The Bellagio 40-table, smoke free poker room is one of the finest poker rooms in the world.  The service, game selection (mid-stakes and above), amenities and setting are all first-rate--there's a reason why most regular players consider the Bellagio their favorite place to play.  Unfortunately, because it's so popular, wait times can be a bit long even mid-week--it's not uncommon to wait up to an hour on weekends and evenings for some games.  That said, if you're a poker player, you need to put the Bellagio on your "must play" list when visiting Las Vegas.

The room spreads a variety of games (mid-stakes and above), including stud and Omaha daily.  Note to novices:  the smallest limit game is $4/8 and lowest buy-in NL game is $200.  In addition, there are daily tournaments (2p; see the schedule under Items of Interest for more info) and two major WPT events each year (the FIve Diamond Classic in December and the WPT World Championship in April).

Expect to find better players here.  There are tourists and recreational players, of course, but it's not uncommon to find 2-3 local pros at the juicier tables.  The biggest game in town takes place in Bobby's Room, a private room off to the back.  Look for Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Jennifer Harmon & Co. playing at all hours of the day and night.

The chairs, tables and other amenities are all high-end and the service is top-notch.  The dealers are all highly efficient and professional, the floor staff courteous and knowledgeable and the wait staff friendly and responsive.  There's a poker room rate, but youll need to call ahead and play at least 6 hours to qualify.

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