Laughlin Improves Gaming, Dining, Shopping, Poker

With the influx of new casino owners along the Colorado River, more than half of Laughlin properties have undergone upgrades and renovations. Not since the 1980s has this small mining town on the southern tip of the Nevada-Arizona border experienced this much change.

Besides the Golden Nugget, there are new owners at the Flamingo (American Casino & Entertainment, which also owns the Stratosphere Casino and both Arizona Charlie's locations in Las Vegas), Ramada Express (Columbia Sussex, which also owns the River Palms in town), and the Horizon Outlet Center (Ariel Preferred Retail Group).

Harrah's Laughlin Hotel and Casino -
Harrah's has undergone extreme improvements with work recently completed on the central and south towers. A popular addition is the 24-hour Beach Café that opened in April. Poolside, guests can rent one of two private beachfront cabañas offering an all-inclusive four-person menu, porter service, and a plasma television. But visitors are anxiously awaiting the north tower remodeling, which should be wrapped up by the end of the year.

Along with guestroom upgrades, Harrah's moved its nonsmoking poker room to an area affording players a better view of the Colorado River. The upgraded and expanded poker room also added a Texas hold'em "23 Jewels on the River" jackpot and daily no-limit hold'em tournaments, along with a weekly $100 Thursday event.

The Flamingo Laughlin Hotel and Casino -
With new ownership, the Flamingo will soon be referred to as the Aquarius Casino Resort. The property has undergone a complete makeover with a more modern theme and color scheme, including remodeled suites, guestrooms, and other amenities still in the works. A showroom will host a lounge with indoor/outdoor seating.

The Golden Nugget Laughlin -
This property increased its budget by selling off retail and restaurant space. The hotel houses hundreds of improved guestrooms; the casino has undergone remodeling; and Landry's Restaurants Inc. has invested in dining options. The Golden Nugget offers the first Saltgrass Steakhouse in Nevada, a 1920s-inspired 24-hour restaurant called Harlow's, and a Joe's Crab Shack, appropriately situated on the riverfront.

Other changes include an $11 million project at the Ramada Express Hotel and Casino, the River Palms Resort Casino and its 300-seat River Sands Theater, an expanded 300-seat Kokopelli's Lounge at the Edgewater Hotel and Casino, and the Horizon Outlet Center plans to double in size over the next two years.

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