Every summer, thousands of poker players flock to Las Vegas with dreams of tournament glory, WSOP gold, and a bankroll breakthrough. After all, in the short term, low-rollers have a better shot at winning big money via a tournament versus a dozens-hour-long cash game grind. So, what to do if you’re a mixed game lover with a budget of around $3,000–$5,000, two weeks off work, and a burning desire to play all the non-hold’em variants you can squeeze in this summer in Las Vegas?
Well, for starters, Cardplayer Lifestyle’s Mixed Game Festival XI will be running June 8-19 at Bellagio. It’s a cash game-only festival featuring Dealer’s Choice mixed games spread as low as $4/8 all the way up to $20/40, starting daily at 12pm. Whether you’re looking to get your reps in on more obscure variants or take a fun break from the tournament grind, it’s the perfect place to play your favorite games in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.
But we’re primarily here now to talk mixed game tournaments and the 2025 Las Vegas summer poker calendar has plenty of affordable ones across a variety of venues, and we’ve got your complete guide right here. With some proper bankroll planning and good timing, you could potentially grind your way into multiple final tables and leave Sin City with significantly more money than you arrived with.
Why Mixed Game Low Rollers Are Winning This Summer
In recent years, tournament venues and poker room staff across Las Vegas — from the Orleans to Resorts World, Golden Nugget, MGM Grand, and beyond — have beefed up their offerings, adding:
- Low buy-in HORSE events
- Triple Draw and Triple Stud tournaments
- Omaha 8/Stud 8 hybrids
- 8-Game and Dealer’s Choice formats
- Razz, Stud 8, and even Mixed Triple Draw (A-5, 2-7, Badugi)
While the WSOP bracelet events may remain out of reach budget-wise, you can still fire in plenty tournaments with low to mid-three-figure buy-ins and potentially parlay a deep run (or two!) into a four- or five-figure score.
Great news the @WizardOfViz complete tableau of every poker tournament in Vegas this summer now includes @Wsop, @WynnPoker, @VenetianPoker, @PokerRoomRWLV, @OrleansPokerRo1, @PH_POKER, @ARIAPoker @MGMGrandPoker and @SPPokr.
This is totally customizable.
You can sort all…
— Allen Kessler (@AllenKessler) April 22, 2025
Top Vegas Venues for Budget-Minded Mixed Game Players
The Orleans
- Home to the legendary Summer Poker Series
- Buy-ins ranging from $240-$600
- Excellent structures and high guarantees
- Variety galore: HORSE, Triple Draw, 8-Game, and more
Golden Nugget
- One of the most mixed game-friendly series downtown
- Buy-ins mostly $400
- Tournaments include T.O.E., Razz, Dealer’s Choice, Stud 8, Triple Draw, and O/8–Stud 8 hybrids
- Frequent $20K–$40K guarantees on mixed events
MGM Grand
- Championship-format events with deep stacks
- Buy-ins mostly $600 with 30–40 minute levels
- Games include Stud/8, Triple Draw 2-7, and Big Bet Dealer’s Choice
Horseshoe / Paris (WSOP Side Events)
- Weekly deep stack H.O.R.S.E. events with a $250 buy-in
- Great structure and atmosphere with WSOP prestige
Resorts World
- Expanding their summer series with great mixed game variety
- Notable $400 Triple Stud, Stud-Only, and O/8–Stud 8 events
A Sample 2-Week Mixed Game Poker Trip
The tableau referenced above by Allen Kessler was created by Kim Ungar and is the perfect resource for planning your Vegas summer schedule. I filtered the results to narrow down the 1,500+ poker tournament offerings to just the 3-figure buy-in fixed limit mixed game tournaments. That produced a total of 77 pertinent events for low-roller mixed game lovers to choose from with just over $30,000 in total buy-ins (obviously it’s impossible to play in all of the events).
There’s at least one great low buy-in mixed game tournament being spread somewhere in Las Vegas almost every single day this summer. So, no matter which two-week stretch you choose visit for the World Series of Poker between May 27 and July 17, there will be plenty of events for you to play around town. Here are some highlights for components of what a dream low roller schedule could look like:
- May 29 – $600 Triple Triple Draw Championship @ Orleans
- May 30 – $600 Triple Draw 2-7 @ MGM Grand
- May 31 – $400 T.O.E. @ Golden Nugget
- June 2 – $240 T.O.R.S.E. @ Orleans
- June 3 – $250 HORSE Deep Stack @ Horseshoe
- June 6 – $240 R.O.S.E. @ Orleans
- June 8 – $600 H.E.R.O.S. Championship @ MGM Grand
- June 11 – $240 Omaha 8/Stud 8 @ Orleans
- June 12 – $250 Stud/Razz @ MGM Grand
- June 14 – $400 Triple Stud @ Golden Nugget
- June 15 – $400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 Mix @ Resorts World
- June 16 – $250 Mixed Triple Draw @ Orleans
- June 17 – $600 Mixed Triple Draw @ MGM Grand
- June 20 – $400 Stud 8 @ Golden Nugget
- June 21 – $240 Triple Triple Draw @ Orleans
- June 23 – $240 H.O.R.S.E. @ Orleans
- June 24 – $400 2-7 Triple Draw @ Golden Nugget
- June 24 – $150 Omaha 8 Championship @Westgate (Ladies Only PLON event)
- June 25 – $240 T.O.R.S.E. @ Orleans
- June 26 – $600 Triple Stud Championship @ Orleans
- June 29 – $400 Stud 8 @ Resorts World
- June 30 – $600 T.O.R.S.E. Championship @ Golden Nugget
- July 1 – $600 8-Game Mix Championship @ Orleans
- July 6 – $400 H.E.R.O.S. @ Resorts World
- July 7 – $240 R.O.S.E. @ Orleans
- July 8 – $240 2-7 Single Draw @ Orleans
- July 9 – $600 T.O.E. Championship @ Orleans
- July 10 – $600 Omaha 8/Stud 8 Championship @ Orleans
- July 15 – $250 HORSE Deep Stack @ Horseshoe
Dream Big and Have Mixed Game Fun in Vegas This Summer!
In addition to all the aforementioned venues, South Point and Aria are also hosting a couple low buy-in mixed game tournaments, too. Plus, again, I can’t help but recommend that at least part of your trip overlap with Mixed Game Festival XI at Bellagio so that you can join us for some fun dealer’s choice cash game action. It’s quite literally right across the street, just a quick 10-15 minute walk, from the Horseshoe/Paris. Mix in some time off for chilling by the pool, touring, and maybe a show or two, and you’ve got yourself the perfect poker vacation!
For many players, the goal is just to have fun and enjoy the variety. But let’s be real: if you happen to go on a heater, this trip could turn into the best “working vacation” of your life. A win or a couple final table finishes in a $240-$400 event can net you a solid few thousand dollars, especially with larger field sizes than usual. That’s enough to pay for your whole trip and still take home a tidy profit.
The mixed game fields are typically friendlier, softer, and way more fun than the mega-field NLHE mobs. You’ll see plenty of the same faces, and from experience I can tell you that you’re likely to become friends with some of them over your shared time at the felt.
Shuffle Up, Deal, and Diversify
Whether you’re a seasoned grinder or a home game hero finally making the pilgrimage, the 2025 Vegas mixed game low-stakes tournament scene is calling your name. Bring your best Stud game, your favorite lucky card protector, and a good sense of humor. You won’t find a better place or time of year to dive into the wide world of limit poker variants with low buy-ins and high upside. As I’ll be in Las Vegas for a full month this summer, it goes without saying that I plan on playing in plenty of these tournaments. That said, it goes without saying that we’d love to also see you at the Bellagio between June 8-19 for Cardplayer Lifestyle’s Mixed Game Festival XI, No registration and no pressure; just cards in the air and smiles all around.
