Bay 101 is the largest card room in the South Bay and one of the most prominent poker destinations in all of California. With 49 tables spread across two smoke-free casino floors, it handles both serious poker players and casual visitors with equal ease — a difficult balance that Bay 101 manages well.

Its annual WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star Championship brings the room national attention each year, drawing pros and serious amateurs from across the country for one of the more exciting stops on the World Poker Tour calendar.

The Room

Two floors, both smoke-free. 49 tables total. The scale gives Bay 101 something most NorCal rooms can't offer: game availability. Even during slower periods, you're unlikely to have trouble finding a seat at your preferred stake level. During peak hours, there's genuine variety running at every table.

The room is professionally staffed and well-lit. The physical layout is efficient without feeling crowded — a real accomplishment at this table count.

Games Spread

Bay 101 runs a full menu of California card room offerings:

• No-Limit Texas Hold'em (multiple stake levels)
• Limit Texas Hold'em
• Pai Gow Poker (with Fortune Bonus, Face-Up variant)
• Pai Gow Tiles
• Ultimate Texas Hold'em (with Trips bonus, Bad Beat payout)
• 3-Card Poker
• Crazy 4 Poker
• Golden Frog Baccarat (No Bust 21st Century Blackjack)

The poker lineup is particularly strong. Whether you want a deep-stack no-limit game or prefer the structure of limit hold'em, Bay 101 typically has it running. Per California law, all games are player-banked.

Tournaments

Bay 101's tournament program is among the strongest in Northern California:

WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star Championship is the flagship event. The tournament typically runs in the fall (historically October–November) and features a $5,300 Main Event with bounties on touring professionals. Previous final tables have been played in Las Vegas, giving top performers national visibility.

Daily Noon Tournament: $200 buy-in, 20,000 starting chips. Registration closes at 10:45 AM. A consistent daily option for tournament players who want structured competition without the commitment of a multi-day series.

Rising Star Tournament Series: A regular multi-event series running in late winter/early spring. Multiple buy-in levels with satellites available. Full schedule via PokerAtlas.

Location & Logistics

Bay 101 sits on North 1st Street in San Jose, close to downtown and easily accessible from the 101 and 87 freeways. Parking is available on-site. The location makes it a reasonable destination from anywhere in the South Bay or Peninsula.

The Verdict

Bay 101 is as close to a benchmark NorCal poker room as exists. The scale, game variety, tournament program, and professional operation make it the default answer when someone asks "where should I play in the South Bay?" For tournament players specifically, the WPT Shooting Star event is a genuine bucket-list stop.

Must be 21+.