Why I don't like Bellagio

[Barry]

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But if you play limit hold em above 15-30, Bellagio is the only place to play IMO

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I'd probably say above 4/8 LHE...

[McMelchior]

Interesting to read these frequent Bellagio hater threads. Let me chip in with a slightly different perspective.

I've played at the B during my last ... erh .. 6 or 7 visits to Vegas. I'm a tournament player, and I've played the morning satellites, the weekly afternoon tournaments, and a few of the Bellagio Cups events.

I love that place.

There's a guy running the sats, Allen or Alan, and he's a sweetie ... remembers my name from year to year, courteous and effective in getting the sats going.

Dealers are many levels above the Borgata (or any other AC casino), I don't remember one single dealer mistake, and they don't waste time or lose focus by chatting with the players. This WSOP I experienced some pretty poor and unsavory dealers at the Venetian - not so at the B.

The tournaments have been flawlessly run to boot.

I realize I've been playing in the Fontana lounge the last couple of years, where the space is better than in the main poker room. But even in the poker room things have been nice and clean. Of course I haven't played after midnight ... that might be a different story.

Anyway, Bellagio is clearly my fav tournament spot in Vegas.

[effang]

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I may have as much time in Vegas as anyone who doesn't live there over the past 4 or so years. I started staying at Bellagio as the guy who got me started playing poker, played there.

I was always treated well as I progressed up the limits and really enjoyed the quality of the games. So I wound up playing mostly there. After the Wynn opened and the Bellagio upped it's poker rates, the Wynn became my home away from home. The rooms were bigger, brighter and nicer; and I was treated very well by all. The one big problem was the games. The 30/60 didn't run all that often and hardly ever after the WSOP. When it did it was populated with many of my 2+2 buddies that I have gotten to know over the years. While I'm always glad to spend time with them, it doesn't make for a great game.

So last weekend, I decide to head to LV and play some golf and it turns out that the Wynn is booked, but the Bellagio has rooms, so it's back there for the weekend. Yeah, those fancy new chairs didn't hold up so well, it's still a tight fit between the tables, the waitresses don't hold a candle to the Wynn girls and the customer service isn't stellar. But geez Louise, there were at least 4 juicy 30 games going at all times. At one point in time I mentioned to my friend (who is a poster here) that it was staggering to think of the EV that I gave up by staying and playing at the Wynn over the last year and a half.

Maybe the best solution for me is to stay at the Wynn, show my face in the poker room enough to stay in their good graces, then take a cab over to the Bellagio for my serious poker hours.

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what do you mean the B upped their poker rates? was it not 10% 4 dollar max?

I love the wynn, but bellagio has some horrible play. it's unfortunate people don't want to spend the time to visit the wynn, where the game is better, girls are hotter, and way more comfortable.

TT, what needs to be done to get the Wynn as the biggest/best poker room? Just better customer/strip flow?

Also, TT, do you know brunson and sklansky? You seem to speak of them with quite some authority.

thanks

[Photoc]

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what do you mean the B upped their poker rates? was it not 10% 4 dollar max?

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First off, it's not 10%. Most of their games have a "Schedule". Second, a poker rate is not the same thing as a poker rake. The poker rate is the rate the hotel charges you for a room based on x number of hours recorded per day in the poker room in cash games.

[MicroBob]

"what do you mean the B upped their poker rates? was it not 10% 4 dollar max?"


I would really love the Bellagio if their poker-rate was only $4.

[*TT*]

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Also, TT, do you know brunson and sklansky? You seem to speak of them with quite some authority.

thanks

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I know David in a hello, goodbye, and call me when you have a serious question kind of way (and I have - David gives great advice). I know Mason and Mat rather well (I have never discussed this before on 2+2). I have been introduced to Doyle but I don't know him, however I have met a few people who have worked with him over the years on his sports betting schemes, people who have played with him lots over a many year period, people who used to play in his game in Vegas back when 40/80 was the equivelent of 400/800 today would be, etc. Its a tiny poker community, intelligent people tend to flock together - not sure why I am allowed in the flock though [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

As for the Wynn question, it wont happen at this stage - its too late (if they move the poker room to the center of Encore in the middle of the pit and expand the size it might be able to expand). Its still the #2 room in tow for significant limits which is a good thing, but keep in mind Commerce has more tables running on a Monday morning @7am than the 4 major Vegas rooms combined on a Friday evening. Vegas poker is vastly overrated.

[Photoc]

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Its still the #2 room in tow for significant limits which is a good thing, but keep in mind Commerce has more tables running on a Monday morning @7am than the 4 major Vegas rooms combined on a Friday evening. Vegas poker is vastly overrated.

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That and there are 5x+ as many people within a few hours of Commerce as there are to Vegas. We have under 2 million between all 3 cities here and surrounding areas. They have 10 million within an hour probably.

I still don't understand the mentality that Vegas is the poker mecca. Too many people watching Rounders and rolling up a stake to head to Vegas I'd imagine.

[*TT*]

interesting side note - I have taken to playing lower mid-limit games in Vegas because I cannot put in the hours necessary because the pots tend to be small, hands 3-way, etc. Send me back east/Commerce and 20/40 is the lowest I will go, you will probably find me in a 40/80 game. Ironic, but in Vegas I play far more online than i do live at this stage - the money is better.

[effang]

[ QUOTE ]
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Also, TT, do you know brunson and sklansky? You seem to speak of them with quite some authority.

thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

I know David in a hello, goodbye, and call me when you have a serious question kind of way (and I have - David gives great advice). I know Mason and Mat rather well (I have never discussed this before on 2+2). I have been introduced to Doyle but I don't know him, however I have met a few people who have worked with him over the years on his sports betting schemes, people who have played with him lots over a many year period, people who used to play in his game in Vegas back when 40/80 was the equivelent of 400/800 today would be, etc. Its a tiny poker community, intelligent people tend to flock together - not sure why I am allowed in the flock though [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

As for the Wynn question, it wont happen at this stage - its too late (if they move the poker room to the center of Encore in the middle of the pit and expand the size it might be able to expand). Its still the #2 room in tow for significant limits which is a good thing, but keep in mind Commerce has more tables running on a Monday morning @7am than the 4 major Vegas rooms combined on a Friday evening. Vegas poker is vastly overrated.

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thanks a lot,

one more question, can you clarify the following statement?

"
As for the Wynn question, it wont happen at this stage - its too late (if they move the poker room to the center of Encore in the middle of the pit and expand the size it might be able to expand).
"

Encore? i'm at the wynn a lot (granted just the buffet and poker room), but i'm not familiar with "encore" or the rest of the pits. where is "encore".

thanks

[bav]

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Encore? i'm at the wynn a lot (granted just the buffet and poker room), but i'm not familiar with "encore" or the rest of the pits. where is "encore".


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Look up. Encore is the new hotel tower going up very near the original Wynn tower, and it also includes more casino space. Originally it was just supposed to be Wynn's second tower, but they've given it a name and now claim it will be operated more like a separate resort.