Reading this I am getting a little concerned. I love staying at the Orleans.

I go out to VEGAS at least once a year for a bowling tournement that is hosted there. Brunswick arranges the accomodations etc. The first year I went out we stayed at RIO and I would stop there when ever I was in town to feed my slot card. I had accumulated a good amount of credits on my card and would always stop to build on that and gather whatever comp I may have accumulated. Be it a free dinner one night or a hat or whatever. Then Harrahs bought RIO and I was saddened to learn that all my RIO slot points had been erased when they switched over to "Total Gold". Needless to say, Now I have little incentive to go out of my way and stop there again, unless it is to go to the buffet with some friends or a show like Penn and Teller or something. I have seen the show in the sky so that is not new or unique. The tables are getting too expensive with $10(?) minimum blackjack and no $5(?). Last time I was there I couldn't find a table less than $25 in the evening. Even some of the slots are outragious. 45 coin video slots at .25? WOW!!! They are bad and deadly enough at a nickle. Usually though there is so much going on when I am out there and so many new places to go that I don't make it back to RIO that much.

Since staying at RIO and bowling at Gold Coast, that first trip, Orleans had opened and Brunswick got a better rate etc when they opened. Thus we have been booked there since. 6 yrs now at about 5000 points per trip. That is just the slot credits. Doesn't include the hours and hours of tables I have played there. I would hate to see the friendly BJ games get watered down or the credit system deminished. Especially if it might mean that I loose all my lifetime points and current credits.

It may sound a little silly all of this concern for a hat or a t-shirt or a free dinner or something, However it is all part of the game. Like I said, I realy enjoy staying at The Orleans and hope this rumor isn't true. Not that Harrah's is that bad. I have been in there a few times and have enjoyed myself. Their buffet is actually fairly good too. RIO's Buffet was also just as good post Harrah's as it was previous. At least it was when I was there last. I have never stayed at Harrah's though or back at RIO (post Harrahs) so I don't know about the rooms these days. But, none the less, I think The Orleans is a great place to stay. Things have been changing a lot there, New rooms and other amenities and vouchers in the slots... I just hope it doesn't keep changing too much.