The Colorado Belle's Poker Room recently tested a new game that uses certain poker hands in 7-Card Stud and Texas Hold 'em games for spaces on a special bingo card. The result is "pingo." The game was well received and the Poker Room is offering it this month with a different game card. As they play poker, players cover a variety of patterns, and each pattern has a specific value, from $25 to $500. In fact, a pingo player can potentially earn up to $1,450 a month playing pingo by making and turning in all of the card combinations.

Pingo cards are available at the Poker podium, one card per person at any given time. The game is in play between 8:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily. For more information, call the Poker Room toll free at 800-64-POKER.

In addition, another recent Poker Room offering is the mini buffet that opens at 5 p.m. daily. Entrées ranging from chicken fingers to Italian sausage are free to players in live games.

"Superstars Live In Concert" is the show running through Aug. 31 in Don's Celebrity Theatre at the Riverside. Tickets are $23, call 1-800-227-3849, ext. 616.

This show is produced by Barrie Cunningham, who also impersonates Neil Diamond and Jimmy Buffett in the show. He is joined by other impersonators.

Lynn McDaniel plays Shania Twain. She has two Nashville produced albums under her belt and has entertained on cruise ships and nightclubs around the country.

Canadian performer Peter Phillips portrays country music star Tim McGraw. Not only has he won a McGraw Look-alike Contest, McGraw himself has used Phillips as a decoy thanks to his resemblance.

Barbara Bogar tackles the legendary Marilyn Monroe. She recently returned from an engagement in Athens, Greece. Bogar is the voice of the new Marilyn Monroe slot machine and is the featured voice of Monroe in Rich Little's "The Presidents." She also has her own singing career fronting her own band.

Joe Messina and Dan Meisner liven things up as the Blues Brothers, roles they have played in "Legends in Concert" in Las Vegas and other places.

Beginning Friday, July 15, exotic animals from "Working Wildlife" of Southern California will make guest appearances at a play area on the upper "D" Deck of the Colorado Belle. From July 15-24, a baby orangutan named Rocky will be the guest animal with a special photo session set for July 23. From July 26-Aug. 3, a baby chimpanzee named George will be featured with a special photo session on July 30. Viewing the animals is free.

In August, two three-month old cougar cubs will arrive. The cubs have no name and they will be the central figures in a "Name the Cubs Contest." Beginning on Aug. 5, contestants will be able to submit names for the cubs through noon on Sept. 5, at the viewing area. Winners will be announced on Sept. 5 at 2 p.m. Winners' prizes include a complimentary stay, dinner for two, a $50 gift certificate valid in the Main Gift Shop and a framed photo with the cougar cub.

Think football. Last week, the Edgewater and Colorado Belle began taking sign ups for their popular "Over the Edge" NFL football contest. There will be $50,000 in guaranteed prize money awarded over the course of the coming season to the contestants who can best pick the winning teams in each week's NFL line-up of games. No point spreads, no money-line. A one-time entry fee is $20.

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Harrah's recently opened a new 1,500-square-foot salon and day spa. The facility's décor is simple and classic with a warm ambience complemented by yellows, olive greens and earth-toned hues of tan and brown. Waterfalls provide relaxing sounds and add to the salon's aura.

The salon features two nail stations, three hair styling centers, two pedicure stations, one body treatment room, a private tanning bed room and three massage rooms.

Harrah's Laughlin Salon and Day Spa is located at the casino's pool level. It is open daily at 9 a.m. For appointments, call 702-298-8521.

Four summers ago, the Flamingo turned its Club Flamingo Showroom into a venue for The Comedy Stop. Producer Bob Kephart's successful format of rotating the lineup of three comics each week has made this an annual summer entertainment option for Laughlin.

Shows are performed at 7 and 9 p.m. nightly. Tickets are $11.95 with a Connection Card and $12.95 without a card.

In late April, the MGM Mirage acquired the Mandalay properties creating the largest single gaming company in the world. On the local front that translated to the Edgewater and Colorado Belle joining the MGM family.

The top spot on the gaming pyramid attained by the MGM giant was short-lived; however, for on June 14, Harrah's Entertainment acquired Caesar's Entertainment, creating the new heavyweight champion. On the local front, this means Harrah's Laughlin and the Flamingo Laughlin are now sister-properties under the Harrah's banner. The newly created Harrah's conglomerate has $17.5 billion in assets...more than most mid-sized countries...and four million square feet of gambling space in three countries with almost 100,000 workers. Not bad for a venture that started out as a bingo parlor in Reno in 1937.

The Bermuda Club at the River Palms features the adult comedy and magic of Berri Lee, who has been seen on HBO. He performs his ongoing free show, Tuesday through Sunday at 3 p.m.

The Candy Shoppe, the newly expanded store located on the "D" Deck of the Colorado Belle, now offers a variety of goodies...including hand-crafted fudge, hard candy in bulk candy tubes, chocolates, pastries, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, fruit juices, cappuccino and even popcorn. It also has a selection of gift cards, a collection of novelty dishware, and gift baskets. The Candy Shoppe is open daily from 8 a.m.

Criminal Justice instructor and Vietnam Vet Eddie Zuleger from Litchfield Park, Ariz. will speak at the Ramada Express on Tuesday, July 5 at 1 p.m. The free American Veterans Program is open to the public.

While in the U.S. Army, Zuleger served in the jungles of Vietnam from 1968 to 1969, and was cited for heroism. Zuleger holds a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University. He is a Certified Public Manager and is on the faculty at Estrella Mountain Community College as program director and instructor for the administration of justice courses. He has also worked for the Arizona Board of Pardons and Parole as a case analyst and most recently as an Investigative Manager for the prison complexes.

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