<P> The hotel towers are covered in blue and red glass . The Rio hotel's 2,522 suites range in size from 600 to 13,000 sq ft (56 to 1,208 m) and have floor to ceiling windows . There are several private villas on the property for high - rollers . </P> <P> The complex includes a wine cellar that has more than 50,000 bottles . The Rio Pavilion convention center has a total of 160,000 sq ft (15,000 m) of space . A Race and Sports Book is also available . </P> <P> The Rio opened on January 15, 1990, as a locals casino; it had been constructed and owned and operated by Marnell Corrao Associates . The opening acts were the Brazilian Group Sérgio Mendes' 99 and Henrietta Alves of New Orleans, bringing the first two - piano act to Las Vegas, with various co-performers . A 20 - story expansion tower was added to the current Ipanema Tower in 1993 . Masquerade Village, a hotel tower and casino expansion including the Masquerade Show in the Sky, opened in 1997, at a cost of over $200 million . The Rio was purchased by Harrah's Entertainment in 1999 for $888 million . After the purchase, the Culinary Workers Union organized the Rio employees through card check recognition by enforcing the neutrality clause of the existing Harrah's contract on the new acquisition . </P> <P> Danny Gans, after moving from the Stratosphere Las Vegas, opened as the headliner in 1998 . He later moved to The Mirage in 2000 . Penn & Teller have been the resident headline entertainers since 2001 . </P>

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