In your mind’s eye, when you summon up an image of a classic, Hollywood-movie poker room, what are the key visual ingredients? Intent players, certainly, probably with some bantering; chips or cash; well-placed lighting, possibly dramatic; and, probably, a smoke-filled room.
In 2001, the Bellagio in Las Vegas, in tandem with the Mirage, made history by deleting that last ingredient from its poker room. Although the Bellagio apparently made the decision first, and the Mirage implemented it first, the two giant casinos effectively turned the corner in providing smoke-free poker rooms in Las Vegas, something that poker rooms on the West Coast had implemented by law, and some casinos on the East Coast by design.
That such a simple act would reverberate like earth tremors through the Vegas casinos attests to the Bellagio’s stature on the Strip. As one of the most impressive luxury casino/hotel resorts in the world, the Bellagio boasts a stylish design, a variety of high-end restaurants, and, not least, a state-of-the-art poker room (reportedly costing $2.5 million) with 30 tables. Certainly, there aren’t many competitors in Vegas to a casino resort styled after a lakeside village in Tuscany, large dancing fountains, an 8-acre lake and a botanical garden with a glass ceiling sculpture.
The poker room is no slouch when it comes to luxurious accommodations, either, featuring swivel chairs, classy decorations, and prompt service. It fosters an up-town feel, and, often called as the best poker room in Vegas, is reportedly the room of choice for local poker professionals. Famous players are not infrequently spotted in the raised high limit section, where Texas Hold'em with 100/200 blinds is common. Lower limit games (4/8, 8/16) also attract a steady steam of good players. Daily tournaments include Texas Hold ‘em and 7 Card Stud, and major tournaments include the World Poker Tour.
