One of the most famous poker rooms in the world has been renamed.
Bobby’s Room, the iconic exclusive poker room for high rollers at the Bellagio, has been renamed to the Legend’s room. The change was originally made last month but did not begin making the rounds until last week.
R.I.P. to the most famous poker room in the world Bobby’s Room at Bellagio now becoming the Legends Room
Doesn’t have quite the same ring to it…. pic.twitter.com/DPMl5ZRC18
— Joey Ingram #passion (@Joeingram1) November 26, 2020
What is Bobby’s room?
Bobby Room is named after poker Hall of Famer Bobby Baldwin, which was frequently a subject discussed by players on High Stakes Poker and Poker After Dark during both show’s heyday. The poker room has two high limit tables and has attracted poker royalty over the last twenty years. It was opened up in 1998, while Baldwin was president of the Bellagio, with an aim of dealing the game’s biggest cash games. Throughout the years, the poker room has hosted a variety of games with limits ranging from $400/$800 up to $2500/$5000.
It has played host to high stakes action including the “Big Game,” with often featured regular buy-ins of $200,000-$300,000 that included players such as Doyle Brunson, Tom Dwan, Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu. Part of the game expanded to “The Ivey Room,” located at the Aria Resort and Casino, in 2010. Poker players who have visited the Bellagio poker room could see some of poker’s biggest names play at the game behind windows situated between Bobby’s Room and the Bellagio poker room.
Baldwin departed the company in 2018, but after Baldwin left the company, parent company MGM said the high stakes room would remain in his name. That sentiment apparently changed due to Bobby Baldwin’s association with a competitor, Drew Las Vegas, where he is CEO and is expected to open sometime in 2022. The Drew was originally targeted to open in 2020 at the site of the Fontainebleau, but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. There have also been reports of financial challenges related to the project.
Baldwin has four WSOP bracelets to his name, all won during a four-year stretch from 1977 to 1979. In 1978, Baldwin won the $10,000 No Limit Hold’em Main Event for $210,000.
Poker players reaction
Reaction from well-known poker players and those that who have frequented the poker room during its 20 plus year history, came from those staying firm that they will continue to refer to the poker room by its iconic name:
They can change the name but we still gonna call it Bobby’s room.
— David Williams (@dwpoker) November 25, 2020
Bobby’s room will be called Bobby’s room for longer than anyone who plays in it will live. Every poker player in vegas, including myself, grew up looking into that glassed off room hoping to one day ante up in the biggest games in the city.
— Ben Lamb (@BenbaLamb) November 26, 2020
First they took away Ivey’s room now this what’s next renaming the Rio the jmo
— shaun deeb (@shaundeeb) November 26, 2020
It's still Bobby's Room & Ivey's Room, IDGAF what anyone says.
— Jay Farber (@JayFarber) November 26, 2020
Reminds me of when they changed the name of Coco Pops to Choco Krispies. Everyone knew it was the same cereal but it just never felt right. They reverted, in time. Let's hope for the same outcome here!
— Spraggy (@spraggy) November 26, 2020
Some like Randy Ohel had some humor about the situation:
Terrible, obviously. I would add an apostrophe, though. “Legends’”
— Randy Ohel (@randyohel) November 26, 2020
