Los Angeles has long been synonymous with high stakes, whether on the silver screen or at the felt of its sprawling cardrooms. But as July 2025 unfolds, a curious duality is emerging in the city’s vibrant poker scene. While iconic venues like Commerce Casino and The Gardens Casino remain bustling hubs, drawing hundreds of players daily, a closer look at the very top echelons of the game reveals a subtle shift. Is L.A.’s high-roller poker face beginning to show a tell, or are the city’s most ambitious players simply finding new ways to make their mark away from the brightest spotlights?
Table Giants and Their Numbers
Across Los Angeles, poker rooms are close to full capacity. Commerce Casino stands out as one of the world’s largest. As reported by Growjo, in 2025, it ran over 240 tables with a poker room reaching over $35 million in yearly revenue. The staff count reached 608, a 15 percent increase from the previous year. The Gardens Casino finished a $90 million remodel, pushing its count to 225 tables, and reported their annual revenue in 2017 as $9.2 million. Hustler Casino, smaller by comparison, turned over $7.5 million with roughly 350 employees. It has also found an audience online, with Hustler Casino Live streams speculated to be bringing in over $7,690 from YouTube during April 2025 alone.
Who‘s Sitting at the Big Tables?
Players known for their big bets continue showing up. In April, Phil Ivey played a hand exceeding $22,000 at Commerce Casino. Phil Laak, another name familiar to regulars, entered $400 and $800 mixed games at the same venue. These games invite both attention and larger buy-ins. Meanwhile, the World Series of Poker, held every summer, gives an annual snapshot of high-roller interest.
Unpacking Table Action Through the Numbers
High-stakes hands are still being played across Los Angeles, with Commerce Casino showing regular pots above $20,000. Sources close to the poker scene suggest players like Phil Ivey and Phil Laak are found at tables with stakes reaching $400 and $800, while the YouTube streams from Hustler Casino Live bring in both local and national figures.
Among all the activity, poker games remain the backbone, no matter if it’s the $250,000 buy-in at the World Series or mixed games that draw veterans and newcomers. This variety, from streamed events to classic tournaments, frames the daily reality at these venues.
The High-Roller Decline, By the Entry Sheets
Interest at the very top end saw a clear dip. The 2025 $250,000 buy-in Super High Roller event at the World Series of Poker managed 63 entries, down by 16 percent from the previous year’s 75. On the other hand, total attendance at the series rose slightly, up 1.41 percent with almost 87,000 entries by the end of week three. Top finishers, including Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, and Jason Koon, were featured in the big-money events. The first-place payout cracked $4.7 million.
What’s clear is the tilt toward less expensive tournaments. The $1,000 Monster Stack and the $1,000 Seniors High Roller both increased by over 10 percent in player turnout. This pattern shows a tilt toward mid-level stakes, with fewer taking on the $250,000 commitment.
On the Room Floors: A Closer Look at Traffic
Commerce and Gardens continue to anchor live poker in the area. Commerce hosted the WPT LA Poker Classic in February 2025. The Gardens Casino has historically hosted WPT events and remains a key venue for larger local tournaments. Player counts justify the number of tables; Commerce seats hundreds per day, keeping the action steady but not always in the largest buy-ins. High-stakes events draw the press but are rarer than before.
Meanwhile, the online world is not making up for the difference. Hustler Casino Live’s YouTube show has found guests, but it brings in less cash than in-person poker. Its streams show high-stakes play and personalities but are not yet attracting the huge pots seen on some casino floors.
Watching the Clock: Legal Shifts and Anxiety
Regulation is looming over the business side. Proposed changes in California’s gambling laws put the player-dealer rotation model at risk. If passed, the proposed changes to the player-dealer model, which critics argue blur the lines with traditional banked games, could significantly impact revenue. Official estimates suggest these changes could cost card rooms hundreds of millions of dollars annually, with one assessment projecting losses around $396 million per year.
The New Money in the Room
Attendance at headline events is slipping, but high-stakes names are still found at Los Angeles casinos. Mid-tier tournaments and cash games, both in-person and on livestream, are making up the numbers. Slowdowns in top-level buy-ins like the $250,000 event are real, but not fully closing the tables to ambitious players. Hosting star players and offering volume at lower stakes is enough to keep traffic steady.
The Edge: Why Some Stay, Some Sit Out
Travel, taxation, and comfort play into why some players pull back from large live events. Larger buy-ins bring high risk and scrutiny, while mid-size and low-stakes events offer reliable action with less exposure. Veteran players can pick their spots, taking on large games or building a streak in cash rooms. The variety of tournaments, livestreams, and classic table play ensures poker in Los Angeles has something steady for nearly every player, big bets included, big crowds optional.
The Outlook for Los Angeles Poker
Poker in Los Angeles still shows movement at every level, from headline grabbers playing for six-figure pots to steady players making the daily rounds. Big-money games have slowed but have not vanished. With casino expansions, more tables, and continued draws from recognized pros, the city holds its place as a poker hub. The focus now is split between regulatory questions and player interest in high-cost tables. Market numbers and player names still carry weight here, even if the tallest stacks seem a little lower than before, meaning, ultimately, L.A.’s high-rollers aren’t busto, but they’re playing a new game.
