- DiSimone Gaming has announced that The Pass Casino–formerly the Eldorado–will open at 7:00 PM Pacific on April 1, 2021.
- The Pass is located on Water Street in Henderson, Nevada.
- Circa Sports will operate the upgraded sportsbook at the property.
Last December, Boyd Gaming announced that they were selling the Eldorado Casino at 140 South Water Street in Henderson, Nevada to DiSimone Gaming. DiSimone Gaming currently owns the Railroad Pass Hotel, Casino and Travel Center which was purchased from MGM Resorts in 2015. Spokesman David Strow indicated that Boyd Gaming considered the Eldorado a ‘non core asset’ and had kept the property shuttered since the March 2020 shutdown of the gaming industry at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic:
“The Eldorado was a non-core asset to our company, and as we have continued to grow over the years, this property represented a very modest part of our overall business.”
DiSimone Gaming has given the property a new name–The Pass Casino–along with a remodeling job complete with an $800,000 upgraded sportsbook that will be operated by Derek Stevens’ owned Circa Sports. It also has a grand re-opening date of April 1, 2021 at 7:00 PM Pacific Time. This date is contingent on DeSimone receiving approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission at their March 18 meeting but given that he already operates another gaming property–and was recommended for licensing by the Nevada Gaming Control Board–that seems to be all but certain.
DiSimone Gaming issued a short and sweet press release earlier today:
The Pass Casino, formerly the Eldorado, will again light up Water Street as it opens, subject to Nevada Gaming Commission approval, at 7:00 PM on April 1, 2021. The former Eldorado Casino was sold to DeSimone Gaming by Boyd Gaming in December 2020. The property has been completely reimagined with increased gaming, dining, and entertainment options.
The casino joins the Railroad Pass in DeSimone’s gaming portfolio. Longtime Henderson developer and sole owner Joe DeSimone has anticipated renewed interest in the historic property due to both public and private investments that have been made in Henderson and on Water Street. Additionally, he says, “Our Railroad Pass customers will enjoy the benefits of a linked Player’s Club, giving them the opportunity to accrue and use their points at either property.” A shuttle will run between the two casinos seven days a week for customers’ convenience.
The iconic building’s reopening represents nearly 100 new jobs for Henderson, with many former employees returning. Among the new enhancements to the gaming floor will be live games along with over 350 slot machines. Emilia’s Café, named for DeSimone’s daughter, will offer upgraded 24-hour dining. Fine dining will be available at Ristorante Italiano, Thursday through Sunday evenings. The Pass Bar and Silver Bar complete the new food and beverage options.
“We expect the Pass to become an entertainment destination for Henderson residents,” says DeSimone. “Our unique venues and customer service will keep bringing them back.”
The Pass will be the second satellite location for Circa Sports. In addition to the three Derek Stevens owned properties in downtown Las Vegas (Circa Resort & Casino, the D Las Vegas and the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino) they have taken over operation of the sportsbook at the Tuscany Suites and Casino just off the Las Vegas Strip. There was a short local news spot about the new sportsbook opening at the Tuscany:
Circa Sports also operates a mobile app in the scorching hot Colorado sports betting market and have recently launched in Indiana:
The Eldorado Casino was one of my favorite properties during the early days of my Las Vegas tenure–before they eliminated table games in the early 1990s. DiSimone has done a nice job turning around the once decrepit Railroad Pass and I expect him to do the same with his new property.
