RIO Hotel Casino – a (non) Progress Report

After more than two years under owner/operator Dreamscape, the beleaguered Rio Hotel Casino remains a veritable ghost town…

Just across Interstate 15 from Caesars Palace and Bellagio, a two-tower casino resort is thriving once again. Invigorated by new owners and infused with millions of dollars in renovations, it attracts locals and visitors alike. The off-Strip resort boasts renovated rooms, an array of restaurants, a wildly popular buffet, major headliners, nightclubs, and a busy food court. If you think we’re talking about Rio Las Vegas, think again.

Palms Casino Resort is experiencing a wonderful resurgence under the guidance of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Just across the street, Rio Las Vegas has followed a similar path. Dreamscape Companies took over Rio‘s operations in the summer of 2023, bringing new dining options and bars, refreshed lodging, and even a hit Star Wars-based burlesque production. And yet…crickets…

Two years into Rio‘s multi-phase renovations, it’s hard to tell the difference. Sure, the reservation desk and food court are shiny new. So is the central Lapa Lounge. But stroll through the casino and towards the massive Masquerade Village, and the newness quickly fades. In its place, you’ll feel a sense of eeriness and dread.

Once part of the Caesars Entertainment portfolio, the Rio rolled out its own Rio Rewards program in late 2023. This writer signed up, and despite not gambling there, I frequently receive offers for complimentary lodging (resort fee required).

My latest deal was for three nights, absolutely free of cost. One might ask how a hotel can afford to do so and still make improvements. Well…follow along, deeper into the property.

Imagine arriving at the property, eager to experience the thrills of Las Vegas, and finding this creep zone. The effect is beyond depressing. The massive Masquerage Village appears abandoned, dark, and devoid of life. Walking from one end to the other at 9 pm on a Monday, I only encountered three people. See for yourself.

I had no complaints about room 35002 in the Masquerade Tower. It has dated furnishings (renovations are apparently completed in the Ipanema Tower), but was clean and well-maintained. The same can’t be said for the parking structure, exterior landscaping, and common areas. All are dirty, rundown, and show little to no maintenance.

If you think I’m being unfairly harsh, consider this. The escalator that takes guests to VooDoo Steak‘s entrance has been out of service throughout 2025. It was blocked off long before the first picture, taken on March 4th, and remained so on September 22nd. That’s a lifetime for a Las Vegas hotel.

March 4th, 2025

September 22nd, 2025

The Empire Strips Back, which replaced Chippendales in May, seems to be chugging along. The hotel also scored a major coup with the addition of Chef James Trees, who will reopen VooDoo Steak as High Steaks Vegas on October 4th. The long-running Marriage Can Be Murder recently moved into the defunct Duomo space, and we’ll cover that in an upcoming piece.

Aside from dirt-cheap room rates and free parking, there is very little to make the Rio worth a visit. Its eye-catching sign reads “Everyone Loves Free Parking and Good Vibes.” But until this once-great hotel can offer both, Rio Las Vegas will continue to limp along.

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