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Nevada: Rio casino partners with Aristocrat on new gaming room

October 19, 2026 · 2:21pm ET | 11:21am PT
Photo: Rio

An off-Strip casino has opened a new gaming room dedicated to Aristocrat Gaming’s slot machines Dragon Link and Phoenix Link, in an effort to create a new environment on the gaming floor. The new space is located at the Rio Hotel & Casino in the former poker room.

“Dragon Lair brings together compelling game content and an exciting environment to create an all-new destination on Rio’s buzzing casino floor,” said Rod Turlan, president and general manager of Rio Hotel & Casino. “This continued collaboration with Aristocrat Gaming reflects our dedicated focus on introducing fresh experiences that give guests even more reasons to discover the new Rio.”

The Dragon Link and Phoenix Link games build off the Lightning Link title, adding themed visuals and game features. Dragon Link takes Hold & Spin and adds a Orb trigger symbol across all titles, making it easy to recognize regardless of the game players are enjoying.

While Phoenix Link puts fresh twists on features like the classic Hold & Spin with scaling Grand and Major jackpots, as well as Free Games with the opportunity to reward players with Wild Multipliers or Twin Spins. With intuitive play and a variety of bonuses, these are multi-denom games.

“We’re excited to collaborate with Rio to bring Dragon Lair to life and create an experience designed specifically for Aristocrat’s loyal players,” said Kurt Gissane, chief commercial officer, Americas at Aristocrat. “By combining Rio’s vision with Aristocrat Gaming’s expansive portfolio of entertaining content, we’ve created a dedicated gaming destination that delivers energy, variety, and excitement.”

Chris Sieroty — Managing Editor

Chris Sieroty joined CDC Gaming as Managing Editor in August 2026. He drives the daily editorial agenda and coordinates journalists and contributors across North America. He spent nearly a decade as US Editor for Vixio Regulatory Intelligence in Washington, D.C., and previously covered the Nevada gaming industry for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Nevada Public Radio (KNPR).