Meet Bobby Baldwin – a champion of the World Series of Poker and a thriving executive in the casino world!

6 min. read
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By 888poker Team

Bobby Baldwin, born circa 1950 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, stands as a prominent personality within the poker community.

He is celebrated for his exceptional poker His extraordinary abilities and influential contributions have greatly impacted the casino sector.

Let’s take a closer look.

1978 WSOP Main Event Winner

Bobby Baldwin rose to fame when he clinched the main event at the 1978 World Series of Poker, achieving this remarkable feat at just 28 years old, thus becoming the youngest champion in history back then.

His triumph brought him a lucrative prize of $210,000 for first place.

In addition, he has secured three more WSOP bracelets in various events -

  1. 1977 : $10,000 Deuce to Seven Draw event
  2. 1977 : $5,000 Seven Card Stud event
  3. 1979 : $10,000 Deuce to Seven Draw event

This means that Bobby boasts a total of four WSOP bracelets that he claimed between 1977 and 1979, a remarkable achievement considering that only a few poker players have garnered bracelets in three consecutive years.
Bobby has numerous other cash finishes in the WSOP events, including notable placements like 7th in the main event in 1981 and 15th in 1992.

As Omaha poker surged in popularity during the mid-1980s, Bobby was regarded as one of the top players in that variation. Omaha player at the time.

Bobby Baldwin - Executive in the Casino Industry

Outside of his poker achievements, Baldwin successfully transitioned to a prominent role as a casino executive. In 1982, he started consulting for the Golden Nugget, eventually becoming its president by 1984.

His career advanced further when he took the helm at The Mirage in 1987, later overseeing the Bellagio beginning in 1998, where he also significantly contributed to the casino’s construction.

He also played a crucial role in running the ambitious Project CityCenter as its CEO and President. This vast luxury development, costing $9 billion, was unveiled on the Las Vegas Strip in 2009, designed with the vision of creating a modern experience beyond just gambling. where to play poker in Las Vegas CityCenter combines luxury hotels, condominiums, shopping, and entertainment all in one location, including the Aria Resort and Casino. In 2019, the complex rebranded to Aria Campus, although it continues to be popularly known as CityCenter.


At the time of its construction, CityCenter was celebrated as the largest private building project in U.S. history.

The high-stakes poker area at the Bellagio, known as Bobby's Room , serves as a testament to his lasting legacy within the poker sphere.

Bobby’s Room

Bobby's Room quickly became famous as the focal point for high-stakes poker, attracting top-tier professionals and aspiring amateurs alike.

Bobby’s Room was where the legendary ‘Big Game’ took place, a high-stakes cash game that should not be confused with PokerStars’ The Big Game. The Big Game featured a rotation of various poker styles including draw games, stud games, lowball games, as well as both fixed-limit and no-limit Hold’em.

Notable poker legends such as Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, and Daniel Negreanu frequently participated in the Big Game. 3 card poker In October 2020, after Bobby Baldwin parted ways with MGM Resorts, the Bellagio discreetly rebranded Bobby's Room to the 'Legends Room' to acknowledge the wider legacy of poker icons.

Despite the official change, many players continue to affectionately refer to the room as Bobby's Room.

Bobby Baldwin - Inductee of the WSOP Poker Hall of Fame

Bobby Baldwin was honored with induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2003, celebrating his profound influence on both the game as an elite player and as a pivotal figure in the casino industry. His contributions have significantly shaped the entire industry, from intense poker battles at the tables to the executive suites of some of Las Vegas's iconic casinos.

The criteria for being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame includes -

Exhibiting high-level poker play against elite competitors.

Contributing to the game's overall growth.

  • Bobby checks all these boxes. His entrance into the WSOP Hall of Fame is a fitting acknowledgement of a career that has made a lasting impact on the poker landscape.
  • Played for high stakes.
  • Gained respect from peers.
  • Stood the test of time.
  • While he may not be a prolific writer, Bobby has made his mark with poker strategy publications.

In 1979, he released Bobby Baldwin’s Winning Poker Secrets, a book that shares insights into his strategies for cash games and tournaments, particularly addressing limit and no-limit Texas Hold’em. poker history .

The criteria for being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame includes -

Bobby Baldwin - Poker Author

Within the book, he delves into hand breakdowns, psychological tactics, and pivotal decision-making concepts that contributed to his success in the 1978 WSOP Main Event.

Although an earlier work, it remains a classic in poker strategy, albeit less recognized than later books by Doyle Brunson, David Sklansky, and Dan Harrington.

Baldwin also contributed a chapter focused on limit Texas Hold’em in Doyle Brunson’s influential book Super System (1979), which is seen as one of the most significant poker publications of all time.

In October 2018, Bobby Baldwin announced his intention to step away from his executive position at MGM Resorts International. poker books In November 2019, he joined forces with Witkoff, a real estate investment and development firm headquartered in New York City. Witkoff appointed him as the Vice Chairman and CEO of Drew Las Vegas, a new resort and casino complex currently being developed on the Las Vegas Strip.

Bobby Baldwin - Status from 2018 to Present

Bobby Baldwin - 2018 Onwards

Witkoff had originally acquired the incomplete Fontainebleau for $600 million, which served as the site for the forthcoming Drew Las Vegas resort. Unfortunately, due to financial challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, the project encountered delays and was ultimately sold.

The resort finally launched in December 2023 under the original Fontainebleau name. Thus, while Bobby played a part in the project, he did not see it through to completion.

Many in the poker community recognize Baldwin from his participation in the televised cash game series High Stakes Poker. He featured in seasons 10 and 11 of the show that aired in 2023.

Bobby has also participated in other televised high-stakes games such as the 2015 Super High Roller cash game and the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series in 2019, held in South Korea. During the latter, he made impressive net winnings amounting to $266,000 after over 7 hours of gameplay.

Bobby maintains a mostly private personal life. While it is known he is married, not much information is available about his family and relationships.

Televised Poker Cash Games

However, what many might not know is that he is also an exceptional billiards player. Billiards is a classic cue sport played on a cloth-covered table, sharing similarities with pool and snooker.


Bobby is an incredibly strategic thinker with a strong grasp of mathematics related to risk management. This skill set has proven invaluable both at the poker tables and in his successful role as a casino executive.

Bobby Baldwin - Personal Life

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Bobby Baldwin - Executive in the Casino Sector

Bobby Baldwin - Inductee of the WSOP Poker Hall of Fame