Las Vegas Locals Casinos Getting Their Biggest Upgrades Yet

_{The next new Las Vegas casino could be in the Inspirada section of Henderson. (Photo courtesy of Station Casinos via KTNV)} 

Off-Strip Las Vegas casinos are entering a new era with a plethora of upgrades and range anywhere from shabby to chic, appealing to both locals and tourists looking for alternatives. 

This isn’t exactly news. Renovation and expansion projects across the Vegas Valley began coming online last year.

The upgrades range anywhere from a new non-smoking section in a casino to property-wide renovations and multiple expansions. There's also a tease for a brand new casino that could open in a few years.

According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), 69% of visitors stayed at a hotel on the Vegas Strip in 2025. Only 31% stayed downtown or in the surrounding areas of Las Vegas, including Henderson and Summerlin.

Anyone looking for a change of pace or a lower priced room might want to consider staying off-Strip since there have been so many upgrades with many more in the pipeline.

Next Phase of Durango Casino Expansion Planned

The North expansion at Durango Casino is moving along and remains on schedule to open during the second quarter of 2027. The new part of the property will include movie theaters, bowling lanes, new restaurants and entertainment venues, including a country bar and live music venue Moonshine Flats.

During its recent earnings call, the company said it's already planning for the next expansion once this phase is completed. Nothing is set in stone, but it also reported it's considering adding hotel rooms and a spa. Additional rooms might bring rates down from the $300-plus range.

Many luxury travelers will only consider staying at a hotel with a spa. Room prices are already high because demand exceeds supply. The addition of a spa could keep prices high even if there are more rooms available.

Suncoast Overhaul Almost Complete

Boyd Gaming started a major multi-year renovation of Suncoast in 2024. The sportsbook was the first new space to open, and it’s a major upgrade.

This year, the casino floor upgrade was completed along with a new bingo hall, quick-serve food area, and more. The centerpiece of the casino will be a new center bar that will open soon. 

The last piece of the puzzle will be room upgrades that the company says will be finished before the end of the year.

Facelift Coming to The Orleans Next Year

Once Boyd finishes the overhaul of Suncoast, it will move to its casino closest to the Vegas Strip. During its most recent earnings call, the company said the Orleans casino floor would get a similar makeover as the Suncoast. 

The company didn't share specifics, as it's still working on plans, but did say it's targeting a start date during the first half of 2027.

Updates are already underway on the property. Room renovations are on the same pace as Suncoast and should be finished before the end of the year. 

GVR Continues Main Character Transformation

Green Valley Ranch has been one of Station Casinos' top-tier properties since opening in 2001. Much like some of its other properties, GVR is in the middle of a major multi-year overhaul.

Last year, the company completed a refresh of its West Tower hotel rooms. The East Tower should be completed by the end of the year.

The casino floor and high-limit rooms have been updated, and the poker room reopened. There are also new dining options, and the movie theater has been renovated.

Even the conference and meeting space has been upgraded to take advantage of the surge in business travel to Las Vegas. While much of the heavy lifting is done, the property will continue to evolve into next year.

Sunset Station Enters Chat for Off-Strip Interest

Sunset Station in Henderson is popular with Las Vegas locals but goes under the radar with many tourists, even those who like staying at off-Strip casinos. This is another Station Casinos property that has been undergoing renovations for a couple of years.

Similar to Suncoast in Summerlin, this makeover started with a beautiful new sportsbook in 2024. The Gaudi Bar, main casino floor and high-limit slot room have also been modernized.

There's a new bingo hall, and the old buffet space will become a steakhouse next year. The casino also just opened the newest outpost of Stoney's Rockin' Country, a bar and music venue.

Palms Opens Enclosed Non-Smoking Area

Over the years, casinos have designated certain areas in a casino as a non-smoking space. Since there were no walls, they've been pretty useless, with guests smoking throughout the property.

Palms received feedback from its customers who were looking for a smoke-free environment. The casino transformed a 7,300 square foot restaurant near the sportsbook into a dedicated non-smoking room.

This is truly a semi-private area with its own bar and room for 224 slot machines. 

Renovated Sportsbooks at Aliante & Sam’s Town

Aliante's sportsbook in North Las Vegas is currently being renovated with a plan to open in time for football season. This is the first update for the space since it opened in 2008.

Sam's Town already debuted a new sportsbook. It's a modest upgrade for a very locals-coded casino on the east side of Las Vegas. This casino is one of the few RV-friendly casinos in Las Vegas.

New Rooms & Eats at Gold Coast 

It feels as though Boyd has been slowly updating Suncoast for a decade. This year, the company wrapped up this renovation cycle and finished updating the hotel room while adding a new bar and restaurant, Charter 75, and two quick-serve eateries.

El Cortez Goes Back to the Future

Last year, El Cortez in downtown Las Vegas renovated and expanded its casino floor. The new space tried to replicate the original casino atmosphere with a modern twist on vintage Vegas.

The hotel towers are a mix of vintage and updated hotel rooms for guests to choose from.

The casino will finish this upgrade era with a new steakhouse, Alex Prime. It will go into the space once occupied by the legendary Flame Steakhouse. More recently, this was Siegel's 1941 Cafe.

Plaza’s High Limit Upgrade Almost Here

Earlier this year, we reported that Plaza was building a new high-limit slot and electronic table game room. It’s opening on Aug. 29. 

The iconic casino that dots the exclamation point just outside the Fremont Street Experience seems to always be upgrading and evolving for current customer preferences.

The Plaza joins 15 other casinos that have either built new high-limit rooms or renovated existing spaces.

Brand New Off-Strip Station Casino Coming Soon

Red Rock Resorts, the parent company of Station Casinos, holds its cards very close to its vest when it comes to new developments. The company waits until plans are complete before sharing specific details.

That's the case with a new casino. Red Rock Resorts owns six huge plots of land covering 454 acres all over Las Vegas.

• Wild Wild West (closest to the Strip) 
• Cactus (south)
• Losee (north)
• Inspirada (Henderson)
• Town Center (Summerlin)
• Skye Canyon (north)

It's been teasing a new casino since Durango opened its doors in 2023. During its most recent earnings call, Lorenzo Fertitta, vice chairman and president of Station Casinos, said, "We have got two that we are actively working on right now."

He said they're going to pick one of the two. One of those plots of land was approved for construction in 2024 and already received approval to expand. It would be surprising if the company builds elsewhere.

The plot of land in the Inspirada section of Henderson was first approved by the Henderson Planning Commission in 2024. The initial plans sound similar to the affordable luxury of Durango Casino:

• Casino Floor: 58,000 square feet of gaming space, including a sportsbook.
• Hotel: 200 hotel rooms, with a plans to expand to as many as 600 rooms.
• Dining: Full-service restaurants and a food hall.
• Entertainment: A 12-lane bowling alley and a 6-screen movie theater.

According to KTNV, Station Casinos was supposed to break ground in 2025 and open the property in 2029. That's a long timeline considering how fast construction was on Durango Casino, which broke ground in 2021 and opened less than two years later in 2023.

If the company breaks ground next year, it could theoretically make that 2029 opening date. 

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