If you ever make you way to New York City and stay within the confines around Manhattan (No Indian Casinos), then please stop for a second and check yourself. Playing poker in New York is a different; among many other aspects of this very unique, bustling and vibrantly active city. I would recommend if you haven’t seen it by now, take a night and watch Rounders – it’s the quintessential poker video based in New York.

(Trailer does play up love story a bit, but it’s about poker)

New York is a tight-knit city and everybody has connections; anybody who is playing these poker rooms or card clubs will typically be locals from the underground. You’re playing on their turf, so do it with a little respect. Some would say a back room poker dive or “speak easy” is an exaggeration of the modern day poker club or group scene in New York, but in this big city if you walk into something out of Rounders I would say take some pre-caution. Like when flying on an airplane and you are told to identify all your emergency exits. I’m sure you can find more typical card clubs or poker groups, but the CPT research team has yet to identify all the red flags. Poker in New York has put together a list of New York State’s pro poker game tables, poker club tables, and various poker groups. I’ve grouped my list by region and only listed venues near New York City.

Manhattan

The Genoa Club – Located at 92 West Houston St. They have daily ring poker game tables and Wednesday night freeze out poker tournaments. Contact: Anthony (201) 951-5333

Lucky Card Club – Located in downtown Manhattan (Financial District). Open from 6:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. Monday – Saturday. Various Poker Tournaments held nightly. Contact: theluckycard@yahoo.com

The Satellite Club – Located at 38 West 38th St., go to the 5th floor. Daily tournaments and ring games.

Midtown Gaming Club – Located in Midtown Manhattan this club is open 7 days a week from 7:00 p.m. – 6:00 am. They offer No Limit cash poker games and tournaments nightly. Contact: Joe B. midtowngaming@yahoo.com

The Pearl Room – Located in the Manhattan Financial District on Pearl St. This club is open 7 days a week from 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. They offer various cash games including Stud Poker and Omaha Poker as well as daily tournaments. Contact: Alex (212) 514-6090

Brooklyn

The Loft – Located in Brooklyn. They host tournaments daily with Texas Hold’em No Limit and Limit ring games. Contact: (347) 323-5765

Brooklyn Players Club – A Brooklyn area Club that offers various cash games and No Limit Texas Holdem Tournaments daily. Contact: (718) 768-7653

The Players Lounge – Located in the Borough Park area in Brooklyn. They offer professional poker table dealers and experienced floor staff. Tournaments are held on a daily basis. Live cash games are available 1/2 NL, 2/5 NL and just about any other no limit and or poker game tables. Contact: (718) 946-3753

You could be in for a night of excitement and thrills, or it could end up different. Just keep in mind the Rounders film, and keep the debt off your back. All-in!