The Riviera was the seventh casino to open on the Strip. It was designed to emulate the luxurious casinos of the Mediterranean - a departure from the more standard and staid designs of the existing casinos. The hotel's nine stories made it the first high-rise building on the Strip, and when it opened in April 1955, Liberace was paid $50,000 per week to be the headliner.

Since the good old days, the Riviera has changed hands several times. It seems that each owner added something or changed the look of the casino, but one thing has stayed the same - the Riviera is still one of the most elegant casinos on the Strip.

Guest rooms are exquisitely decorated with mahogany furniture, beautiful drapes, and all the amenities that are standard in an upscale Vegas hotel. The sheer size of the gaming floor makes it notable too. At 125,000 square feet, the Riviera has one of the largest casino floors in the world. Another highlight of the casino is the wall of windows that lets sunlight in - very un-casino-like.

The Riviera's arcade of shops offers a variety of gifts and services, but nothing compares to the Riviera's eatery, Hound Doggie's, the best snack bar in Las Vegas. You can get burgers for under $2, foot-long dogs for $.79, and $.50 draft beers.