After joining the ranks of stalled Las Vegas projects a couple months ago, the north-Strip-located Fontainebleau may land the backing needed to finish construction and open. Rumors are swirling that Penn Gaming, a company with 12 casinos in seven states and a Canadian province, may take on the beleaguered behemoth that is 70 percent finished, but only if it can snag it for pennies on the dollar from its original $3 billion valuation. It's all speculation as of now, however; and even if a deal is made, the big blue casino-hotel scheduled to open this month would probably not debut until late 2010.

COCO'S OPEN: After a quick conversion, several coffee shops in the Station Casinos group have become Coco's restaurants. The new eateries have opened at Palace, Boulder, Sunset and Texas stations, joining an existing Coco's at Santa Fe Station.

CHARO CLOSED: The famed flamenco performer, whose show at the Riviera has been on hiatus since her injury during the Jerry Lewis Telethon in mid-September, will be out for the remainder of the year. Whether she will return in 2010 has yet to be announced.

FALL AT BELLAGIO: The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at Bellagio has transitioned to a fall display, which features autumnal colors, a 35-foot-tall cider mill, a 13-foot scarecrow, and a 10-foot-tall mythical tree made of recycled paper and wood. The free exhibit is through Nov. 28.

Q: Who is this year's wealthiest casino baron?

A. This year's Forbes 400 list of America's wealthiest individuals reveals a new leader. Carl Icahn, majority owner of Tropicana Entertainment, lines up in 22nd place overall with an estimated net worth of $10.5 billion. Last year's top industry representative, Sheldon Adelson, fell to 26th. Kirk Kerkorian, Steve Wynn, Donald Trump, Phil Ruffin and Ed Roski Jr. also made the list.

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