Red Rock Resorts, also known as Station Casinos, sold Palms Casinos Resort to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians earlier this year. The forthcoming Las Vegas casino operator shelled out $650 million in cash for the resort, which has remained closed since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The sale of The Palms is now anticipated to be finalized in the first half of 2022. The property is expected to open soon after receiving regulatory approvals. In the meantime, San Manuel will be somewhat non-specific about their plans for The Palms.
Nonetheless, the company can give indications of their plans for the casino’s reopening.
We can definitively say that the centerpiece of the casino bar will continue to be the giant shark by Damian Hirst.
New Las Vegas sportsbook among plans for Palms
Despite Station Casinos being the operator of Palms, they did not control the sportsbook, which was hosted by CG Technology (CGT). Even though William Hill acquired CGT’s assets, they never assumed control as the casino shut down just as the transaction was finalized.
San Manuel has not disclosed who will manage the sportsbook at the Palms when it reopens next year. Nonetheless, the operators have hinted that its appearance will be altered. San Manuel plans to revamp the old-fashioned sportsbook and modify its dimensions.
The sportsbook at The Palms is quite spacious for the property, featuring a bar outside the VIP area. PlayNevada has contacted Palms’ public relations for additional details, but they are not yet available.
It would not be surprising to see the bar shifted nearer to the viewing screens, which are also expected to be updated. The sportsbook’s VIP area was designed by CG Technology for high rollers. However, this space remained largely unutilized when Station Casinos acquired the property.
A bar offering a clear view of new video screens would be a great addition behind a few rows of cozy lounge chairs or horse racing carrels. It remains to be seen if William Hill will still manage the sportsbook when Palms reopens.
San Manuel loves catering to Las Vegas locals
Like San Manuel’s Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in California, Palms will be promoted as a genuine locals casino. Although the amenities and a brand new casino will appeal to everyone, San Manuel has always targeted customers living near their casino. Palms will follow a similar approach.
Palms, being near the Vegas Strip, has always been a mixed casino catering to both local residents and tourists. The gaming area is spacious enough to accommodate Las Vegas locals who drive and park in the casino’s garage or lot, allowing them to enjoy the casino without necessarily interacting with tourists, should they prefer not to.
Laurens Vosloo, the CEO of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, stated to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “We believe we have something unique and special that the local residents will appreciate.”
San Manuel views locals as the main source of revenue for Palms, which is a stark contrast to most Vegas Strip casinos. While tourists will still visit, it’s expected that the majority of the business will be generated by locals.
Ironically, Station Casinos’ “we love locals” marketing catchphrase was somewhat obscured as the company attempted to market to both locals and tourists. The Maloof brothers, the original owners of Palms, excelled at catering to both demographics. This was a challenging endeavor, as it was not easy to create distinct experiences for two different types of customers within a single casino.
San Manuel will also promote Palms to Yaamava’ customers. The California-based casino is a four-hour drive from Las Vegas. The Southern California market has been crucial for Las Vegas casinos in the past year, as tourists were not necessarily flying at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finally, and importantly, parking will continue to be free at Palms when it reopens.
Don’t expect KAOS when Palms reopens
Station Casinos did not see a worthwhile return on their investment in KAOS, a stunning dayclub/nightclub. Despite spending substantial funds to construct an appealing venue and compensate resident performers, it proved to be a financial burden for the previous owners of Palms.
The expectation was that guests visiting Palms for KAOS would spend a significant amount of money on other amenities within the property. Regrettably, this was not the case, and KAOS was eventually shut down and never resumed operations.
Currently, San Manuel does not have a reopening plan for KAOS. This club was integrated into Station Casinos’ tourist marketing strategy, which doesn’t align with the local market that San Manuel aims to target.
San Manuel has announced plans to inaugurate a new rooftop pool complex, although specific details regarding the complex have yet to be disclosed. The potential views of the Vegas Strip from this location could serve as a major attraction for both tourists and locals.
Expect a longer name for Palms in the future
The Palms will be reopening under the same name next year. Nevertheless, San Manuel is already contemplating a slight alteration to the name.
This would somewhat reflect a recent name change at its San Manuel Casino in California.
The property in California is now known as Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel. A similar transformation is anticipated for Palms in Las Vegas in the future.
The casino might officially be renamed as Palms by San Manuel. Further changes are expected to be announced after the deal for Palms is finalized in the first half of 2022.
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