With live poker reopening, one of MGM’s major poker properties is taking a lead in the efforts for the game’s return. The Bellagio became the second Las Vegas Strip property to reopen its poker room last week.
There are no hourly comps offered. However, they do offer a poker room rate for the hotel itself (call the poker room for details). Chip colors Edit. These are standard Las Vegas colors, except for the $10 and $20: $1 - blue $5 - red $10 - orange with blue and green $20 - yellow with purple and green $25 - green with black. The Bellagio has 22 Deluxe Rooms and 63 Resort Rooms with full accessibility including lowered amenities, roll-in shower access, shower chair and support rails. There are two rooms with electronic lifts, which allow a person to move from a wheelchair to the bed, toilet, or shower bench without assistance.
The casino joins the Venetian and Caesars Palace, which opened the same day as Bellagio on June 18. Players will find six-handed poker with plexiglass partitions between players in a more spacious table and room environment.
On June 20, USPoker spoke with Bellagio director of poker room operations Mike Williams on site. The property is making an effort to return to normal as much as possible.
Live poker post-pandemic
After months of casino closings, poker room managers are moving to get players back to the tables. State guidelines call for five-handed play at poker rooms without dividers or plexiglass partitions.
Poker Room Rate Bellagio Casino
However, the Nevada Gaming Control Board approved Bellagio’s request for six-handed poker games with partitions.
Upon entering the poker room, guests are greeted by service staff at an open and spacious entryway. Players are seated by staff when a table has an opening, often with no wait depending on game and time.
There is a waiting list screen mounted to the wooden wall structure outside the poker room entryway. Players can also get poker room and game updates on the Bravo Pokerapp.
The poker room now has 23 poker tables, down from 37, and is open for play 24 hours a day. On Saturday, the spacious room had 16 tables running with more than half spreading $1-3 and $2-5 No-Limit Hold’em.
The Bellagio is one of the few Vegas rooms regularly offering more high-limit games. There were also $5-10, $10-20, and $20-40 No Limit Hold’em games and a $1-2 Pot Limit Omaha (PLO). Staff also offered a waiting list for high-limit mixed games.
Players returning to a safe environment
Williams noted a number of regular players have returned. The property has numerous cleanliness protocols in place. Dealers are wearing masks and sanitizing the playing area and seats for new players.
“The feedback has been very positive from the players and guests,” Williams said. “The poker room is swapping playing cards every four hours. The cards and poker chips are disinfected by the property on schedule.”
The plexiglass partitions provide better health and safety measures while meeting social and physical distancing guidelines.
One Bellagio guest said the clear dividers are “less intrusive and preferred” over no partition.
On June 24, the state added a mandate for players to wear masks. The previous rule called for masks if there are no plexiglass partitions. Nearly half the players at Bellagio wore masks on Saturday before the new rule.
New perks welcome Bellagio players
Expensive parking fees have long been a complaint of casino players. Williams noted guests will now find free self parking and free cocktail service. However, no food or non-playing poker guests are allowed in the poker room per safety guidelines.
Williams previously worked as poker room manager at Aria, another MGM property on the Las Vegas Strip. Aria hasn’t announced a reopening date yet.
While at Aria, Williams noted the growing interest in PLO and plans to offer more games at Bellagio.
“It’s better when a poker room can expand and have more games,” he said. “We want to grow the $1-2 PLO game at Bellagio.”
TV screens remain mounted throughout the Bellagio poker room. Sports bettors are in luck with one of Las Vegas premier sportsbooks adjacent to the facility.
Checking out the day’s sports action, horse racing, and odds screens is simple. Wagering windows are available and bettors can also use the BetMGM app while playing poker.
The sports bar lounge is right outside the poker room and was also active on Belmont Stakes day, but with fewer masks noted. Guests enjoyed cocktails and some spacious interaction.
Live poker’s return comes after major online growth
While online poker has seen substantial growth during the COVID-19 crisis, it’s encouraging to see live poker return. Poker is the ultimate social game, and while tournaments are not yet in play at Bellagio, patience is the protocol just as it is when playing poker.
The same goes for those hoping for the return of a live World Series of Poker at the Rio. That property is currently closed and the live WSOP is delayed until fall.
However, players in Nevada and New Jersey can play for bracelets beginning July 1 at WSOP.com. The WSOP Online tournaments feature one bracelet event daily.
Buy-ins range from $400 to $3,200 and players can qualify for events in multiple daily online satellites. On July 19, the series expands for international players on GGPoker.
Live poker may not have returned completely, but the WSOP Online adds even more buzz to the industry as a whole.
Bellagio Poker Room
The Bellagio poker room reopened on June 18, 2020 after the COVID-19 closure. It was the first Las Vegas poker room to install partitions. This allowed it to seat up to eight players per table. It is open 24 hours a day.
The Bellagio poker room usually has 36 tables. There are 23 poker tables at Bellagio now to help with social distancing. These are split into three rooms. Most games are held on the main level. There is a mid-stakes area and a salon called Bobby’s Room that hosts some of the highest limit games in town. That room is named after longtime Las Vegas gaming executive Bobby Baldwin.
Bellagio poker room cash games
Poker Room Rate Bellagio Las Vegas
Bellagio spreads the largest variety of cash games in Las Vegas. It is home to many low, mid and high limit games.
The most popular cash game is 1/3 no limit Texas Hold’em. It has a $100 to $300 buy-in range. There are usually 2/5 ($200 to $500), 5/10 ($400 to $1,500) and 10/20 ($800 minimum, uncapped) games running. Other common games include 1/2 and 2/5 pot limit Omaha, 4/8 and 40/80 fixed limit Hold’em with a half-kill, and high limit stud, Omaha hi/lo and mixed games.
Bellagio poker tournaments
Bellagio is not running any poker tournaments during the first phase of its reopening. It typically deals a daily $130 no limit Texas Hold’em tournament at 2pm daily.
Bellagio poker promotions
Poker Room Rate Bellagio 2019
The Bellagio poker room does not offer any promotions beyond $2 per hour when clocked in with an MLife card at the table. It does not take a jackpot drop.
Environment
The poker room at Bellagio offers an upscale experience. The seating and tables are of high quality. Each table has partitions with space for six players. Drink service is quick and offers a large variety of beverages for players. The staff is experienced. Many have worked at the Bellagio poker room for many years. The poker room is steps from the famous Bellagio sportsbook.
Bellagio poker rake
The Bellagio poker room rakes 10% up to $3. There is no drop for a promotional fund because it does not offer any.
Bellagio Poker Room Rate
Bellagio poker room FAQ
Is the Bellagio poker room open 24 hours a day?
Yes. It deals 24 hours daily.
What games are spread at the Bellagio poker room?
Players will find no limit and fixed limit Texas Hold’em, pot limit Omaha, Omaha hi/lo, seven card stud hi/lo and mixed games at the Bellagio poker room.
How many seats are at Bellagio poker tables?
There are eight seats per table due to the installation of partitions.
Are there any poker tournaments at Bellagio?
No. Tournaments are suspended until seating restrictions are relaxed.
What is the comp rate in the Bellagio poker room?
Players clocked in to a cash game with an MLife card receive $2 an hour in comps.
Updated: December 9, 2020