ATLANTIC CITY, NJ -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 01/23/06 -- The weary got little rest as Event Two, the $750 buy-in, came to a close after two days of dramatic action. The Saturday battle among 864 players began at 11:00 AM and lasted late into the night with the final hands of the evening ending at roughly 3:00 AM Sunday morning. Play then resumed at 2:00 PM Sunday afternoon for the remaining 38 players and continued until 11:15 PM.

For the second day in a row, the large field produced a big prize pool that had players drooling over the title and Borgata champion's bracelet. Tempted by $648,000 in the prize pool, players shifted into their best "A-game" and buckled in for the long competition to the poker promised land of Borgata Winter Poker Open winners.

Saturday saw the early exits of some of the better-known poker professionals like Paul "the Truth" Darden; World Series of Poker No Limit $5 K second-place finisher, Steve Zoine; and the Reno World Poker Tour main event winner, Arnold Spee.

Sunday's 38 survivors might not have big poker reputations or played on television, but they battled back and forth like the biggest names in the game. The tournament went on throughout the day with players risking everything to secure a spot at the final table and a chance at the $176,968 first-place prize.

According to Borgata's expert poker analyst and live blogger, Paul "Dr. Pauly" McGuire, the competition at the Borgata Winter Poker Open is on par with the biggest tournaments in the world. "The Borgata Winter Poker Open is filled with a lot of non-professional players who have come to take their shot at poker fame, but the talent so far has been very impressive."

The compliments for Borgata's tournament atmosphere didn't just stop there, however. Scott Neuman, one of the few tournament players to have a sponsor pay his entry into the $750 tournament, loves the environment at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, in addition to the poker action.

"The Borgata is the number one casino in Atlantic City by far. Over the years, I have played at all the major casinos in the area. The Borgata has the best rooms, the best restaurants, the best comps, and of course, the best poker. The Borgata also has the top competitors at their events and bigger prize pools than the other tournaments that take place in Atlantic City," Neuman said.

So whether you're a shark circling the poker waters at the East Coast's premier poker venue or a home-town hero getting ready to take your first dip in the Winter Poker Open pond, Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa provides the ultimate player experience and the highest prize payouts in Atlantic City.

Borgata is a joint venture of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) and MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM). Located at Renaissance Pointe in Atlantic City, it features 2,000 guest rooms and suites, 125,000 square feet of gaming, 163 gaming tables, 3,600 slot machines, 11 destination restaurants, 11 retail boutiques, a 54,000 square foot spa, 70,000 square feet of event space, and parking for 7,100 cars.

For more information on Borgata, and/or to obtain a copy of this press release visit www.theborgata.com or use AOL keyword: borgata. Additional news and information on Boyd Gaming can be found at www.boydgaming.com, additional information on MGM MIRAGE can be found at www.mgmmirage.com.

Contact:
Noel Stevenson
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
609.317.7380
noelstevenson@theborgata.com