. Having said this, Casino Royale can have over 70 players per tournament with serious re-buys which makes the payout so high that it outweighs the deficiency with the blind structure problem. Bottom line, both Casino Royale and Capital Casino are great choices for tournament players.

As for the honorable mention, as I mentioned above, the Phoenix Casino is definitely an honorable mention when it comes to tournament play. The only reason it did not come in as first or second, is although they have an excellent tournament director and a strong blind structure, they just don’t have the number of players which lowers your investment return.

Here are the addresses and phone numbers of all three poker rooms:

Capitol Casino, 411 North 16th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-446-0700
Poker website in Sacramento

Casino Royale, 2052 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95821
916-929-7529
Poker website in Sacramento
Phoenix Casino and Lounge, 5948 Auburn Boulevard, Citrus Heights, CA 95621Phone: 916-334-4225

Are you a Sacramento Poker player?


What has been your best poker tournament experience in Sacramento?


What are the trends you have seen in Sacramento poker play?


To be fair to the rest of the poker rooms and casinos in the Sacramento area, and more importantly for your information, here are the address and phone numbers:

Capitol Casino
411 N 16th St
Sacramento, CA 95811
Poker website in Sacramento
(916) 446-0700

Limelight Bar & Cafe Card Room
1014 Alhambra Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95816
Poker website in Sacramento
(916) 325-1655

Lucky Derby Casino
7433 Greenback Ln
Citrus Heights, CA 95610
Poker website in Sacramento
(916) 726-8946

Rancho's Club Casino
2740 Mills Park Dr
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Poker website in Sacramento
(916) 361-9186

Silver Fox Casino
6010 Stockton Blvd
Sacramento, CA 9582
No Poker website in Sacramento
(916) 399-4929

Sacramento Casino Royale
2052 Auburn Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95821
Poker website in Sacramento
(916) 929-7529

Phoenix Casino
5948 Auburn Blvd
Citrus Heights, CA 95621
No Poker website in Sacramento
(916) 339-9623

Golden State Casino
5402 Lindhurst Ave
Marysville, CA 95901
No Poker website in Sacramento
(530) 749-2137

Wine Country Casino and Restaurant
1800 S Cherokee Ln
Lodi, CA 95240
Poker website in Sacramento
(530)749-2137

Casino Marysville
513 4th St
Marysville, CA 95901
Poker website in Sacramento
(530) 743-4038

Red Hawk Casino
Placerville, CA 95667
Poker website in Sacreamento
(530) 677-2580

Jackson Rancheria Casino
12222 New York Ranch Rd
Jackson, CA 95642
Poker website in Sacramento
(209) 223-1677

Feather Falls Casino
3 Alverda Dr
Oroville, CA 95966
Poker website in Sacramento
(530) 533-3885

Cache Creek Casino Resort
14455 State Highway 16
Brooks, CA 95606
Poker website in Sacramento
(530) 796-3118

Sacramento Poker

Sacramento Poker

Sacramento poker has been getting more and more competitive over the last few years. Sure, you will always have your 'leather butts' and 'calling stations' at any card room which have always been good players, but what I am talking about is the level in tournament play, and the quality of players over the last three or four years.

What I mean is I am beginning to see an increase of player who have stopped falling in love with the suited A,10. I am talking about the kind of player who is holding a suited A,10 just behind the button, and faces a raise from 'under the gun' which puts his tournament life at stake while still having an above average chip stack compared to the rest of the field, and you are 3 or 4 rounds into the tournament.

What kind of Sacramento Poker Player are you?

If you are this player what is your move? Do you call, and go all-in, or do you fold?

Playing poker around Sacramento, what is your worse bad-beat?

Online Gambling in the USA?

Online Gambling in the USA?

I remember being so bummed back in 2006 when the Congress in conjunction with George W. Bush essentially banned online poker by introducing the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). My poker site of choice back then was http://www.pokerroom.com/, which if you don’t remember came about two or three years before Poker Stars and about four to six years before Full Tilt. In fact, I remember playing at Poker Room and not really trusting the ‘newbie’ sites because they did not seem as well established (I laugh about it now). Any way, Poker Room.com took the 2006 ban quite serious and stopped accepting bank transactions from USA players and the only thing to do was to cash-out by check.

In the mean time, Texas Hold’em and the World Series of Poker, by 2006, had already gained some serious traction with the tournament win of Chris Moneymaker in 2003 which led to the record attendance and a record breaking 12-Million dollar first place money, which was of course won by the infamous Jamie Gold in 2006. But, in 2006 the UIGEA splashed some cold water on the game.

Well, we all know some poker sites did not ban USA players and are now giants of online poker. However, the reason I write this today, is I am curious about your thoughts regarding Congressman Barney Frank’s intent to propose legislation that would repeal the UIGEA. The odds are quite good that a repeal will pass, and I am wondering how the USA poker community will respond. I wonder if the once well-established sites, like Poker Room.com, will regain traction and their once-held popularity.

As a Sacramento poker player, what do you think?

What Sacramento poker room do you like to frequent?

What poker room would you recommend as a Sacramento poker player?