Boyd Gaming Builds One Casino in Vegas, Tears Down Another

^{The bare bones of the Cadence Crossing site in Henderson, where Boyd Gaming is building a new locals' casino set to debut in March 2026. (Photo: Explore Vegas / Facebook)}

LAS VEGAS – Boyd Gaming is entering 2026 with multiple projects on the horizon, from a new local casino in Henderson to a $750 million resort development across the country in Virginia.

During the company’s most recent earnings call on Thursday, President and CEO Keith Smith described 2026 as a financial success and said the company remains optimistic about its continued growth.

Cadence Crossing Coming Soon 

One major highlight of the call was the progress of Cadence Crossing, a new locals' casino that will replace Joker's Wild Casino on Boulder Highway. 

Cadence Crossing will visually resemble a modern business park more than a casino, but local properties typically prioritize their gaming offerings inside over their exterior visual appeal. (Rendering: courtesy of Boyd Gaming)

Construction is progressing rapidly since they initially broke ground on the property on April 3, 2025. Details of the opening were previewed back in 2024, and now Boyd Gaming is targeting an opening of the casino by the end of March or at some point during the first quarter of 2026. 

The initial phase of the casino will feature a 50,000-square-foot casino floor with approximately 450 slot and video poker machines. If all goes well, they plan to add a four-story hotel with 114 rooms and additional gaming space in the future. 

The CEO highlighted the growth in Henderson, specifically of the adjacent Cadence community, as a key factor in their decision to add Cadence Crossing Casino.

"The adjacent community of Cadence is growing rapidly, with more than 1,200 new homes sold in 2025 alone. This is the third-best sales performance of any master-planned community in the country," Smith said. "With strong residential growth continuing throughout the neighborhood, we believe Cadence Crossing casino will be well-positioned to deliver a strong return for our investment."

While they have not revealed any plans for their dining concept, the company simply said the property will include “several scrumptious food and beverage offerings.” Typically, food and beverage offerings at local casinos are nothing to rave about, but restaurants can still serve as a way to bring in traffic, especially in residential areas. 

Cadence Crossing will add to Boyd's already sizable local casino portfolio that’s made up of locals' casinos like Aliante, Suncoast, Gold Coast, and Sam's Town, along with The California, Fremont, and Main Street Station in downtown Las Vegas. 

Unlike the gaudy casino-resorts on the Strip, locals' casinos are designed differently for repeat customers rather than tourists. They typically focus on strong slot offerings, promotions, and giveaways over flashy architecture or celebrity chef restaurants like those on the Strip. Boulder Highway remains a key locals corridor, home to properties such as Boulder Station, Sam’s Town, Longhorn, and Skyline.

Curtain Closes on Eastside Cannery

While Boyd builds in Henderson, the company is actively tearing down a project further up the Boulder Strip. The Eastside Cannery property has remained a shell of its old self since it closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Clark County issued a $7.5 million commercial demolition permit for the site back in October, and demolition activity is now clearly visible today. There's rubble all over the property, and the hotel tower still stands – but it’s stripped entirely of windows. You can actually see fully through the hotel tower. 

In its heyday, the Eastside Cannery included a 64,000-square-foot casino, a 300-room hotel tower with bars, restaurants, and a 250-seat entertainment lounge. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that the land could ultimately be sold for residential development, but did not provide further updates.

Reinvesting in Orleans and Suncoast

At the same time, Boyd is reinvesting in its remaining Las Vegas portfolio. Hotel renovations at the Orleans are still underway and expected to be completed at the end of this year in the fourth quarter.  

Meanwhile, the renovation work at Suncoast is progressing well and is projected to wrap up towards the end of the third quarter. Upgrades to Du-par’s Restaurant, the front desk, and the property’s ballrooms have been completed, and the sportsbook is especially nice. Crews are currently upgrading the meeting and event space, reworking the east entrance, and adding a new Starbucks.

The center bar at Suncoast is scheduled to be renovated starting in May 2026 and completed by the end of the year. (Rendering: courtesy of Boyd Gaming)

Additional improvements are still on the horizon for this year and next year, including updates to the center bar, hotel tower, casino pit, and the property’s exterior.

Real talk: the construction at Suncoast is seriously noticeable to guests. You have to muddle through the construction on the escalators and stairs just to get upstairs and play some bowling. Even so, Boyd executives noted during the earnings call that both properties have continued to perform well throughout despite the construction.

Boyd Gaming Projects Outside of Nevada

Beyond Las Vegas, Boyd operates 28 casinos across 10 states, including 10 properties in the Las Vegas Valley. The company is still advancing some of its projects in Virginia and Illinois. 

In Norfolk, Virginia, the company is working with the Pamunkey Indian tribe on a $750 million casino development. A temporary casino opened in November as construction on the project continues. Once opened in 2027, the property will have a 200-room hotel, 1,500 slot machines, 50 table games, and a sportsbook.

In Illinois, Boyd is currently working on redeveloping the Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino in East Peoria. The company unveiled a new riverboat proposal last week, but did not disclose an updated investment figure. A previous proposal to modernize the riverboat carried a $160 million price tag.