At the opening it was Liberace who can the launching ribbon and there after became the first resident performer. The Riviera Hotel and Casino was officially opened on April 20th 1955 as the 9th resort in the Las Vegas Strip and also the first high-rise resort of its kind. But at around March 1955, he was said not to be part of the group that invested in the project but there was some indication that he was still involved and other members like Marx Brothers Harps and Gummo has minority interests during its opening. In 1952 the casino received its gaming license but later on Bischoff left the project and Samuel Cohen, a Miami businessman, took over the project.

The Riviera Hotel was a proposal by William Bischoff, a Detroit mobster, and was known as Casa Blanca, a casino by that time. Riviera Hotel’s founding and establishment. With the 24-story Monaco Tower having the majority of rooms. The hotel had over 2000 rooms which were distributed among its two towers, the 24-story Monaco Tower and 22-story Monte Carlo Tower. It stopped operating in May 2015 after being bought by The Las Vegas Convention and visitors Authority which scheduled to implode the property as part of the billion-dollar project of expanding the Las Vegas Convention Center. It was officially opened on April 20, 1955. The Riviera Hotel was one of the oldest and well-known casino resort in Las Vegas Strip. This Las Vegas Strip hotel casino was minutes away from downtown Las Vegas and the Fremont Street Experience, and a quick cab ride from McCarran International Airport (LAS). Dining options included the Riv Buffet, R Steak & Seafood Restaurant, Queen Victoria British Pub, Banana Leaf Asian Restaurant, and Mardi Gras Food Court. This Las Vegas Strip hotel featured outstanding shows performing nightly in intimate theater settings.

Casinos on the las vegas strip map