Casinos come and go in Las Vegas. It seems every few years a new property is getting demolished and another one is being built.
The Las Vegas Strip sees billions of dollars wagered each year and the city brings in gamblers from around the world. Visitors will find glitzy properties with every entertainment, dining, and gambling option imaginable.
New properties regularly become part of the mix and that has included several new casinos over the last few years. Those looking for a trip to Sin City have a few new properties to check out and here’s a look at some of Las Vegas’s newest casinos.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas
This $3.7 billion property officially welcomed gamblers in December 2023 with a grand opening that included a long list of celebrities and VIPs. Some of those dropping in included legendary NFl quarterback Tom Brady, singer Cher, rock star Alice Cooper, and more.
The casino is located at the north end of the Strip, next door to the Las Vegas Convention Center and across from Circus Circus. The casino is part of the famed Fontainebleau hotel chain, which also operates properties in Florida, Boston, and Nashville.
Guests booking a stay will be treated to: a 67-story, 3,644-room hotel; 150,000 square feet of casino space with 42-foot-high ceilings; a 3,800-seat, 90,000-square-foot theater; a 50,000-square-foot Liv nightclub; and numerous restaurants and bars.
There is seemingly something for everyone at the property. Even UFC President and CEO Dana White visited Fontainebleau this summer and reportedly booked a $1.2 million win at the baccarat tables.
The opening of the casino came after an almost 20-year ordeal of stops and starts, including changes in ownership and financing. Part of the casino was constructed at one point then sat unfinished for years after a bankruptcy. Considering the history, some gamblers were thrilled to see the property finally open for business.
“I’ve been living here for 23 years, I didn’t want to miss this casino opening,” Carlos Aguirre told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “It started in 2007 and took forever. I expect the latest of the latest.”
Durango Casino and Resort
Most gamblers are very familiar with the Strip and downtown Vegas for testing out their blackjack strategy, hitting the craps tables, playing poker, or trying to win at slots.
But there are also numerous casinos located in other parts of Sin City that cater to locals. These properties not only offer casino games, but other forms of family entertainment such as movie theaters, bowling alleys, and more.
In July 2024, the Durango Casino and Resort became the latest of these properties for Las Vegas locals (and visitors looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Strip). The property is located in the southwest Las Vegas valley and is owned and operated by Station Casinos.
Visitors are in store for an impressive experience. The $780 million, 15-story resort sits on a 71-acre plot. Guests will find numerous restaurants, live entertainment, a sportsbook, and, of course, plenty of casino games.
The Bel-Aire Backyard pool oasis is also a nice touch. Relax in the sun, take a dip in the pool, or grab a bite at the poolside grill in a picturesque and luxurious environment. The area includes lush greenery, palm trees, and offers a VIP experience with private cabanas, oversized daybeds, and inviting pool chairs.
Station Casinos officials see the new property as a huge step up for local gamblers looking to get away from the daily grind.
"There are areas, Las Vegas is fast growing, we take advantage of that, this area in particular the growth in the area is dynamic so we … watched for a number of years,” Station President Scott Kreeger told Channel 13 Las Vegas, “and we feel this area needs a product like Durango Casino and Resort.”
Resorts World
This $4.3 property opened at the north end of the Strip in 2021. Guests will find plenty of high-end opulence in a massive property that actually includes three luxury hotels – the Conrad, Crockfords, and Hilton.
Gamblers are also greeted with: 117,000 square feet of gaming space; numerous dining options, including the best in steaks, Italian, and seafood fare; retail shopping; and a 5.5-acre pool complex.
Poker players are also in luck at Resorts World. The casino offers 29 tables including two in a glass-enclosed room. Resorts World hosts several poker series throughout the year, including the North American Poker Tour. The property has certainly impressed visitors in the four years it has been open.
“There are plenty of large resorts on the Strip that have most of the things you’re looking for in Las Vegas, but Resorts World manages to roll them all — celeb residencies, splashy restaurants, a massive gaming scene, a fabulous spa — into one,” Conde Nast Traveler noted of the property. “If you want to check in and not feel as though you’re missing out elsewhere, this is where to go.”
Circa Casino
Las Vegas casino impresario Derek Stevens brought something special to downtown Vegas when this property opened in 2020. Stevens has become a major player downtown and also owns the Golden Gate and the D Las Vegas.
Circa became the first new downtown casino in four decades and took the place of the Las Vegas Club hotel-casino, Mermaids Casino, and the Glitter Gulch strip club, which were all demolished to make way for the area’s newest gambling mecca.
The property boasts a 44-story hotel, restaurants, bars, and more. Stevens brought back the “old Vegas” feel by making Circa an adults-only property. The Legacy Club really stands out and the rooftop club offers the chance to sip some cocktails with some brilliant views of the city and the surrounding mountains.
What really set the property apart was the focus on sports betting. Punters will find the largest sportsbook in the world with three stories, a 78 megapixel screen, capacity for 1,000 sports fans, and 350-capacity stadium seating.
If that weren’t enough, the Stadium Swim experience adds a new twist on the traditional sportsbook with a gigantic pool complex capable of hosting 4,000 people with a 143-foot diagonal LED screen with 14 million megapixels. Bettors can take a dip and also check out the day’s sports action. Numerous betting windows are available to make some wagers as well.
The complex features six pools with 337 lounge chairs, 30 cabanas, 38 day beds, and even two ultra-exclusive “owners’ suites.” The two swim-up bars are also ready for that next cocktail order. Drop in for a swim – and possibly a big win as well.
On the Horizon
Even more may be in the works for Las Vegas in the coming years. The Tropicana was demolished on the Strip in 2024 to build a new stadium for the Oakland A’s baseball team. That project is expected to be completed by January 2028 and a new Bally’s casino is also expected to be built adjacent to the stadium as part of the project for gamblers to work on their roulette strategies and craps strategy.
In 2023, Howard Hughes Holdings also announced plans for a new Strip tower rising above the Fashion Show Mall at the north end of the Strip. However construction has yet to begin and more details on the plan haven’t been announced.
Additionally, Warner Bros. Discovery and Sony are teaming up for a new film and television studio in the Las Vegas area. In February, the two companies announced plans for a $1.8 billion film studio on 31 acres in Summerlin.
Summerlin Studios will feature 10 soundstages, production facilities, and more. The project certainly lives up to Las Vegas’s tagline as the entertainment capital of the world.
