After nearly six years, a brand new addition has finally been made to the list of casinos in the Las Vegas corridor.
The Lucky Dragon Casino, which is the first completely new structure to open since the Cosmopolitan in 2010, is an Asian-focused property situated less than a block from Las Vegas Blvd. on Sahara Ave.
More about Lucky Dragon Casino
The Lucky Dragon boasts 37 table games, more than 300 slot machines, and 203 rooms in its hotel.
The site is home to five restaurants that offer a variety of Asian cuisines. Although most of the dining leans towards Cantonese cuisine, Thai and Vietnamese cuisines are also featured in the restaurants.
The casino is tailored for Asian and Asian-American gamblers. Dave Jacoby, the Chief Operating Officer, told the L.A. Times that he anticipates around 10 percent of the clientele to be from Asia.
The primary target market is Asian Americans residing in the adjacent Southern California. The 2010 census approximated that about 10 percent of the larger Los Angeles population is of Asian origin.
The casino is well-acquainted with its customer base and has been designed considering feng shui principles. To attract good luck, the bar is octagonal, and the building lacks a fourth floor due to the belief in numerous Asian cultures that the number four brings misfortune.
Why this is important for Vegas casino growth?
Since 2010, other casinos have been rebranded and opened.
The Lucky Dragon is the first completely new casino construction project on the Strip since 2010. This property is a boutique casino, similar to The Cromwell, The Cosmopolitan, and the SLS.
Nonetheless, its focus on Asia sets it apart as a unique attraction with a more defined target demographic.
The Asian market is frequently identified as one ready for expansion. A recent factor aiding Lucky Dragon is the introduction of a nonstop flight from Beijing to Vegas by Hainan Airlines.
Opening day festivities
The new casino had its soft opening on Nov. 19, with the first hand being played by recent World Series of Poker Main Event winner, Qui Nguyen.
The soft launch was successful. The formal grand opening took place on December 3rd and was marked by considerable festivities. A grand parade across the premises, featuring dragon and lion dancers, was part of the highlights. The event concluded with the lighting of firecrackers.
Not only did the attendees get to enjoy a show and a tour of the property, but they also received complimentary tea served by several tea sommeliers positioned around the gaming area.
The casino, being still very new, is challenging to comprehensively assess in terms of its performance. As a distinctive service for a specialized market, it definitely distinguishes itself from the plethora of boutique hotels that have emerged in recent years.
