Penn & Teller Bring Magic To Gaming With First-Ever Celebrity Casino Table Game At Rio Hotel & Casino

Adventura Gaming, a boutique gaming company known for creating innovative branded casino games, has teaming up with legendary magicians Penn & Teller to launch Penn & Teller Casino Monte—the first-ever celebrity-branded casino table game of its kind.

To mark the occasion, Penn & Teller joined Adventura Gaming executives for an exclusive event at Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Monday afternoon, where guests witnessed the official game reveal, live demonstrations, and a mesmerizing trick performance by the iconic duo themselves.

There will be no sleight of hand with Penn & Teller Casino Monte. This new exciting game has a simple way to win - just pick the highest card. The higher your card, the better the chances you have of winning.

Patrick Miller, President and CEO of Rio introduced Penn & Teller and the newest table game on Monday afternoon by saying, “We’re excited today. We’ve got another first in Las Vegas. This town does a lot of great things. Rio’s been at the center of a lot of that for 35 years and today’s another first; this is the first celebrity branded table game.”

When asked what it’s like to have their very own table game in Las Vegas, Penn enthusiastically told The Blast, “It’s just crazy.” 

“I mean, we had a slot machine but a lot of people have slot machines,” he continued. “This is the first time they’ve ever done a table game, and to see our faces where people will spill their drinks is a wonderfully, exciting moment.” 

Before agreeing to the new table game, Penn said they got the chance to try it out.

“We played it before we agreed to the whole thing. (Teller nodded in agreement, staying on brand with silence.) We played it several times. They brought it to us when it was still made of cardboard,” Penn explained. “In order to do a game that people really enjoy and that is fair and everything, the mathematics are very advanced. It’s not like you can kind of go, can we pay off a little more on this? You can’t do that, they won’t listen.” 

How does it work? The player places a bet in one of the three betting spots - P, &, or T. 

“By choosing a betting spot, the player is wagering that the corresponding card will be the highest of the three community cards that will be dealt,” according to the Rio’s website. “They may also place an optional wager on the Full Monte side bet for a second chance to win big.” 

After placing the initial bet, the dealer will shake one die in a cup and then reveal it. If the die shows a one or two, the dealer draws a single card and places it face up in the “Penn” position. If the die shows a three or four, the dealer will draw a single card and place it face up in the “&” position, and if the die is a five or six, the dealer will draw a card and place it face up in the “Teller” position.

After the first card is revealed, the player has the opportunity to make a raise between 1x to 3x the initial bet or leave their initial bet in play.

“After all players have exercised their option to raise, the dealer will then turn over the remaining two cards for the final showdown,” the website explains. “If a player’s card is the highest card of the three, both their initial wager and optional raise are paid 1:1. If two of the three cards are the same rank and are tied for the highest, both cards win and are paid 1:1. If all three cards are equal in rank, all hands win and the initial bet is paid 3:1 and the raise is paid 1:1.”

Penn & Teller’s show at Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is a legendary blend of mind-bending magic, sharp-witted comedy, and jaw-dropping illusions. They’ve been entertaining fans for more than 25 years at the Rio and 50 years together in total.

The magical duo have been performing at the Rio for “too long,” Penn joked.

“We’ve been at the Rio for too long,” he jokingly said. “We’re the longest running headliners in Vegas history, and we just love it here.”

Known for their signature mix of magic and comedy, the iconic duo delivers a one-of-a-kind experience that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. With a mix of new illusions and fan-favorite acts, Penn & Teller’s long-running residency remains a must-see in the Vegas entertainment scene.

“These guys are going to celebrate 50 years together this year and almost 25 years at the Rio," Miller said. "They’re the longest running show in Las Vegas. We love having them here.” 

When talking to The Blast a few months ago, Andrew Kerzmann, vice president of hospitality for Rio said, “We’re very proud to be the host property for Penn & Teller for a very long time. They’ve had their residence show here for 25 years or more, which is a very strong brand and likeness that we really enjoy having on property.” 

The Rio recently underwent a significant renovation and upgraded much of the property and its offerings. Dreamscape Companies took over the 34 years old resort from Caesars Entertainment in late 2023 and began to make what’s old, new again!

The longstanding hotel and casino, located on the corner of Valley View Blvd. and Flamingo Rd., just off the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, got quite the facelift to bring it back to the vibrant life it was once used to. The newly updated Rio isn’t the Rio of the past, but it’s also not unrecognizable. Everything visitors loved about the property still lives on, but bigger and better.

More food options have been added in the past year. The Canteen Food Hall opened for business in January 2024, featuring a dynamic lineup of affordable Vegas favorites. Other restaurants located on property include Guy Fieri’s El Burro Borracho, Luckley Tavern & Grill, Hash House A Go Go, KJ Dim Sum & Seafood, Starbucks, and VooDoo Steak.

VooDoo Lounge recently reopened after being closed for years, and locals and visitors alike were ready for that.

“VooDoo Lounge is great. That view only got better," Miller said. "Vegas only gets more exciting at night, you’ve got all the colors and lights on the Strip, and there really isn’t a better place for VooDoo. You’re sitting on the 51st floor overlooking the Strip.”

While there have been quite a few upgrades and addition at the Rio recently, there's more coming!

"We just finished up our first phase of the property renovations. All of the casino floors got done, all the new slot machines, new table games, a couple of new restaurants happened in this last year," Miller told The Blast exclusively.

"In 2025, I can’t disclose everything yet, but we got a couple new restaurants on the horizon. What’s great about Rio is I’ve got a lot of space. This property is massive. We sit on almost 90 acres. Every time I walk around, there’s somewhere and an idea to go there. Look for two to three new restaurants this year.”

There will also be some changes with the shows at the hotel and casino.

“We’ve got new shows on the horizon too. Obviously, Penn & Teller is our staple. 'WOW' stays in place where they’re at, and we’ve got our old theater over in Masquerade Village, over where Chippendales was, a new show coming on board, ‘Empire Strips Back,'" Miller said. "It’s a ‘Star Wars’ burlesque parody. It’s super fun, engaging, great for nights out for couples or friends. A lot of fun, super funny show.”

For more information on Rio Hotel & Casino, visit their website.