Las Vegas is a city that is undergoing constant evolution.
New hotels, resorts, and casinos are opening each year as we say goodbye to iconic hotels in favor of modern and revamped amenities and attractions.
Visiting Sin City is sure to be a new experience every time you go, and 2020-2021 is looking to have many new hotels and resorts entering the seen in Las Vegas.
- Las Vegas tours to Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Yellowstone National Parks. Find Los Angeles, San Francisco to Las Vegas and experience Vegas Strips, shows, hotels, and nightlife.
- Gaming regulators got a glimpse of what's in store for the Rio on Wednesday, and it has nothing to do with tearing the building down or turning the land into a baseball stadium.
Our Favorite Discounts this Month
Cultural Tours in Las Vegas: Check out 22 reviews and photos of Viator's Las Vegas Strip Casino Games and Gambling with a Local Guide.
New and Future Casinos in Las Vegas
There are several Vegas resorts that are either getting rebranded or in the construction phase right now.
The Drew is undergoing construction, having been rebranded from a previous hotel. Photo credit: Wikipedia.
2022? – The Drew Las Vegas
Formerly known as Fontainebleau, The Drew Las Vegas was just revealed as the new name for the blue tinted tower which will be the first JW Marriott hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. Set to open in 2020, now postponed to possibly 2022, The Drew Las Vegas towers more than 60 stories and will feature 4,000 rooms, a casino, and half a million square feet for event and convention space.
The Vegas property has undergone a long road of failed plans and bankrupted projects. The Fontainebleau was designed as a multi-billion-dollar resort however the 2008 recession quickly halted the project.
The tower was purchased in 2010 but was left almost entirely untouched before being sold in fall of 2018. Current plans include a bridge that will connect The Drew to the nearby Las Vegas Convention Center.
Resorts World is expected to open in 2021 with approximately 3,400 hotel rooms, authentic Chinese restaurants, a casino and more. Via Instagram: @rwlasvegas
Rendering of the Resorts World Las Vegas. Via Instagram: @rwlasvegas
Pool and resort view from above of Resorts World. Rendering via @rwlasvegas.
2021 – Resorts World Vegas
Resorts World is currently under construction at the 87-acre site of the former Echelon and Stardust. The integrated resort development is a multi-billion-dollar project with an Asian theme poised to be an international tourist destination.
Resorts World Vegas will be adjacent to Wynn Encore and easy walking distance from the Las Vegas Convention Center.
A recent view of Resorts World via Maverick Helicopters @MaverickHeli
Construction of the property is being done in phases and Resorts World is expected to open in 2020 with approximately 3,400 hotel rooms, authentic Chinese restaurants, a casino with more than 100,000 square feet of space, retail and boutique offerings, as well as an exotic club venue.
2020 – Circa Resort
Circa Resort opened its doors on Oct 28, 2020.
Entrance to Circa on Fremont Street.
The 44-story hotel will stands prominently on Fremont Street and includes 777 rooms.
Circa Bar
Circa takes up an entire city block and is the first all-new build Downtown Las Vegas has seen in more than four decades.
The Stevens Brothers, who also own D Las Vegas on Fremont Street have described Circa Resort as modern and claimed it would have the largest sports book in Las Vegas.
Best Off Strip Casinos Las Vegas
Proposed look of the outdoor pool amphitheater at Circa. @circalasvegas
Vegas Vickie, an iconic neon sign showgirl that has been a staple in downtown Las Vegas for 20 years, is displayed in the hotel lobby.
You can now book your room at Circa for travel now.
2019-2020 – Hard Rock becomes Virgin Hotel Las Vegas
2019 will be a year of transition for The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip. The details of the rebranding were shared in December 2018 and included a renovation that will begin sometime around Labor Day 2019 and contains a four-month complete closure of the hotel in the beginning months of 2020.
The new owners, who plan to debut the hotel in Fall of 2020, will rebrand and remodel every inch of the hotel including new hotel rooms, bars, and restaurants. Other upgrades will feature a redesigned pool and a complete overhaul of the hotel's exterior. The casino will also be expanded, and event space will be modernized and include state-of-the-art security systems.
Virgin Hotel Las Vegas is set to be a sports book themed hotel which will also work with local union groups, something very uncommon with other contractors on the Vegas strip but what some are saying is necessary for the future success of hotels and casinos.
2020 – The Stratosphere to Become The Strat Hotel, Casino and Skypod
The Stratosphere is set to undergo a $140 million renovation and rebranding to become The Strat Hotel, Casino and Skypod by 2020.
The upper three levels of the hotel will be rebranded to be named The Skypod and will still feature the rides and entertainment that The Stratosphere is known for. All public spaces are receiving major upgrades including the restaurants (some of these projects are already underway), and hotels rooms will undergo a revamp.
The iconic Top of the World Restaurant also has a brand new menu and a sports book, a viewing lounge, and a new bar, Taphouse, will open soon.
News on The Strat rebrand:
Newer Casinos and Resorts in Las Vegas
If you don't want to wait until 2020 to visit Las Vegas but still want to enjoy the newest and chicest hotels on the strip and downtown, check out these nearly new Las Vegas Hotels that have recently undergone rebranding or renovations.
2018 – Park MGM And The NoMad Las Vegas
The Monte Carlo was rebranded to Park MGM in May of 2018. The rebranding of the 3,000-room center strip hotel includes NoMad Las Vegas, a boutique hotel with 292 guest rooms.
NoMad offers a private swimming pool and casino with the exclusive NoMad Restaurant and Bar encompassing the top four floors of the 360-foot hotel tower. The $550 million project began in 2016 and was finished in late 2018.
linq promenade at night
2014 – The LINQ (from Flamingo Capri to Imperial Palace to The Quad to The LINQ)
The LINQ opened in 2014 after a renovation costing $223 million, but the upscale hotel, casino, and retail promenade have a long history on the Las Vegas Strip.
The property was first opened in 1959 under the name Flamingo Capri, a boutique hotel located next to Flamingo. In 1971 the property was sold and renovated to include 650 rooms and a new Asian theme. The Imperial Palace opened in 1979 with several more towers added in the 1980s which brought the room total to 2,637. The Imperial Palace was renamed in 2012 to The Quad and then just two years later became The LINQ.
The rebranding of the hotel to The LINQ allowed it to join forces with LINQ Promenade, a new, popular open-air retail, and entertainment area. The LINQ also features the High Roller which is the World's Tallest Observation Wheel and the Fly LINQ zipline.
2014 – Delano
Delano was rebranded from THE hotel in 2014 which took the nongaming hotel with 1,100 rooms and turned it into a luxury style boutique hotel. The $80 million rebranding of the Mandalay Bay Campus hotel from THE Hotel to Delano included a brand new white and airy theme with desert designs in the public spaces marked by the 126,000-pound boulder that forms a passageway to the hotel entrance.
2014 – SLS (now Sahara)
Formerly The Sahara, the SLS property was first built in 1952 but was closed in 2011 for a complete, $415 million renovation and rebranding to SLS. The new hotel opens in the summer of 2014 and now features 1,600 guest rooms, four nightclubs, a large casino, several restaurants, and the Fred Segal clothing store. SLS denote Style, Luxury, and Service and rock legend Lenny Kravitz even designed a few of the guestrooms.
SLS was purchased in 2018 with plans announced for an upcoming $100 million renovation and another possibly rebrand later this year (2019).
2013 – Cromwell
Cromwell was recently rebranded from Bill's Gamblin' Hall and Saloon and is now a luxury boutique hotel operated by Caesars Entertainment Corp who invested $185 million into renovations in 2013.
Cromwell now features 188 luxury rooms, a casino, and 65,000 square feet rooftop nightclub and a swimming pool. The Cromwell also is home to Giada De Laurentiis first restaurant which is known for its romantic views of the Bellagio Fountains.
2013 – Nobu Inside Caesars Palace
Las Vegas was the site of the world's first Nobu hotel (there are several others around the world now) in 2013. The Nobu Hotel Las Vegas is part of Caesars Palace and is the former Centurion Tower.
Nobu is home to only 181 of the 4,000 rooms found at Caesars Palace Resort and features an Asian influenced theme and style with low to the ground furnishings, sleek surfaces, dark woods and leathers, and carpeting that looks as though you're walking through a zen garden. Nobu restaurant also offers 24-hour service, and each guest is provided complimentary tea service following check-in.
2010 – Tropicana
Tropicana may be one of the most iconic, and oldest, hotels on Las Vegas Boulevard, but the hotel recently underwent a $165 million renovation in 2017. The property was modernized with 1,467 rooms now eco-friendly and decorated in a Southern Miami Beach style.
They also stayed true to their reputation of having some of the best pools with the addition of the Sky Beach Club LV which recreates the iconic South Florida beach club vibe.
Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas featuring rooms with balconies.
2010 – Cosmopolitan
The Cosmopolitan was built in 2010 but remains one of the most famous hotels on the Las Vegas strip named in 2015 as one of the Top Hotels in the World by Conde Nast Traveller.
The luxury hotel and casino is comprised of two towers and found just south of Bellagio. There are 3000 luxury rooms total and a state-of-the-art fitness center and spa, 150,000 square feet of convention and meeting space, and 300,000 square feet of dining and retail.
Best Off Strip Casinos In Las Vegas
The famous Marquee Nightclub and Dayclub are also found at Cosmopolitan, and a brand new nightclub was opened in 2014 called Rose. Rabbit. Lie.
There is no casino at Vdara, and the entire hotel is smoke-free. Via Instagram: @vdaralasvegas
2009 – Vdara
This large hotel encompasses 1.6 million square feet and is a condo-hotel and spa located across the strip from Aria Resort and Casino. The enormous complex was opened in 2009 and features tower houses, 1,495 luxury vegas suites, a two-story spa and a 40,000 square foot pool. There is no casino at Vdara, and the entire hotel is smoke-free. Vdara is unique in that artwork is incorporated into its design and aesthetic. Market Café Vdara opened in 2011.
Top Vegas Discounts This Month
Casinos are everywhere in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is known for its large casino and hotel complexes located on the Las Vegas Strip. There are only a few hotels that don't have a casino on ground level. It is basically impossible not to visit a casino during your Las Vegas stay if your hotel is on the Las Vegas Strip. Usually one has to walk through the casino to get to the room or to restaurants. The biggest difference between the various casinos is that the luxury hotels have nicer casinos, fresher environment and often better looking waitresses. The casinos along the Las Vegas Strip usually have the exact same casino games.
Casino rules and things to consider
- The age limit is 21 on all games and alcohol.
- All casinos are open 24/7, all year.
- Drinks are free while you play, read more here.
- Do not forget to tip the waitresses and dealers.
- All gambling takes place with the casino's own chips.
- Chips can be purchased with cash at the tables. The exchange from chips to cash takes place in the cashier.
- Casinos have no dress code, more or less anything is accepted.
- Don't use your camera inside the casino, especially on active casino games, it's against the rules.
- Smoking is allowed in the casinos, fortunately the ventilation is very good. Smoking is prohibited in the poker room.
A lot of money is lost in the casino
Las Vegas is of course a lot about gambling. Nearly 90% of the visitors in Las Vegas gamble at something and the average gambler loses over $500. This makes up for billions of dollars to the casinos every year.
Get the most out of casino games
We have made some simple guides on how to play the most popular casino games to get as much out of the experience as possible. That is, to win as much as possible if you win and lose as little as possible if you lose!
Different casino games
You will find Black jack, roulette and craps in every big casino. Generally, the nicer casino the higher the minimum bet. A common minimum bet is $10. In slots where casinos have a much greater advantage, you can however play with small bets.
- Black jack, the most common table game where the goal is to get to 21.
- Craps, the popular and fun dice game where players throw two dices.
- Roulette, an old and classic game where the goal is to 'guess' the correct number (1-36) or color.
- Baccarat, the Asian favorite. Casinos make a lot of money on Asian high rollers playing this game.
- Poker is in fact the only game you can win at in the long run. However, you need skills to succeed. If you want to practice on the internet, we recommend poker at [888.com] (download), where the worst players are. Almost every casino has its own poker room with mixed betting limits.
- Slots, which entire Las Vegas is full of, is probably the most played game.
- Other games, such as Thee Card Poker, Crazy 4 Poker and Casino War.
Circa Bar
Circa takes up an entire city block and is the first all-new build Downtown Las Vegas has seen in more than four decades.
The Stevens Brothers, who also own D Las Vegas on Fremont Street have described Circa Resort as modern and claimed it would have the largest sports book in Las Vegas.
Best Off Strip Casinos Las Vegas
Proposed look of the outdoor pool amphitheater at Circa. @circalasvegas
Vegas Vickie, an iconic neon sign showgirl that has been a staple in downtown Las Vegas for 20 years, is displayed in the hotel lobby.
You can now book your room at Circa for travel now.
2019-2020 – Hard Rock becomes Virgin Hotel Las Vegas
2019 will be a year of transition for The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip. The details of the rebranding were shared in December 2018 and included a renovation that will begin sometime around Labor Day 2019 and contains a four-month complete closure of the hotel in the beginning months of 2020.
The new owners, who plan to debut the hotel in Fall of 2020, will rebrand and remodel every inch of the hotel including new hotel rooms, bars, and restaurants. Other upgrades will feature a redesigned pool and a complete overhaul of the hotel's exterior. The casino will also be expanded, and event space will be modernized and include state-of-the-art security systems.
Virgin Hotel Las Vegas is set to be a sports book themed hotel which will also work with local union groups, something very uncommon with other contractors on the Vegas strip but what some are saying is necessary for the future success of hotels and casinos.
2020 – The Stratosphere to Become The Strat Hotel, Casino and Skypod
The Stratosphere is set to undergo a $140 million renovation and rebranding to become The Strat Hotel, Casino and Skypod by 2020.
The upper three levels of the hotel will be rebranded to be named The Skypod and will still feature the rides and entertainment that The Stratosphere is known for. All public spaces are receiving major upgrades including the restaurants (some of these projects are already underway), and hotels rooms will undergo a revamp.
The iconic Top of the World Restaurant also has a brand new menu and a sports book, a viewing lounge, and a new bar, Taphouse, will open soon.
News on The Strat rebrand:
Newer Casinos and Resorts in Las Vegas
If you don't want to wait until 2020 to visit Las Vegas but still want to enjoy the newest and chicest hotels on the strip and downtown, check out these nearly new Las Vegas Hotels that have recently undergone rebranding or renovations.
2018 – Park MGM And The NoMad Las Vegas
The Monte Carlo was rebranded to Park MGM in May of 2018. The rebranding of the 3,000-room center strip hotel includes NoMad Las Vegas, a boutique hotel with 292 guest rooms.
NoMad offers a private swimming pool and casino with the exclusive NoMad Restaurant and Bar encompassing the top four floors of the 360-foot hotel tower. The $550 million project began in 2016 and was finished in late 2018.
linq promenade at night
2014 – The LINQ (from Flamingo Capri to Imperial Palace to The Quad to The LINQ)
The LINQ opened in 2014 after a renovation costing $223 million, but the upscale hotel, casino, and retail promenade have a long history on the Las Vegas Strip.
The property was first opened in 1959 under the name Flamingo Capri, a boutique hotel located next to Flamingo. In 1971 the property was sold and renovated to include 650 rooms and a new Asian theme. The Imperial Palace opened in 1979 with several more towers added in the 1980s which brought the room total to 2,637. The Imperial Palace was renamed in 2012 to The Quad and then just two years later became The LINQ.
The rebranding of the hotel to The LINQ allowed it to join forces with LINQ Promenade, a new, popular open-air retail, and entertainment area. The LINQ also features the High Roller which is the World's Tallest Observation Wheel and the Fly LINQ zipline.
2014 – Delano
Delano was rebranded from THE hotel in 2014 which took the nongaming hotel with 1,100 rooms and turned it into a luxury style boutique hotel. The $80 million rebranding of the Mandalay Bay Campus hotel from THE Hotel to Delano included a brand new white and airy theme with desert designs in the public spaces marked by the 126,000-pound boulder that forms a passageway to the hotel entrance.
2014 – SLS (now Sahara)
Formerly The Sahara, the SLS property was first built in 1952 but was closed in 2011 for a complete, $415 million renovation and rebranding to SLS. The new hotel opens in the summer of 2014 and now features 1,600 guest rooms, four nightclubs, a large casino, several restaurants, and the Fred Segal clothing store. SLS denote Style, Luxury, and Service and rock legend Lenny Kravitz even designed a few of the guestrooms.
SLS was purchased in 2018 with plans announced for an upcoming $100 million renovation and another possibly rebrand later this year (2019).
2013 – Cromwell
Cromwell was recently rebranded from Bill's Gamblin' Hall and Saloon and is now a luxury boutique hotel operated by Caesars Entertainment Corp who invested $185 million into renovations in 2013.
Cromwell now features 188 luxury rooms, a casino, and 65,000 square feet rooftop nightclub and a swimming pool. The Cromwell also is home to Giada De Laurentiis first restaurant which is known for its romantic views of the Bellagio Fountains.
2013 – Nobu Inside Caesars Palace
Las Vegas was the site of the world's first Nobu hotel (there are several others around the world now) in 2013. The Nobu Hotel Las Vegas is part of Caesars Palace and is the former Centurion Tower.
Nobu is home to only 181 of the 4,000 rooms found at Caesars Palace Resort and features an Asian influenced theme and style with low to the ground furnishings, sleek surfaces, dark woods and leathers, and carpeting that looks as though you're walking through a zen garden. Nobu restaurant also offers 24-hour service, and each guest is provided complimentary tea service following check-in.
2010 – Tropicana
Tropicana may be one of the most iconic, and oldest, hotels on Las Vegas Boulevard, but the hotel recently underwent a $165 million renovation in 2017. The property was modernized with 1,467 rooms now eco-friendly and decorated in a Southern Miami Beach style.
They also stayed true to their reputation of having some of the best pools with the addition of the Sky Beach Club LV which recreates the iconic South Florida beach club vibe.
Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas featuring rooms with balconies.
2010 – Cosmopolitan
The Cosmopolitan was built in 2010 but remains one of the most famous hotels on the Las Vegas strip named in 2015 as one of the Top Hotels in the World by Conde Nast Traveller.
The luxury hotel and casino is comprised of two towers and found just south of Bellagio. There are 3000 luxury rooms total and a state-of-the-art fitness center and spa, 150,000 square feet of convention and meeting space, and 300,000 square feet of dining and retail.
Best Off Strip Casinos In Las Vegas
The famous Marquee Nightclub and Dayclub are also found at Cosmopolitan, and a brand new nightclub was opened in 2014 called Rose. Rabbit. Lie.
There is no casino at Vdara, and the entire hotel is smoke-free. Via Instagram: @vdaralasvegas
2009 – Vdara
This large hotel encompasses 1.6 million square feet and is a condo-hotel and spa located across the strip from Aria Resort and Casino. The enormous complex was opened in 2009 and features tower houses, 1,495 luxury vegas suites, a two-story spa and a 40,000 square foot pool. There is no casino at Vdara, and the entire hotel is smoke-free. Vdara is unique in that artwork is incorporated into its design and aesthetic. Market Café Vdara opened in 2011.
Top Vegas Discounts This Month
Casinos are everywhere in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is known for its large casino and hotel complexes located on the Las Vegas Strip. There are only a few hotels that don't have a casino on ground level. It is basically impossible not to visit a casino during your Las Vegas stay if your hotel is on the Las Vegas Strip. Usually one has to walk through the casino to get to the room or to restaurants. The biggest difference between the various casinos is that the luxury hotels have nicer casinos, fresher environment and often better looking waitresses. The casinos along the Las Vegas Strip usually have the exact same casino games.
Casino rules and things to consider
- The age limit is 21 on all games and alcohol.
- All casinos are open 24/7, all year.
- Drinks are free while you play, read more here.
- Do not forget to tip the waitresses and dealers.
- All gambling takes place with the casino's own chips.
- Chips can be purchased with cash at the tables. The exchange from chips to cash takes place in the cashier.
- Casinos have no dress code, more or less anything is accepted.
- Don't use your camera inside the casino, especially on active casino games, it's against the rules.
- Smoking is allowed in the casinos, fortunately the ventilation is very good. Smoking is prohibited in the poker room.
A lot of money is lost in the casino
Las Vegas is of course a lot about gambling. Nearly 90% of the visitors in Las Vegas gamble at something and the average gambler loses over $500. This makes up for billions of dollars to the casinos every year.
Get the most out of casino games
We have made some simple guides on how to play the most popular casino games to get as much out of the experience as possible. That is, to win as much as possible if you win and lose as little as possible if you lose!
Different casino games
You will find Black jack, roulette and craps in every big casino. Generally, the nicer casino the higher the minimum bet. A common minimum bet is $10. In slots where casinos have a much greater advantage, you can however play with small bets.
- Black jack, the most common table game where the goal is to get to 21.
- Craps, the popular and fun dice game where players throw two dices.
- Roulette, an old and classic game where the goal is to 'guess' the correct number (1-36) or color.
- Baccarat, the Asian favorite. Casinos make a lot of money on Asian high rollers playing this game.
- Poker is in fact the only game you can win at in the long run. However, you need skills to succeed. If you want to practice on the internet, we recommend poker at [888.com] (download), where the worst players are. Almost every casino has its own poker room with mixed betting limits.
- Slots, which entire Las Vegas is full of, is probably the most played game.
- Other games, such as Thee Card Poker, Crazy 4 Poker and Casino War.
Cashier
In the cashier casino chips are changed for cash and vice versa. It is generally considered safe to walk around with a lot of cash inside the casinos but a good tip is to deposit your cash in the casino cashier between gaming sessions, especially if it is larger sums. The first deposit usually takes a few moments because of some papers needed to be signed. How to hedge bets. For more tips about money, read our article about cash.
Membership cards at the casino and loyalty programs
It is a good idea to get the casino membership card if you intend to gamble at a casino in Las Vegas. Most casinos have different loyalty programs where you get a bonus for the time you play. The bonus money can for example be spent in a restaurant inside the casino area. The more and higher you play, the bigger the bonus. Don't expect too much, bonuses are usually small, but still worthwhile.
High Limit area
Every casino has a 'High Limit' area where high rollers can gamble. The service here is better because the casino is investing heavily for their high rollers to enjoy the experience as much as possible.
