Due to poker's growing popularity, there are more first-time players and fans attending the World Series of Poker (WSOP) than ever before.

While most people are familiar with ESPN's glamorized version of the WSOP, the actual event is a whole different story.

If you are playing or visiting the WSOP for the first time, here are some insider tips to help you get the most out of your trip.

Plan your bathroom breaks

Players are only given twenty minute breaks every two hours. Since players do not get private bathrooms, they have to wait in line with hundreds of fans and other casino players.

Avoid the long bathroom lines by finding out where all the bathrooms are. There are three bathrooms located close to the main tournament hall. However, the smarter folks take a detour to the less crowded bathrooms on the other side of the casino.

Howard Lederer always takes off for the bathrooms five minutes before the break. He knows that mucking a couple of hands is better than rushing to the restroom and possibly missing the start of the next round.

Dress lightly

Dress lightly when you attend the large WSOP events.

During the main event, thousands of players, spectators and media members are crammed into one small convention hall. To make matters worse, the convention hall is equipped with hundreds of giant, low-hanging lamps. Add on ESPN camera crew's industrial strength lighting equipment and you have the recipe for a supernova.

Have your camera and memorabilia ready

The WSOP is bursting with approachable poker stars who are more than happy to grant photograph and autograph requests.

Within five minutes of attending the tournament, you'll spot stars like Doyle Brunson, James Woods, Chris Ferguson, Shannon Elizabeth, Daniel Negreanu, Annie Duke, and Clonie Gowen.

Almost all the professional players are there to promote their own books, DVDs, and poker rooms, so they actually welcome the attention. Moreover, many poker stars are newly-minted celebrities, so they are very excited to meet their fans.

Don't take flash photography while games are in progress

While players welcome pictures, the WSOP prohibits flash photography while the games are in progress. The flash photography distracts the players and interferes with ESPN's cameras.

Free food, free internet, and play against the pros

Various online poker websites have set up hospitality lounges for players and fans just outside the main tournament hall. These lounges offer free food, drinks, internet access and souvenirs. Some lounges even offer tables where you can play a few hands against poker stars like Greg Raymer or Evelyn Ng.

These amenities are completely free. However, some hospitality lounges do ask you to leave your email address so they can enter you into a "free prize drawing." As we all know, "free prize drawing" is Latin for "spam mail." Make sure you do not leave a real email address. (Better yet, put down your mother-in-law's.)

Find some juicy cash games

The WSOP attracts a lot of casual poker fans, and most of them are terrible players. Decent players can make a killing playing cash games on the side

The Palms and Gold Coast have a lot of soft low limit games. For those looking for bigger cash games, the Bellagio, MGM, and the Mirage have a lot of clueless, high-roller tourists.

Traveling on a budget

With the exception of the final table action for the main No Limit Hold'em Tournament, all WSOP events are held at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino.

Most players stay at the Rio to avoid traffic jams. (The Rio is one mile west of the Las Vegas strip, and therefore not within walking distance from any of the major Las Vegas hotels.)

However, if you are on a budget, stay at the Gold Coast hotel across the street from the Rio. Here is a comparison of the two hotel's prices:

Monday Night Rio-$122.00, Gold Coast-$37.12;

Tuesday Night Rio-$122.00, Gold Coast-$37.12;

Wednesday Night Rio-$71.98, Gold Coast-$37.12;

Thursday Night Rio-$71.98, Gold Coast-$37.12;

Friday Night Rio-$262.30, Gold Coast-$108.80;

Saturday Night Rio-$262.30, Gold Coast-$108.80;

Sunday Night Rio-$115.90, Gold Coast-$37.12.

(Prices provided by Travelocity. Prices are subject to change; please contact each hotel for details)