Gaming briefs for August 31, 2004

Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2004 | 11:08 a.m.

Rio opens ultra lounge

Harrah's Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino has remodeled a centrally located bar into an upscale "I-Bar Ultra Lounge."

The ultra lounge will feature 12 signature cocktails with names like "Tropical Hypnosis" and "Passion Pulse" as well as new cocktail servers, Rio officials said. The bar is located at the center of the main casino pit at the front entrance to the hotel.

The resort hired 10 models to serve drinks and provide bottle service to guests. Each model is "adorned in an exquisite flesh-colored costume" and is "trained to move with the rhythmic sounds of I-Bar," the company said.

Gaming Board member resigns

CHICAGO-- Another resignation dwindled the Illinois Gaming Board to just two members Monday, rendering it unable to take any action.

Board member Violet Clark sent her letter of resignation to Gov. Rod Blagojevich, said his spokeswoman Cheryle Jackson.

Clark's resignation came less than a week after Elzie Higginbottom resigned his post as chairman of the Gaming Board. Both Higginbottom's and Clark's terms expired June 30.

The board has been criticized for its decision in March to grant an unused casino license to a company that plans to build a casino in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont.

To fill out the board, the Blagojevich administration has been interviewing candidates. The governor hopes to name replacements for both Higginbottom and Clark and fill an existing vacancy on the five-member board soon.