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Rampart Retooled, Rejuvanated

LAS VEGAS-- To hear Rampart Casino operator Bill Paulos tell it, the real turnaround specialists at the Summerlin property are its 650 employees.

Those people worked hard to keep the bankrupt former Regent Las Vegas in business before a Vancouver, British Columbia-based hotel operator bought the property and leased the casino to Paulos and his partners, he said.

Now, almost a year after Paulos and Millennium Management partners Bill Wortman and Bob Mendenhall began the casino's 10-year lease on April 2, the Rampart Casino has been retooled and rejuvenated, the owners say.

Slot machines that used to win about $40 or $50 per day now win between two and three times that amount, Paulos said. Table game winnings are up more than 20 percent, and a new cafe, buffet and gourmet restaurants add excitement to a casino floor that used to be one of the quietest in town.

Paulos credits the Rampart workers for the turnaround.

"When we took the place over, we took over the entire staff," Paulos said. "We brought in some management folks, but the first thing we did was tell our staff, from top to bottom, what we'd do and that we'd be a success, with their help. They've performed absolutely spectacularly."

Las Vegas locals casino expert Ray Brown, president of Shonkwiler Marcoux Advertising, said the employees are important, because customer service draws patrons who opt not to visit the Rampart's neighboring property, Coast Casinos' Suncoast.

"There are customers who like personal, attentive service," Brown said. "Paulos and his partners do nothing fancy. Just solid product delivery, and their one-year numbers reflect a darn good pace. They're doing extremely well."

Two factors drive the Rampart's turnaround, Brown said: strong population growth in and around Summerlin and the operating abilities of Paulos.

"He understands destination resorts and knows the locals game," he said of the former Circus Circus Enterprises executive who also owns the Putters chain of slot bars. "He went in and redid the game floor to appeal to locals, and they now offer a solid mix of games. They've found a nice niche and a beautiful property and have done a great job."

The partnership between the JW Marriott's hotel operator and the Rampart Casino is a strong one, Paulos said.

"We have a great relationship," he said, noting that the casino has a small block of rooms set aside for premium players.

Millennium also owns the Cannery in North Las Vegas. Paulos said there's not a lot of crossover business between the two properties, but occasional marketing opportunities arise, such as sending Rampart patrons to Cannery concerts or Cannery customers to Rampart restaurants.

Millennium partner Wortman owns the Nevada Palace casino on Boulder Highway, and Mendenhall owns Las Vegas Paving.

"Right now we've done two years in one and we're a year ahead of where we thought we'd be," Paulos said. "But we want to continue marketing aggressively to groups, golfers, and most importantly, Las Vegas locals, because we can and will improve.

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