To the worldwide audience, the Bellagio, on the Las Vegas Strip, is probably best known for the ‘Fountains of Bellagio’, which served as the backdrop for an iconic scene in the slickest Hollywood blockbuster for many a year, ‘Ocean’s Eleven’, which was released in 2001. Nevertheless, since opening in 1998, on the site formerly occupied by the Dunes Hotel, the Bellagio – which, at the time, was the most expensive hotel in the world, at a cost of $1.6 billion – has become one of the most sought-after destinations for gamblers worldwide.

The casino floor, which occupies 156,000 square, hosts hundreds of gaming tables including all the usual favourites, such as baccarat, blackjack, craps and roulette, and many more besides. Slot machine players can take their pick of, literally, thousands of low- and high-stakes machines, offering jackpots of up to $2 million. The Bellagio also has a world famous poker room, which is the home of the World Poker Tour (WPT), but recreational players can participate in lower-stakes, $2/$4 blind games without the fear and trepidation of taking on the ‘big boys’.

Indeed, for anyone seeking respite and diversion from gambling activities, a naturally lit, botanical conservatory situated just off the main lobby of the Bellagio features flowers, plants and decorations that reflect the changing season. In fact, the conservatory is considered a ‘must-see’ attraction for all visitors, gamblers or otherwise.

Ideal for when the sh!t hits the fan when you’re on tilt!

As the name suggests, Resorts World Sentosa is what has become known as an Integrated Resort Casino (IRC) on Sentosa Island, which is part of the Republic of Singapore in South East Asia. Unsurprisingly, Resorts World Sensosa occupies a huge physical site, with the casino floor alone covering in excess of 160,000 square feet, or 1.5 hectares, which is the maximum area allowed, by law, in Singapore.

Owned and operated by Genting Singapore plc, the leading casino operator in Asia,

Resorts World Sentosa Casino opened on Chinese New Year, 2010. The Casino, which lies beneath the lavishly appointed suites of Crockfords Tower at Resorts World Sentosa, features over 500 gaming tables. Available table games include, but are by no means limited to, baccarat, blackjack, Caribbean stud poker, craps, roulette, three card poker and Texas hold’em poker, plus some other, more exotic, typically Asian offerings, such as si ki pi and sic bo, or tai sai. Electronic versions of baccarat, roulette and sic bo are also available and are supplemented by 2,400 slot machines, known locally as ‘jackpot machines’.

Resorts World Sentosa is one of two integrated resorts in Singapore – the other being the Marina Bay Sands, owned and operated by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation – but the only one where poker is available. Indeed, a separate, dedicated poker room offers seven poker tables; small blinds start at S$10, with a 5% rake, capped at S$50.