Hi Vegas fans,
The Las Vegas Advisor recently reported in a response to a Question of the Day that the Riv is making some improvements. I for one think this is great news and am looking forward to seeing them thrive and set a pattern for the rest of the North end of the Strip.
On m
y first trip to Las Vegas, almost 20 years ago, my friend Steve and I stayed at the Riv. Back then, we walked a lot - heck, we were 20 years younger. We had the Stardust, the Dunes, the Desert Inn, and the Sahara. We also had Vegas World, but we didn't visit it for some reason, and Circus Circus. The only ones left intact in that group are the Riv and Circus Circus. MGM owns Circus Circus, and it has a definite niche with Adventuredome and a huge RV park. The Riv is now independently owned (Barry Sternlicht) and I really like the direction he is taking with the Riv for three reasons:
The Las Vegas Advisor recently reported in a response to a Question of the Day that the Riv is making some improvements. I for one think this is great news and am looking forward to seeing them thrive and set a pattern for the rest of the North end of the Strip.
On m
y first trip to Las Vegas, almost 20 years ago, my friend Steve and I stayed at the Riv. Back then, we walked a lot - heck, we were 20 years younger. We had the Stardust, the Dunes, the Desert Inn, and the Sahara. We also had Vegas World, but we didn't visit it for some reason, and Circus Circus. The only ones left intact in that group are the Riv and Circus Circus. MGM owns Circus Circus, and it has a definite niche with Adventuredome and a huge RV park. The Riv is now independently owned (Barry Sternlicht) and I really like the direction he is taking with the Riv for three reasons:- Focus on better gaming. I really, really hope this concept takes off and other casinos take notice. The Riv is putting in more slots and table games. Good ones, too. For slots, they're putting in Wheel of Fortune. As far as slots go, it's a good, fun game with a bonus feature that players love. And how about this: single deck 3:2 blackjack. That's unheard of anywhere these days, much less the Vegas Strip! There are probably some other rules that will negate the 3:2 advantage (I'll guess doubling-down on only a 10 or 11, limited splitting, etc.), but still it's worth checking out. They are also including single-wheel roulette and 10x odds in craps. They may never get me outta the casino!
- Renovations that make sense. Most Vegas visitors these days expect new restaurants, fancy clubs, high-end shopping and Broadway-style shows. But the Riv is not going to compete with Wynn, Venetian, Bellagio, Aria or Cosmo on these grounds. They are also not going to follow the path of the failed Sahara and try to win whales and high rollers. Instead, they're looking at making a fresh start with what they have - a modest theater, good restaurants, and a nice, big pool. They're not trying to be who they aren't, which leads me to...
- Bringing back Classic Las Vegas. Don't get me wrong. I love the modern casinos and enjoy strolling through them, even if I can't afford everything in them. But this town is big enough for all types of casinos. The Riv is part of Vegas history - it opened in 1955 and has undergone a ton of changes. The current facade was completed in 1990 - the brainchild of architect Nikita Zukov. Like many of the older, independent casinos on the North end of the Strip, it has struggled to make its mark. But there's hope and possibilities, and I think the new owner and staff are taking it in the right direction.
I'll be staying at the Riv again in September. I can't wait. For the first time in my life, I've even upgraded the room because it was only a few sheckles more and I thought it would be nice to stay somewhere other than the very least expensive room in a hotel. 
I'm looking forward to visiting Crazy Leroy's Sports Book and winning several college football parlays. I'm looking forward to spending some time in the giant pool in the afternoon shade. I'm looking forward to having a few beers at Queen Victoria's British Pub. Most of all, I'm looking forward to embracing part of classic Las Vegas history again.
Viva,
Mike
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