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Bellagio to Host First-of-its-Kind Event, ‘Poker’s Ultimate Bottle Tournament’ Jan. 28-30, 2011

The AAA Five Diamond Bellagio has partnered with the Charity Case Foundation, a philanthropic group of California winemakers, to create an extraordinary charitable event, Jan. 28-30. The weekend’s festivities will be filled with exemplary wines, astounding cuisine and Poker’s Ultimate Bottle Tournament.

The poker tournament requires an entry fee of $2,800 and event organizers anticipate the prizes, which are all large-format bottles of wine including Hundred Acre, Far Niente and Joseph Phelps, among others, to be one of the most extensive collections ever assembled for a charitable event.

Guests will enjoy three luxurious days at the world-class Bellagio while being part of a special experience to raise money for several worthy charities in Napa County and Southern Nevada. In Napa County, beneficiaries include the Wolfe Center, Cope Family Center, Foster Kids Fund, and the Aldea Children and Family Services. The Southern Nevada beneficiaries are Nevada Cancer Institute and the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

“Bellagio is proud to host this premier poker tournament and partner with such elite winemakers as those from the Charity Case Foundation,” said Randy Morton, president and COO of Bellagio. “With our unsurpassed service and amenities, we are able to provide our beneficiaries and event participants with a weekend to remember.”

The festivities will begin Friday, Jan. 28, as all registered participants gather and mingle with winemakers, celebrities, VIP guests and Bellagio’s elite team of Master Sommeliers for a pre-tournament party which will include enticing cocktails and appetizers from Bellagio’s award-winning chefs.

On Saturday, Jan. 29, after a final opportunity to register for the poker tournament and a delectable lunch buffet, the competition will begin in the Fontana Lounge, which provides breathtaking views of the Fountains of Bellagio. For the first six levels, players will be allowed unlimited re-buys at $2,500 each so long as they have less than their original starting chip stack of $10,000. At the conclusion of the re-buy period, all players will be offered a one-time add-on at a fee of $2,500, or a double add-on at $5,000.

Additionally, several of the competing celebrities and VIP guests will have a “bounty” placed on them. If a player knocks out a celebrity or VIP guest who owns a bounty, they will win an exclusive bottle of wine. At least one player at each table will own a bounty at the beginning of the tournament, which in turn will increase the amount of money for the benefiting charities.

Tournament competition will end Saturday evening at 8 p.m. or when the final table is determined, whichever occurs first. The event activities will resume Sunday, Jan. 30 at 11 a.m. with an exclusive wine tasting with producers who have donated large-format bottles. This allows players who do not make the final table an opportunity to enjoy some of the top donated wines. The final table will begin play at noon and when the winner is determined, they will become “Poker’s Ultimate Bottle Champion” and earn a 24k, 3-ounce gold bracelet donated by Monex Gold.

For more information about the poker tournament and three-day event visit www.bellagio.com, www.ultimatebottletournament.com, www.charitycasefoundation.org or call the Bellagio Concierge toll free at (866) 406-7117.