More on the Venetian

by H. Scot Krause, Originally appeared in the April 17, 2006 issue of Poker Player

As we go to print, all eyes in Las Vegas will be focused on the premier of the highly anticipated new poker room opening at the The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino this month. At a reported cost of approximately $2.6 million, this poker room will raise the bar for luxurious card rooms around the nation and beyond.

At nearly 11,000 square feet, the Venetian Poker Room will not only be among the city's largest venues for this classic table game but also its most exquisite -players will appreciate the room's rich leather and wood decor as well as its thoughtful use of the latest technology. Rise to the challenge of your choice - whether your preferred style is Texas Hold 'Em, Stud, or Omaha.

Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in a smokefree environment, the main poker room will offer 32 tables adjoined by 7 tables in the High Limit/Salon area. The Salon room includes two relaxation areas, butler service and even gourmet dining. Food service will also be available in the main poker room.

Additional poker room amenities include complimentary valet parking, safe deposit boxes for players, state-ofthe- art player tracking technology, adjustable chairs with wheels for comfort and 21-42" plasma television monitors throughout room.

Games offered will include Texas Hold 'Em (both limit and no-limit), Stud and Omaha from $4-$8 limit to $4,000- $8,000, all expected to be played regularly. A tournament schedule will be announced after their opening. On a much smaller scale, but still a significant development for poker enthusiasts in Las Vegas, the Fiesta Rancho (owned by Station Casinos) steps up its poker operations this month. Moving from 3 tables in the table games pit area, a new dedicated poker room is opening near the Race & Sports Book. They will open with 5 tables and continue to offer daily no-limit poker tournaments at noon.

An interesting twist...while most poker rooms are going with smoke free environments, Fiesta Rancho's card room will welcome smokers. Smoke 'em if you got 'em! Comp rate for poker players is $1 per hour up to a maximum of $12 per day.

Las Vegas visitors should also check out the Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. The recently completed seasonal display welcomes flowers, butterflies and rain with its colorful new Spring Celebration display. A pathway through the east garden's towering translucent poppies, larger-than-life garden creatures and flowing fountains greets visitors. At the end of the pathway, visitors find bountiful rain showers, giant clusters of cherry blossoms, and a majestic banyan tree in the west garden. In the south garden, an exquisite 34-foot pavilion is an extraordinary habitat for the 300 live South American butterflies that reside inside. A topiary frog rests on the pavilion's edge watching the butterflies as they fly above. In the north garden, visitors discover ancient walls and piles of fieldstone surrounding an iron and stone bench. Visitors are invited to enjoy the Spring Celebration at Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens through May 13. This is truly a great way to clear your mind and relieve the stress from the poker tables! Enjoy! That's it for this week!

Enough talk! Take me to the featured poker room!