CEO Andy Choy‘s makeover of the Riviera may be slowed by skepticism in the bond market but it keeps moving ahead. My Desert Companion profile of the Strip dowager has made print and, despite the long lead time, we were able to slip in breaking news with regard to the bingo room and its sad fate. Guess that’s the last time anybody’s going to try that on the Strip in a long while. Anyway, the removal of Kiosk Hell from the long passageway back to the garage opens up wide visibility of the pool, which seems to be benefiting from its greater exposure. A new paint job is still in the testing stages. But you have to root for any casino that partners with the Pinball Hall of Fame — not to make money, but to create a new and different entertainment option. The Riv still faces some tough odds but it’s a gambler-friendly place worth rooting for … and, hey, it outlasted The Harmon, didn’t it?
-
Recent Posts
- You can’t fix stupid; Good-bad news on the bayou
- If you can’t beat ’em, cheat ’em; Fun & games
- Pennsylvania soggy; Epic fail in North Carolina
- Sibella scandal spreads; Supremes forestall Seminoles
- Atlantic City rebounds; Sibella dumped; NFL suspicions
- MGM limping back; Atlantic City follies; Wall Street Jottings
- On and off the radio
- MGM crippled; Illinois & Indiana report; Bally’s shaky in Chi
- MGM paralyzed; DraftKings debacle; Mount Airy wins
- Bally’s opens, Chicago yawns; MGM, tree murderers
Categories
@Stiffs_Georges
Error: Sorry, that page does not exist-
Archives
Recent Comments
- Alice Eskandari on Durango Station, slightly downsized
- David McKee on You can’t fix stupid; Good-bad news on the bayou
- American Gaming Guru on You can’t fix stupid; Good-bad news on the bayou
- Ray Lebowski on Sibella scandal spreads; Supremes forestall Seminoles
- David McKee on Sibella scandal spreads; Supremes forestall Seminoles
- Ray Lebowski on Sibella scandal spreads; Supremes forestall Seminoles
- David McKee on MGM crippled; Illinois & Indiana report; Bally’s shaky in Chi
- Paul Shanahan on MGM crippled; Illinois & Indiana report; Bally’s shaky in Chi
- ACGambler on MGM limping back; Atlantic City follies; Wall Street Jottings
- Bob on Bally’s opens, Chicago yawns; MGM, tree murderers
Views
- Sibella scandal spreads; Supremes forestall Seminoles - 56,260 views
- You can’t fix stupid; Good-bad news on the bayou - 56,161 views
- If you can’t beat ’em, cheat ’em; Fun & games - 54,603 views
- Pennsylvania soggy; Epic fail in North Carolina - 55,539 views
- Atlantic City rebounds; Sibella dumped; NFL suspicions - 55,518 views
- Profit vs. investment on the Strip - 1,055,327 views
- Lame nag; Frissora overpaid? - 578,428 views
- The evils of bingo; Wynn’s Aqueduct exit - 90,453 views
- That casino smell - 63,579 views
- Bally’s opens, Chicago yawns; MGM, tree murderers - 58,048 views
- MGM crippled; Illinois & Indiana report; Bally’s shaky in Chi - 57,627 views
- MGM paralyzed; DraftKings debacle; Mount Airy wins - 57,057 views
- MGM limping back; Atlantic City follies; Wall Street Jottings - 56,679 views
Blogroll
Admin.

I was just there a month ago. I want the place to be great and focus on the gambler. But it’s stale and depressing. It’s going to need a lot to truly succeed.
Our directors pump up a shot by calling for ‘energy’. That special Las Vegas energy seems to be missing from the Riv. I eagerly await its return and Andy Choy seems to be the man to make it happen. Best of luck, Riv!
Stayed there in June, and I can see the improvements taking hold. My room was refurbished, so as new as the new hotels. I liked the increase in the number of slot machines.
They are trying hard, and I wish them the best of luck. We will be back in October.
I’m hoping it does well, as much as I keep saying that, I haven’t made it down there yet in the last 3 trips, it’s just so hard for them to draw the average gambler, even with the promise of better rules.
I would like to see them try and make a splash with some type of entertainment offering that’s not everywhere on the strip. I know they’ve tried some 80’s inspired music type shows, but I’d love to see them just go with either a very solid cover band with some theatrics, or find some older still touring 80’s band that’s playing fairs or something (Tears for Fears comes to mind)
Superficial changes without corresponding customer service will not generate business. A July stay included downgraded room accompanied by a noisy pool party, no housekeeping service, flooded bathroom (resulted in a slip/fall). While attempting to mop up, hair belonging to other people was found in the bathroom (also later in one of the beds!). After hours of tinkering by maintenance in the room and most of the night in the next room, we still could not use our sink. To date Mr. Choy has declined to respond to our concerns; a minion decided we had been inconvenienced one night and credited that without considering the impact of the overall experience. Does not bode well but does give you a starting point to “What Went Wrong at the Riv”
The standard in the hotel industry is to comp you for any night your room has basic plumbing problems. If you stayed at the Wynn and this happened, I would not hold my breath waiting for El Stevo to drop you a note unless you are Sinatra and the issue is towells …