The Rio, home to the WSOP since 2005, will soon be rebranded under the Hyatt Hotels banner, according to the Las Vegas Sun. The property will also reportedly be remodeled, which should appease the many poker fans who have long complained about the casino’s appearance.
In 2019, Caesars Entertainment sold the mega-resort to Dreamscape Companies LLC for just over $500 million. The new owners then agreed to lease the facilities out to Caesars for the next two years, with the option for additional years.
When the property sold, many poker fans and Las Vegas tourism experts threw out some rumors about the future of the casino. One blogger, Scott Roeben of the Vital Vegas blog, speculated that the building would be demolished and the property turned into a Major League Baseball stadium. Others suggested the days of the World Series of Poker at the Rio would soon come to an end.
But none of those rumors have yet to come true and, given the new reporting, it doesn’t appear a baseball stadium is going to replace the iconic Las Vegas casino.
Changes coming to WSOP host property
The Las Vegas Sun reports that Hyatt Hotels Corp. will partner with Dreamscape to rebrand and remodel the Rio. Details of the partnership haven’t been released publicly and no timeline for renovation has been announced. But, it appears the WSOP host casino that many poker players refer to as “old and dingy” will receive a facelift.
According to KTNV Las Vegas, an ABC affiliate, the “multi-phase project is expected to bring multiple Hyatt full-service offerings to Las Vegas and the renovated Rio hotel.”
The renovations will reportedly include the redevelopment of numerous areas of the hotel and casino, including the casino floor, restaurants, retail shops, bars, and the pool. Rio guest rooms are expected to all be rebranded under the Hyatt brand.
Hyatt Hotels Corp, founded in 1957, is a leader in the hospitality industry. The company generated more than $5 billion in revenue in 2019, employs more than 100,000 people, and operates nearly 900 properties in 60 countries.
The Rio opened in 1990 and currently has 2,522 guest rooms, with numerous bars, restaurants, and retail shops on site. In 2005, the WSOP moved from Binion’s Horseshoe Casino to the near-Strip property that was then owned by Harrah’s Entertainment, later to be renamed Caesars Entertainment Corporation.
Caesars still owns the WSOP brand, but with Dreamscape partnering with Hyatt to remodel and rebrand the Rio, poker’s annual summer series may soon be looking for a new home.
