The Mardi Gras show is gone? Too bad! Rooms are mini suites. I liked the seafood buffet, the lobster is a small slipper lobster tail. I think it has a great casino vibe, but it doesn't have good video poker pay tables. It does have a lot of food and drink choices. The gift show is about average. Seem to keep some interesting shows also.
My daughter, her two sons and I stayed at the Rio for two nights (comped) The room was wonderful, large and with a great view. The food was OK. The gambling wasn't very good, tho. Lost a lot.
The Rio is a young adult oriented casino that is west of the Las Vegas Strip and within walking distance to The Gold Coast and The Palms. There is a shuttle service to Caeasars and other Harrah's properties on the strip because The Rio is a Harrah's property (for now).
There are "stage" dancers scattered throughout the casino that give it a very adult theme. The Mardi Gras like partry that include floats in the sky & beads is much more family oriented.
The Rio seafood buffet gets high marks although the cost is pricey. The casino itself is "long" and "thin" and has an average mix and variety of machines. The Sports book is very nice.
The current big name attraction is Prince, who performs 3 times a week. I have not seen the show but I heard great thing about Prince's performances.
The Rio Suites Hotel & Casino has an expensive (but good) buffet according to my wife's sister who has stayed here in the past. There is a fun Mardi Gras style show that takes place above the casino floor.