Riviera Las Vegas has closed several attractions recently, including the poker room and buffet. I checked out the Riviera for the first time this year. There were many changes that may go unnoticed by someone visiting the property for the first time. To me, these changes were hard to miss.
I entered from the convention center parking deck, which is more convenient than the standard deck in my opinion. The walk through the large convention center was quick and easy as it had no rooms occupied on this holiday weekend.
The front desk was well staffed with a reasonable line. Across from the front desk is the former location of the bingo hall, which has been transformed into a VIP player lounge.
There are two back rooms of slots that were once retail areas. Both had a number of machines missing since my last visit. Its location, set far from the main casino floor, might be better suited as a no smoking slots area, a rare find in Las Vegas. The closed buffet escalator in the area advertised other dining options on the property.
The first impression of the main casino floor was that many slot machines had been removed. As I reached the table games area I discovered why. In addition to the removal of the poker room, the Asian table games pit areas was missing. The party pit had also been removed. This entire area was replaced by slots, presumably ones taken from the back rooms of the casino.
The unique Bottoms Up blackjack game, where all cards were dealt up, ties push, and blackjacks pay even money, was among the casualties. No Commission Pai Gow, where players do not pay 5% commission on a win, but push against a dealer’s Queen High Pai Gow, was also missing from the floor. There was just one Pai Gow Poker table and one Baccarat table in the entire pit.
The pit area was reasonably busy. Just over half of the tables were open and there were few open seats.
Speaking of table games, Riviera now offers $1 blackjack 24/7. This was a specialty of Sahara before its demise.
The Single Deck Blackjack that pays 3-2 on a natural was still available with a $10 minimum. Players may double with 10 or 11 on their first two cards in this game. This is the best Single Deck Blackjack game on the Strip. There is just one Single Deck Blackjack game that paid 3-2 on a natural. It is surrounded by 6-5 payout tables.
A check of the deserted high limits area showed lower payouts than I remembered. The Full Pay 9/6 Jacks or Better machines had been downgraded to progressive 8/5 payouts for a full house and flush.
The magic shop in the high limit slots area was out of business. A cigar shop had taken over what appeared to be a portion of the former magic shop’s space. The former front desk area around the corner had been transformed into a slot tournament area.
The sports book was only about two-thirds full for the NCAA kickoff Saturday. The betting window on Las Vegas Boulevard, once advertised as the only one of its kind on the Las Vegas Strip, was closed.
The former Riviera Rewards Center in the rear of the casino had been completely covered up by a wall and curtain. It was covered with advertisements for $1 blackjack and bar specials.
A trip to the food court revealed some life. Most of the tables were full with families. The Buffalo Wing and Mediterranean windows were closed, but the other options appeared to be doing a brisk business.
The property was once surrounded by old school Las Vegas casinos. Its only current casino neighbor is Circus Circus, which includes Slots-A-Fun. New life on the North Las Vegas Strip is still over a year away when SLS Las Vegas is expected to open on the former Sahara property.
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