splashing out on some Island colour.

More than just the roulette wheels were reeling at the River Palms near Las Vegas when President Bob Kelley quit at a moment's notice.

Then the $20 million Bermuda refit fell two weeks behind schedule and will now only be finished a day before grand opening night on October 16.

But executives at the 1000-room hotel in Laughlin, north of America's gambling capital, finally finished their outside paint job this week.

And the front of the giant casino, formerly called the Gold River, is now sporting pastel blues and peaches, with white roofs as a final touch.

Billionaire owner Allen Paulson, the world's second biggest breeder of thoroughbred racehorses, wanted to give his hotel a Bermuda image to match his love for the Island.

Miss Bermuda Joanne Darrell will be present for the opening ceremony, along with her entourage. Former Las Vegas golf pro and musician Don Cherry is also being lined up as a guest, along with Nevada's Democrat Governor, Bob Miller.

River Palms' Marketing Director John Strickland said: "We have a lot of well-known people from Las Vegas coming for the opening but they may not be people with worldwide fame.

"We've had a couple of problems recently because the interior redesign has fallen behind schedule.

"Mr. Kelley left quite abruptly after meeting with Mr. Paulson. He had really come out of retirement to see the project through and it all became a little bit much for him, I think.

"Now we're looking for a new President and I think a couple of people are lined up.'' He said alcove entrances to the tower block now had angled white roofs.

And the pastel colours outside are also being used inside, with Bermuda plant displays reflecting pink sand beaches and clear blue ocean.

BERMUDA-FUL -- The River Palms Hotel