Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce Returning to Mandalay Bay

^{The founder of Forty Deuce, Ivan Kane, walks across the floor at the original Forty Deuce. The club returns to the Strip in its original spot at the Mandalay Bay. (Photo: Ivan Kane)}

LAS VEGAS -- Mandalay Bay is looking to kick off New Year's Eve in Vegas with a bang, thanks to the reopening of Forty Deuce, a nightclub that was a sensual spot for late-night burlesque entertainment in the 2000s.

Now, after a 16-year hiatus, the venue is opening in its original location inside the casino, bringing back its intimate burlesque vibe with a few twists to match the immersive experience of a modern megaclub in Vegas.

Burlesque Meets Main Room Experience

The revival of Forty Deuce aims to bring old-school burlesque glamour into a full-scale nightclub experience. The venue will feature six dancers, two live bands, multiple performance stages, and dynamic visuals all throughout the venue. It’s not a nightclub in Vegas without a DJ, so expect one to keep the momentum between the live performances all throughout the night.

Located at the base of the escalators for Mandalay Place, the club will occupy the same space it used to when it opened back in 2004. The scale and exact design of the club is yet to be revealed, but the original venue spanned two levels with a bar, bistro, and space for live entertainment.

The swanky interior of Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce burlesque nightclub at the Mandalay Bay, set to open on December 31. (Photo: Ivan Kane)

Admission is on the higher end for their kickoff event, which is to be expected given the holiday. Tickets start at $225, which includes an open bar package. VIP bottle service reservations are available through the Forty Deuce website, starting at $500. For New Year’s Eve on the Strip, this is a decent deal for bottle service by Vegas standards. But expect prices to rise as the occasion nears and demand goes up for the first day open.

Forty Deuce first landed in Las Vegas in 2004, following its first location in Hollywood across from Paramount Studios with a venue at Mandalay Bay. 

The club brought with it a Los Angeles attitude and an early 2000s vibe to Las Vegas and even inspired a Bravo reality series documenting its opening. The venue closed in 2009 after five years of feathers and cabaret-inspired fun. 

Ivan Kane, founder of Forty Deuce, comes from a film and entertainment background in New York and Los Angeles. He appeared in the Oscar-winning movie Platoon and went on to support other nightlife venues across the country. He still currently runs a Forty Deuce club in Columbus, Ohio.

“I’m thrilled to be back at Mandalay Bay; it’s like coming home,” Kane said. “With Forty Deuce 2.0, I can’t wait to roll out the red carpet and completely wow the guests who still cherish their memories of the OG, and to introduce new patrons to Forty Deuce’s brand-new tricked out venue.”

In a recent interview with The Blast, Kane said he’s thrilled to be “returning to his own space” and rebuilding the energy that made Forty Deuce such a phenomenon.

Everyone Wants to Be a Star on NYE

Every New Year’s Eve, nightlife venues in Las Vegas battle to win over partygoers. Tourists pack the Strip with high expectations, while locals tend to escape the crowds in favor of plain old fireworks from their balconies. There’s something for every music taste and budget all over the city if you look hard enough.

For Mandalay Bay, the return of Forty Deuce adds another option to its nightlife lineup. Foundation Room has been the flagship nightlife venue for the casino, perched high up on the 63rd floor with a rooftop bar and gorgeous view of the Strip. But as of mid-November, the lounge is under construction making Forty Deuce the prime spot for New Year’s Eve. 

The hotel also offers the Skyfall Lounge and 1923 Prohibition Bar for other lowkey options for those who don’t want the full experience. But Forty Deuce might stick out for its combination of burlesque with a typical nightclub experience ideal for guests looking for old-school Vegas flair with a modern twist.

This reopening also comes amid broader changes in the Las Vegas nightlife scene. Drai’s recently closed its beach club and nightclub, moving its operations into a basement space at The Cromwell as the property transitions into The Vanderpump Hotel. XS Nightclub at Wynn has announced a temporary closure for renovations next summer, and Encore Beach Club is expected to follow suit once it wraps its 2026 season.

Reservations are open for the celebration now, and all signs point to a bold opening party for Ivan Kane’s classic club. If the opening goes as planned, Forty Deuce may once again be another strong contender in the Strip’s burlesque scene, with big shoes to fill from its successful five year run in the 2000s.