Virgin Las Vegas Review for February 2026

The first thing you need to know is that there are two very simple reasons why you won’t have heard of Virgin Las Vegas: It’s not been there very long and it’s not on the Strip.

It’s more Strip-adjacent than anything else. You can walk it, but realistically you’re better using taxis and ride shares.

That location shouldn’t be holding it back because, in short, it never really held back Hard Rock Las Vegas, which is what it used to be before March 2021. Hard Rock Las Vegas was legendary for the young party crowd it attracted, mainly thanks to its incredible pool setup. It’s fair to say that Virgin does not emulate that, and nor does it try to.

Virgin Las Vegas instead tries to target a more grown-up crowd. They spent $200million on renovating it into a desert oasis theme and partnered with Hilton, who run the hotel, and Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment, who  initially operated the casino.

That made the Mohegan Tribe the first Native American Tribe to operate a casino in Las Vegas and, given the success of the Mohegan Sun Casino Resort in Connecticut, it certainly felt like it was in good hands. That partnership ended at the end of 2024 though.

That may be because it’s probably fair to say that it has yet to take off for Virgin in Vegas. A little aeronautics joke for you there. Get it?

That’s a shame too, because the Hard Rock Casino it replaced really added something to the Vegas casino scene. As a side note, it will be interesting to see how well the new Hard Rock in Las Vegas replicates its predecessor when it opens in 2026 in the shell of what used to be the Mirage.

Anyway, back to Virgin…

Location 

As I mentioned, Virgin Las Vegas is not on the Strip. It’s set two streets back from the Strip on Paradise Road.

The closest of the main resorts to Virgin is Planet Hollywood, but the word ‘close’ has no real meaning on the Las Vegas Strip. Thinking anything is especially ‘close’ to each other is one of the biggest rookie mistakes that first-time Vegas visitors make.

For example: Say you are stood outside the Bellagio Fountains on a nice Las Vegas summer’s day and you look north. You will see the Venetian in all it’s pristine glory and think to yourself ‘the Venetian is just over there, let’s walk to it.’ 

25 minutes of walking in intense summer heat later and, not only are you not even there yet, but you’re also hating your life. You’re dehydrated, your feet are hurting, and you’ve probably broke up with your partner en route after spending at least half the journey arguing about whose stupid idea it was to walk it.

Well, Virgin Las Vegas is roughly that same distance (just over a mile) away from Planet Hollywood. You look on a map and see that all you have to do is walk down East Harmon Avenue, and Planet Hollywood looks huge, so you think it must be close. Trust me, it isn’t.

The point is, Virgin Las Vegas is quite isolated. That will appeal to some and discourage others, but make sure you’re aware of it as it’s important information.

Some hotels that are slightly off the Strip will lay on free shuttle buses to get their guests around, but sadly Virgin have opted against that. Again, important information.

Since the renovations, the casino floor looks great. They did a really good job of creating a modern, sleek space in which to gamble. No complaints at all there.

However, something isn’t quite working with it. The location will not be helping, obviously, as there is not the natural footfall that casinos on the Strip itself can take for granted.

And that does hurt it I think. It leaves the casino feeling devoid of atmosphere and personality. I would actually describe it as a little bit soulless. You know, just to stress again, very pleasant and nice, but a little soulless.

It does pain me to say that a little, and I have no doubts that, for many, a casino just a short taxi ride from the spectacle of the Las Vegas Strip but away from the bustle of it will be the perfect sweet spot.

For me personally, and my own tastes, it just doesn’t tick the right boxes. 

Table Games Selection 

What you can’t really fault the Virgin Las Vegas casino for is the variety of table games. It offers multiple versions of blackjack and triple zero roulette, as far as I could see, is yet to infest the property.

In fact, there are more than 50 tables in total, and I think the 60,000 square feet casino floor is one of the most evenly split I have ever seen between tables and slots. Usually slots are given the majority of the room, but not at Virgin.

As well as blackjack and roulette, you will also find baccarat, craps, three-card poker and pai gow poker. However, I didn’t see a dedicated poker room.

Table games:

• Blackjack
• Roulette (double zero)
• Craps
• Baccarat
• Pai Gow Poker
• Three Card Poker 

I always find it a bit tough to walk past a roulette table and not lay down a spread of chips or two, and I had no complaints about the conditions of the table.

The grey cloth was pristine and offered a strong contrast to the black, reds and greens, and the chairs were comfortable. The tables also all have drinks holders, which is nice and not always the gimme you’d expect it to be.  I also found the dealer to be good fun. 

Slots 

Although I admittedly struggle to resist the allure of the tap tap tap of a shiny spinning roulette wheel, I am primarily a slots player.

The Virgin casino had a good range of slots, even if there was only around 550 of them, which is not many for a property in Las Vegas. What I would say about that though is they had appeared to prioritise comfort over coin-in, as they could have fit more slot machines in at the expense of personal space. The fact they made that choice endeared the place to me massively.

As you would expect from a modern and recently refurbished casino, all the games were in good condition. They were mainly video slots, although there were also a few three-reel mechanical slots as well.   

I also had no problem at all getting on a machine I wanted to play. Now, this is where opinions can get complicated, because I liked that, even if it was because of the lack of footfall, which I didn’t like. It’s all a bit of a puzzle I suppose.

Some of the games I saw in the casino were:

• Lightning Buffalo Link
• Dragon Link
• Huff n More Puff
• Dancing Drums
• Wheel of Fortune
• Buffalo Ascension
• Mo Mummy
• Lock It Link

I had my usual contest with Huff N’ More Puff. It’s not going well, but there was one nice bonus among the maddening yet oddly enjoyable frustration. Dragon Link was kinder and even Dancing Drums cooperated to a certain degree.

All in all, I had a fun slots session. That was probably down to the slots more than the casino, though.

Bar-Top Gaming

The bar-top gaming options at Virgin Las Vegas are very limited, but you can do it. The only place I saw it was in the Desert Star Lounge. I understand that it is also available at Heat, although that area was closed when I was there for some reason.

I have to say, the Lounge itself is a really nice place to be, and there are live table games in there too. Virgin, therefore, certainly seem to be going for a quality over quantity approach when it comes to bar-top gaming.

If you do play the bar-top games, then you should really be getting your drinks comped. Put your money in and wait for the bartender to sort you out. If they don’t, feel free to politely inquire, and don’t forget to tip.  

Sportsbook

Due to the $200million renovation not long ago, everything in Virgin Las Vegas is very nice and pristine. Their interior designer definitely nailed it.

That includes the sportsbook, which is semi-open to the casino floor with walls adorned with sport-filled video screens. There is nice comfortable furniture in there too and it has a light and airy feel. Basically, it’s what I’d do to my living room if I could.

The sports betting is handled by Betfred and you can place your wagers at the desk or kiosks.

Waitress Service 

Change is part and parcel of the Las Vegas culture, but one thing that has apparently remained sacrosanct is waitress service on the casino floor.

While properties in Atlantic City are allowing gamblers to order comped drinks from their slot machines (after wagering enough), in Las Vegas waitresses circulate around the casino floor taking orders.

Virgin are no different to anywhere else there, and generally the service was good. It doesn’t matter how much you are betting either. If you’re gambling, you’ll be offered comped drinks.

Just keep in mind though that the drinks might be comped but they are not free. They will still cost you the price of a tip, and that tip is essential if you want to, firstly, not be considered rude, and secondly want to keep getting offered drinks.

Generally speaking, tips between $2 and $5 should keep you very well hydrated and looked after as you gamble. I’d recommend starting with a $5 tip to get yourself on the waitress’ radar, then $2-3 per drink after that.

High Limit Gaming at Virgin Casino 

Virgin Las Vegas does have a small circular high-limit slots room that, like the rest of the casino, is quite beautifully styled.

It is on the small side, though, so don’t expect a large selection of games. Most of them in there are the low-volatility three-reel games such as Top Dollar, Blazin’ 7s, and Pinball, but there are some modern video slots as well.

Although it is a high-limit room, mid-level gamblers should also feel relatively at home. That’s because most of the games accommodate bets starting at $5.

As for high-limit tables, you will find some in the Heat lounge, and also a couple in Desert Star too.

Cash and Payment Options 

I know that cashless payments are very much the norm now, but Las Vegas didn’t get that memo. The casino floors are still all about cash.

When you go to a table, you give the dealer your cash and he or she will give you chips. When you sit at a slot machine, you feed it cash and, when you cashout, it will give you a TITO (ticket in, ticket out) voucher.

Before you leave the casino, chips can be exchanged for money at the cashier’s cage, and TITO’s at one of the ticket redemption terminals (or the cage if you prefer the human touch).

I would advise you to have your gambling money with you when you enter the casino, though. There are ATMs, but unless you particularly like being charged $10 to get your own money, they should probably be avoided.

The first thing anyone needs to know about Virgin Las Vegas is that it’s one of the smaller resorts either on the Strip or Strip-adjacent. That doesn’t mean it’s small, just smaller than is typical.

There are around 1,500 rooms or suites within the property. That probably sounds like a lot, but compared to the likes of Luxor (4,400 rooms), Bellagio (4,000 rooms), Flamingo (3,500 rooms), or even Planet Hollywood (2,500 rooms), it’s very much on the smaller end of the scale.

The hotel operations are looked after by Hilton and it’s technically part of their Curio Collection, which means it’s supposed to be high-end. It also means that they don’t have mere ‘rooms,’ they have ‘chambers’. If you were wondering what a chamber is, it’s accommodation they consider lower on the ladder than a suite. So a room, basically.

The other key difference is that chambers have a higher rate than rooms would. Yes, accommodation at Virgin Las Vegas is pricey, and that’s without the daily $45 resort fee added. They are also very high end, though, in fairness.

Virgin Las Vegas Rooms

The rooms, sorry, ‘chambers’, are a good size. The King Chamber, which is the entry level option, comes in at 460 square feet and Grand Corner Chambers offer you 604 square feet to spread out into. Suites start at 700 square feet.

In fairness, although they are pricey all the chambers and suites are finished to an exceptionally high standard. They really do deliver on the high-end Hilton promise.

That finish includes a smart wardrobe, although as far as I could tell that just means it had connectivity ports in it. Actually, to Virgin’s credit, there were connectivity ports everywhere in the room. More so than I had ever seen in a Vegas property. There was even wireless charging built into the room and you have to love that.

The bathroom was a decent size with a big shower, his and her sinks, and a huge vanity mirror. Speaking of vanity mirrors, where was also one on the make-up desk. Cleverly, though, the mirrors folded away, meaning it could be used as an office desk as well.

The clever design did not end there either. The bed was particularly interesting as it had a sofa back instead of a headboard and a chair back built into one of the corners. That made it a really comfortable place to sit and chill out. More comfortable, I’d say, than the actual sofa in the room.

There is no question at all that the rooms at Virgin are a huge step up from the old Hard Rock ones. They are sleek, modern, and noticeably upscale. Some of the best, actually, that I have seen in Vegas. 

The only thing I’d say is that, although they do sell Strip View rooms at an extra cost, be aware that due to its location, they are going to be a little limited.

Bars 

I’ve already mentioned Desert Star a fair bit and it is a really nice area, so I’d definitely recommend giving it a try.

Heat is another I have touched on briefly. It was closed when I was there, but I understand that when it’s open you can get some really good cocktails there.

There is also the Shag Room. If you’re an Austin Powers fan, or British, I would certainly implore you not to misinterpret the name of this place! That could result in a social faux pas from which even Las Vegas might struggle to excuse you.

It’s a reference to, and styled upon, the shag pipe tobacco smoking lounges, the kind of which are common in North Africa. Remember that desert oasis theming! Phew, we might have prevented a very awkward conversation or two with the management there.

Commons Club, meanwhile, is a bar and lounge aimed more at the savvy connoisseur of wines and craft beers.

Buffets and Restaurants 

Commons Club is a lot more than just a bar and lounge, though. It’s open 24/7 and also serves some good simple food such as burgers, sandwiches, and breakfast.

Higher end eateries are provided by One Steakhouse and Nobu. The later is a very well-known brand that serves Japanese cuisine. It’s not for everyone, but anyone who likes that kind of thing will love it. One Steakhouse? Well it’s not hard to find a steakhouse in Vegas, let’s be honest. This one is good, but nothing special.

Kassi Beach House is another really good option that offers Italian coastal cuisine. That basically means they add good fish to traditional Italian dishes, so far as I could tell.

Quick and easy eats are taken care of by the Juice Bar, Funny Library Coffee Shop, and Pizza Forte.

I do regret to inform you that fans of buffets will sadly find that particular interest unaccommodated at Virgin Las Vegas.

Shows and Entertainment 

One thing that Virgin Las Vegas most certainly excels at is live entertainment venues. That is a slight hand-me-down from the Hard Rock of course, who built a brand around it. However, Virgin have renovated and modernised the spaces and sound systems, so give them plenty of credit too.

There are actually three live entertainment spaces at the property: The Theatre, 24 Oxford, and the Event Lawn.

The Theatre and 24 Oxford are both exceptional venues, and have a quite regular calendar of events throughout the year. They attract music acts mostly, including some icons from the 1980s and 1990s, although they also host burlesque acts and comedy.

The Event Lawn is basically an outdoor space used for occasional outdoor events. It’s very cool when something is happening there, but they are not exactly frequent.

There is also live music in Desert Star in case I didn’t mention that before, by the way.

The Hard Rock was, of course, absolutely renowned for its pool. It was a 24/7 party there with live swim-up tables and a disco atmosphere. That’s gone now, but what have Virgin provided in its place?

Pool

Well, it’s fair to say that the pool complex is a lot more tranquil nowadays. It’s still a great space, but it’s more for sunbathing and cooling dips than parties.

They take the desert oasis theme to the fullest here, and the styling certainly hits all the right notes. There are four pools and poolside cocktails and light bites. It really is very pleasant.

That is, it is very pleasant in pool season. If you are going to Virgin between mid-March and mid-October, your choices of pools go from four to just one. The main pool is heated, so it is open all year round between 9am and 5.30pm.

Daybeds and cabanas are available too, and it is available to non-hotel guests and locals too. They have to buy a $40 day pass, but it’s available.

There is a little taste of the old Hard Rock available at the Kassi Beach Club. It’s a 21+ pool with live DJs and signature cocktails. This is where the Kassi Beach House food option is too. 

Spa

There is a spa at Virgin, and a very nice one at that. Great spas are, of course, not all that difficult to find in Las Vegas casino resorts. That said, Virgin should be commended for making sure their guests have everything they need on-site given their location.

They deserve a little less credit for the name. It’s just called ‘The Spa,’ and you can get all the usual facials, massages, body treatments and waxing there.

For those inclined, a very modern and well-equipped fitness centre is also provided and it’s open 24/7. Who are these people going to Las Vegas and desperate for a workout at 4:17am, by the way? I have no idea, but if that’s you then you’re a better person than me and Virgin have your back.

When Mohegan Gaming left, they took their rewards club with them. That can be a blow to gamblers as it covered multiple properties. 

They have replaced it with Cherry Rewards. It’s your standard rewards program really, with comps and tier points awarded for coin-in at the casino and money spent in the resort. 

There are five tiers, and Virgin have been quite clever with it in fairness. Recognising how limited Cherry Rewards may feel compared to MGM Rewards or Caesars, they have made it easier to earn rewards. 

They claim it is easier to advance through the tiers and therefore earn benefits and perks than anywhere else. And it probably is, but it will be up to the player to decide whether that is enough in return for concentrating some spend at Virgin. 

There is a lot to like about Virgin Las Vegas. A lot. The rooms, sorry, chambers, are some of the best and most modern you will find, and the casino is beautifully modelled.

There is also some subtle theming, which is rare in newer Las Vegas casino resorts, some great live entertainment venues, a well-designed pool complex, good bars, nice restaurants, and every amenity you could realistically want.

In fact, I’d go so far as to say that if it was on The Strip, I suspect it would be really popular.

And there in lies the problem, really, and it’s a problem other resorts such as Rio have suffered as well. It’s not on the Strip, and it’s a bit of a hike to get to the Strip.

For me, that creates two problems. Firstly, I’d probably not stay there because I like easy access to the Strip and, secondly, I never really visit it when I am staying on the Strip because it’s too far out of the way.

However, what is a negative to me might just be a positive to someone else. The Strip is not for everyone every day, so getting a little distance from it while keeping it accessible by taxi could well work for many.

And, if that is you, then Virgin Las Vegas is a great casino resort. It’s certainly somewhere you could spend a couple of really good nights at without really needing to leave, especially if there is a great act in one of the live entertainment venues.

As long as you are aware of the property’s limitations beforehand, I really don’t think it will disappoint many and, I dare say, it’ll impress most.