New and Expanded Poker Room Included in Recent Multimillion-Dollar Expansion at The Orleans

When longtime casino owner and operator Michael Gaughan, Coast Casinos chairman, opened The Orleans in 1996, his goal for the new poker room was not only to attract new players but to also welcome players from other nearby casinos, including his own Gold Coast.

According to Gaughan and Mike Vento, Orleans poker room manager, the room proved to be so popular that plans were under way to include a new location in the resort's next expansion, even before the expansion became reality.

"We wanted our poker room to be easily accessible to our guests. Our poker room is centrally located adjacent to the casino and convenient to our new parking structure," Vento said.

The spacious Orleans poker room, which opened in March 2002, boasts 23 tables. Although it is open 24 hours a day, it becomes a nonsmoking room between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 a.m.

"Most players remember the stereotypes of smoked-filled rooms with poker players puffing on big cigars, pipes, or cigarettes," Vento added. "Today's players mirror the sign of times in that most prefer a nonsmoking environment."

The Orleans poker room hosts two tournaments daily at noon and 7 p.m. Additionally, standard games include $1-$5 seven-card stud; $4-$8 Texas hold'em; $6-$12 Texas hold'em; $10-$20 Texas hold'em; and $4-$8-$8 Omaha high-low with a half-kill.

Club Orleans members are eligible for additional rewards when playing in live games. Membership cards are free and are available at the Club Orleans office near the poker room.

The Orleans has scheduled its Orleans Open poker tournament for July 12-27. Information is available at (702) 365-7150 or at www.orleanscasino.com.

"Our players can expect some of the best action in town, and can enjoy our first-class service and amenities," Vento said.

Like its sister resorts, the nearby Gold Coast, the Barbary Coast, and the Suncoast, The Orleans features a wealth of amenities designed to attract locals and visitors on a regular basis.

"The Orleans is a place to celebrate Mardi Gras 365 days a year," Vento said. "Both our exterior and interior design reflect the famous 'Big Easy,' from our multicolored French Quarter facade to the New Orleans-style street scenes and other appointments inside – including a trio of gators who stand like sentries at our front entrance!"

The $150 million expansion at The Orleans was officially completed when the property's Orleans Arena opened in May. With a seating capacity ranging from 7,200 for hockey to 9,200 for boxing events, the Orleans Arena already has a number of prestigious feathers in its cap, including becoming the home ice for the Las Vegas Wranglers professional hockey team and luring the National Horse Show Indoor Championships away from New York's Madison Square Garden.

As evidenced by the concert goers at the recent Brooks & Dunn concert, the arena's grand opening event, audiences seem to appreciate unique amenities such as lower concession prices, oversized padded seats, and plenty of restrooms.

The arena is just one of the new additions the property boasts. The luxurious Spa Orleans, adjacent to the resort's oasis-style pool area, offers guests the ultimate spa experience. In its separate men's and women's facilities, it includes such amenities as eight treatment rooms, tanning beds, steam room, Jacuzzi, fitness center, and full-service beauty and barber shops.

With an entire menu of signature treatments from which to choose, Spa Orleans is open seven days a week with varying seasonal hours, and is available to hotel and nonhotel guests.

More new property enhancements include a 600-room and suite hotel tower, bringing the total number of rooms to 1,426; six additional movie screens, for a total of 18 screens in the upstairs Century Theaters complex, and a 2,600-space covered parking garage. An additional 30,000 square feet of casino space was also included in the expansion.

The hotel's restaurant roster is excellent. Diners can please their palates in eight separate dining rooms. These include Canal Street, featuring American-style specialties such as steaks, prime rib, and seafood; The Prime Rib Loft, serving four specialty cuts of prime rib along with other beef, seafood, and pasta dishes; Don Miguel's, with south-of-the-border specialties and its own margarita bar; Big Al's Oyster Bar, featuring freshly shucked oysters, clams, and more; Sazio, where Master Chef Gustav Mauler presides over a delightful Italian menu; Koji, serving sushi, sashimi, and one of the city's largest selections of authentically prepared Chinese dishes; Courtyard Café, a centrally located, 24-hour coffee shop; and the international French Market Buffet, featuring seven cooking stations.

Additional outlets include Brendan's Irish Pub, serving food and beverages from the Emerald Isle, Terrible Mike's for burgers and sandwiches, Kate's Korner ice cream parlor, Seattle's Best Coffee, and a Subway sandwich shop.

Rounding out the long list of things to do and see are the Orleans Showroom, featuring a stellar entertainment lineup and value-oriented prices; the nearby New Orleans-themed lounge and bars; luxurious meeting and convention space both inside the property and in the Orleans Arena; and a 70-lane bowling center that is popular for league and individual bowling, and features the latest equipment, a pro shop, meeting rooms, lockers, snack bar, lounge, and video arcade.

Children can enjoy their own child-care center, while kids of all ages can play games in the video and interactive game arcade.

The Orleans is located at 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue (at Arville Street). Additional information is available at (702) 365-7111, (800) ORLEANS, or www.orleanscasino.com.