Top 10 casino openings and expansions for September 2026

This summer brought a wave of casino openings, expansions and redevelopment projects across the gaming industry. From new properties entering the market to casinos unveiling expanded amenities, here are 10 developments occurred since our last edition.

10. El Cortez announces reimagined Siegel’s 1941
El Cortez Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is bringing one of Downtown's most beloved dining names into a new era.

Named for Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, an early owner of the property, and the year El Cortez was established, Siegel's 1941 will reopen this fall as a reimagined daytime dining destination serving breakfast and lunch seven days a week.

9. Temporary casino at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa will transform its Hard Rock Event Center into a temporary smoke-free gaming area as the Florida resort moves forward with plans to introduce a new smoke-free experience.

The temporary casino is scheduled to open to the public in late September. Hard Rock Event Center Casino will feature 682 new slot machines, including Lightning 10 Year Storm, Dragon Link, Phoenix Link, Railroad Riches, Monopoly and Thunder Empire.

The temporary casino will also offer 34 table games following their relocation from the existing casino floor. The selection will include Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud and Roulette.

8. New High-Limit Slots lounge at Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Fontainebleau Las Vegas debuted its new High-Limit Slots lounge on the casino floor on 2 September. The expansion includes three of the $5 Million jackpot Dragon Link games and seven new-to-floor $1 million jackpot games including Phoenix Link, Lightning 10 Year Storm and MONOPOLY Big Board Bucks.

To celebrate the grand opening, guests were invited to take part in the resort’s High Limit Slots Grand Reveal Giveaway. With the new lounge, the total number of high-limit machines increases to 135, bringing the resort's total number of machines to 1,325.

Welcome to the $150,000 High Limit Slot Grand Reveal ? pic.twitter.com/HZi7r5NPeH
— Fontainebleau Las Vegas (@fblasvegas) September 13, 2026

7. Primm Valley Casino reopens
Terrible's announced that Primm Valley Resort and Casino officially reopened to the public on 22 July, marking a milestone just 17 days after the company assumed management control of the property on 5 July.

Upon reopening, the Nevada property has 422 gaming machines, 250 rooms, a William Hill Sportsbook, a sports bar and a 24/7 quick-bites eatery. The company also has plans to open new dining options in the future, to include a coffee bar, a 24/7 café, and a steakhouse.

6. Kentucky Derby upgrades
Last month, Churchill Downs announced an update on three of its current and upcoming capital projects at Churchill Downs Racetrack expected to be completed in 2027 and 2028.

Victory Run, the four-story structure located on the first turn of Churchill Downs between the Ford First Turn Club and the Skye Terrace, will provide a modern premium hospitality experience with exceptional views of the finish line, including private suites, indoor and outdoor dining, and covered box seating.

The Louisville track will be expanding the Homestretch Club to enhance the guest experience by creating more space for patrons, adding VIP seating areas, and enhancing food and beverage infrastructure. This expansion is expected to be completed by the 153rd Kentucky Derby in 2027.

Lastly, the Infield Seating upgrade will create additional temporary seating offerings in the infield and will expand opportunities for sponsorship activations.

5. Palms Casino Resort debuts non-smoking gaming expansion
Now open at Palms Casino Resort, a new 7,300-square-foot, fully enclosed non-smoking gaming space is giving guests even more ways to play with more than 200 of the newest slot games, its own full-service bar and a new permanent Al Vapor Street Tacos food truck.

The Las Vegas casino officially celebrated the expansion on 1 September, beginning with the inaugural Spin It Forward IGT Charity Slot Challenge, which ultimately resulted in $35,000 in contributions to 10 Southern Nevada organizations.

4. Tulalip Resort Casino completes expansion and renovation
Last week, Tulalip Resort Casino in Washington officially completed its extensive expansion and renovation project.

The finished project includes a 70,250-square-foot casino expansion, property-wide renovations, new gaming amenities, upgraded dining venues, and design enhancements.

The expansion increased the property's footprint to approximately 270,250 square feet and added more than 400 slot machines, bringing the casino-wide total to more than 2,600 gaming devices.

One of the project's signature features is a new 38-foot-tall Center Bar that serves as a focal point on the gaming floor.

3. Groundbreaking for Hollywood Council Bluffs
PENN Entertainment hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the future Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs on 14 September. The new land-based casino is expected to open in 2028 and will replace the company’s adjacent Ameristar Council Bluffs riverboat casino when completed.

The new $180–$200 million regional destination will become the 20th Hollywood-branded gaming facility in PENN’s portfolio and feature approximately 1,000 slots and 25 live table games. Hollywood Council Bluffs will also include two new dining experiences: the first Shake Shack in the Omaha metropolitan area and Red Lotus, a fast casual restaurant.

The new casino will connect to the existing pavilion and hotel with direct access to over 160 hotel rooms, 1853 Bistro and Steakhouse, The Sportsbook Restaurant and Bar, Club 38 VIP Lounge, and Buffet.

We're proud to announce the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs on Monday, September 14.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating yet another transition from riverboat gaming to a new best-in-class entertainment destination,” said Jay Snowden, CEO. pic.twitter.com/5H3GBGwHkr
— PENNEntertainment (@PENNEntertain) September 10, 2026

2. Turning Stone completes phase one of expansion
In July, the Oneida Indian Nation celebrated the completion of the first phase of the historic $400 million Turning Stone Resort Casino evolution.

The project includes a new luxury hotel, The Crescent, signature fine-dining restaurant, Salt, and Rome Health Convenient Care at Turning Stone, a health center for team members, their families, guests and the greater community.

The Crescent, the New York resort’s fourth hotel on property features 258 refined guest rooms decorated with modern textures, furniture and luxury amenities. Officially opened on 22 July, Salt features two expansive terraces for three-season outdoor dining.

1. Caesars debuts new Lake Tahoe casino resort
On 6 July, Caesars Entertainment officially unveiled Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino.

Across the resort, guests will discover a lineup of experiences, from newly renovated rooms to the High Dive Pool and Lounge and a collection of dining and nightlife concepts, including WOLF by Vanderpump, Gordon Ramsay’s HELL’S KITCHEN and Tessie’s Cocktails & Chords.

The refreshed casino floor features new slot machines, table games, a high-limit and poker experience and renovated Caesars Sportsbook.

For something more low-key, guests can check out the resort’s day-to-night coffee and cocktail bar, Cleo’s, as well as a variety of other newly designed bars, including Centro and Celeste.

Caesars Republic's transformation is COMPLETE! ?? Tonight's grand opening kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the celebration continued at Tessie's. What a night! ????? pic.twitter.com/HWE70OFDQy
— Caesars Republic (@CaesarsRepublic) July 7, 2026