Take a moment to browse through our pages and you’ll discover the best places to stay and the hottest spots to play on your next trip to Las Vegas. Better yet, you’ll learn how to do it all for less! >>
Don Laughlin picked up the gambling bug while earning money trapping minks and muskrats as a youngster during his school days. Using the money he earned, he purchased slot machines by mail and installed them in local pubs sharing the profits with them. Making $500.00 a week Don dropped out of school.
Slot machines where popping up all over the country. In the 1950s Congress passed a law abolishing them, so Laughlin moved to Nevada where they were legal. He worked as a bartender and attended a dealers school at night to learn the card and dice games.
In 1954, Laughlin purchased the 101 Club in North Las Vegas and sold it ten years later for $165,000. Looking for a place to establish his gambling establishment, he purchased a bankrupt eight-room motel with six acres of riverfront property for $235,000 with a $35,000 down payment by the Arizona/Nevada state borders. Needing a mailing address to receive mail he named the area Laughlin, Nevada.
In 1966, Laughlin started the business drawing locals to his Riverside resort by offering an all-you-can-eat chicken dinner for ninety-eight cents. The resort started with 12 slot machines and two gaming tables. Don rented out four of the eight hotel rooms, keeping the other four as living quarters for his family.
Tourist trade and profits increased. In 1972, Laughlin added a west wing with 48 rooms, another 52 rooms in 1975. In 1983, he added his first 14-story high tower with 253 rooms. A second 14-story tower was added in 1986, with 307 rooms. Investing $30 million, Laughlin updated the resort by adding more rooms bringing the total room count to 660, added a 750-space RV Park. In 1992, another 80 RV spaces were added to the RV Park. In December 1994, a 28-story tower with 790 rooms was added bringing the total room count up to 1,404 rooms and suites. The 900-space full-hook-up RV park has laundry facilities and showers, $15.00 a day, holidays and weekends $17.00 or $85.00 a week (subject to change). Room rates range from $19 to $110 a night.
The casino has 1,700 slot and video poker machines, a Winner's Slot Lounge with $1.00, $5.00 and $25.00 machines and snacks, bingo, $100,000 keno, forty-seven gaming tables with Blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Let-it Ride, roulette, Big Six Wheels, three Craps tables, Race & Sports Book and a nine table poker room. Players are encouraged to join the King of Clubs Slot Club.
Nightly dancing to live country music is held in the 1,400-square-foot Western Ballroom with the world's largest cowboy hat above the bar. Dancing is also available in the Losers' Lounge 'til early dawn to top 40 bands. The walls are decorated with posters, headlines and photos of historic and political losers.
For a change of pace visit the two classic auto showrooms with seventy rare and historic automobiles. If that's to tame visit the 34-lame bowling alley on the second floor. If you have children let them join you or take them to Don's Kid Kastle, a supervised play center for children 3 months to 12 years of age. Afterwards take in a movie in one of the six theaters or relax by the pool or spa next to the 28-story tower, take a cruise on the U.S.S. Riverside. Clothing and swimwear are available in the Hot Stuff on the first floor of the non-smoking section and on the second floor by Nicole's Beauty Salon. Open Sun. - Thur 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri. & sat. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
For a change of pace gander at the dozens of antique slots machines on display from Don's private collection in the car showroom or on the first level of the casino where they sell slot machines and Kodak film. In the evening take in a production show in Don's Celebrity Theatre where stars like Willie Nelson, Rich Little and others have performed. If you like to play games visit the arcade/game room to test your skills to see if you can win a prize. The Riverside has banquet and wedding facilities available.
Feel lucky? Shop at the world's largest watch store. Over 20,000 watches are on sale for $19.97 valued up to $125.00. Check over the display cases carefully. You might find a Rolex watch worth up to $3,000. If you do its your for only $19.97. No gimmicks, no tricks. So far seven people have found one and purchased it for $19.97. Open daily from 10 am to 10 pm. Sign up for the hourly watch give-a-way. You might win a watch worth up to $275.00 or some other prize. No purchase required to enter the drawing.
Don Laughlin also owned and operated a 61,000-acre cattle ranch near Kingman, Arizona and a 560-acre farm near Needles, CA, the River Queen 100-room resort on the opposite side of the Colorado River in Arizona. In 1987, he started the Laughlin National Bank and later the Laughlin Transit Incorporated tri-state bus service.
To draw more tourist to his resort, Laughlin built a $3.5 million bridge connecting Laughlin, NV and Bullhead City, Arizona in June 1987 donating the bridge to both cities. Later on he spend $9 million on a flood control project, and the Bullhead Airport in November 1991, making it possible for 737s to land there. Over the years Don has increased his antique automobile and antique slot machine collection. In 1998, Don Laughlin spend around $10 million on a 34-lane bowling alley and a new 5,000 square-foot Race and Sports book.
Don Laughlin geared his business to the low rollers, average families and retirees rather than high rollers Las Vegas tries to attract. Today, the Riverside caters to both the low roller and high roller where the customer is king regardless of their pocketbook. Laughlin management f is always on the casino floor, so don't be surprised if someone stops by to say hello or give you a smile.
