Casino Openings & Expansions: Las Vegas welcomes world's largest Hooters at Palms Casino Resort

25 September 2015

By Gary Trask

With more than 400 locations in 42 states and 26 countries, Hooters venues range in size, style and substance. Last week, the iconic restaurant chain, known for its saucy chicken wings and inviting waitresses dressed in bright orange short-shorts and white tank tops, celebrated the grand opening of its largest location in the world at The Palms Casino Resort in – where else? – Sin City.

The expansive two-story, 15,200-square-foot space sits steps away from the resort's pool-deck area and seats more than 400 guests. Nearly 50 televisions adorn the walls, and the bar features 12 video poker machines.

At the private grand opening event on Sept. 15, guests took in the first NFL Monday Night Football games of the season and mingled with pro BMX riders Ricardo Laguna and TJ Lavin.

"Vegas is the perfect setting for the largest Hooters location in the world," said Mark Whittle, Hooters of America senior vice president of global development. "The energy at Palms Casino Resort matches perfectly with the beach oasis atmosphere for which Hooters is well-known around the globe."

Added Palms President and CEO Todd Greenberg, "As the entertainment capital, Las Vegas is no stranger to iconic restaurants, and we're thrilled that Hooters is joining these ranks at Palms."

Hooters at Palms features the latest contemporary comfort design elements, from a tremendous bar experience with comfortable booths and high-back chairs to sleek finishes and top-of-the-line AV packages with nearly 50 TVs. Both the centrally located restaurant and poolside bar areas offer a wide selection of cocktails, craft beers and wine options.

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Down the road from Hooters at Palms on the Las Vegas Strip, LAVO Casino Club opened at The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino earlier this month.

Located on the second level of LAVO Italian Restaurant, the new club, created by Tao Group, boasts a "modern experience," with a mix of blackjack, Vegas-style VIP bottle service, mixology, DJ, dancing and signature Italian cuisine.

"The LAVO Casino Club is an evolution of both the nightlife and gambling experience in Las Vegas," said TAO Group Partner Jason Strauss. "Now you have a place where you can gamble with your friends before a big night out at one of our nightclubs, couples can enjoy cocktails and some gaming after dinner downstairs at LAVO, or the casino guest who likes a more exclusive experience can receive TAO Group's hallmark VIP treatment while playing."

The club debuted exclusively with blackjack tables, but expects to add craps, roulette and baccarat. It is open on weekends, with Ladies Open Bar for guests of the hotel on Fridays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday football viewing parties with 18 big-screen TVs beginning at 9 a.m. Starting Oct. 17, the LAVO Casino Club will host college football viewing parties with a LAVO Champagne Brunch from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Members of Anne Arundel County Council voted last week to approve plans for a $150 million expansion to Maryland Live! Casino. The project will include an upscale hotel with approximately 300 suites, additional dining options, luxury amenities and a conference center for up to 4,000 people.

Under the agreement, the conference center would be available free of charge for use by the county, public schools, the community college and nonprofits. The expansion will create an additional 1,000 new permanent and construction jobs.

Since opening in 2012, Maryland Live! Casino has generated more than $67 million in local impact grants to support Anne Arundel County services and local area improvements.

Maryland Live! Casino – located near Baltimore Washington International Airport – offers nearly 4,000 slots and 200 table games.

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In Vinton, Louisiana, the first shovel went into the ground last week on a $45 million expansion at Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel.

Set for completion in late 2016, the centerpiece of the project is a new hotel tower, featuring 167 additional guest rooms and suites. Boyd Gaming also plans to redesign all 200 existing rooms at the property. There will also be a redesign to food and beverage facilities, as well as an expansion of the special events center to better accommodate meeting and banquet functions.

The first phase of the project will be the new pool, directly to the right of the hotel.

"Delta Downs is extremely popular with our guests, and demand exceeds what we can accommodate with our current facility," said Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming. "With 370 rooms and suites, Delta Downs will be better positioned to meet this growing demand, giving us the opportunity to extend our unique brand of hospitality to more visitors than ever before."

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The Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria in northern California broke ground earlier this month on a $175 million expansion of the Graton Resort & Casino, the Bay Area's largest gaming and entertainment destination. Managed by Station Casinos, the 342,000-square-foot addition will connect to the existing $800 million casino and entertainment facility that opened in 2013 with a full array of gaming, dining and entertainment.

Located in Rohnert Park, about an hour-drive from San Francisco, the new section of the resort is expected to open in the fall of 2016.

The expansion will include an opulent lobby and bar, a luxury spa and 20,000 square feet of flexible event and convention space that will feature seven separate rooms as well as pre-function areas and smaller breakout meeting rooms. The centerpiece of the resort will be a pool area that will serve as an extension of the hotel lobby and provide an outdoor area for convention and meeting space.

The new amenities will join the existing offering of more than 130 table games, 3,000 slot and video poker games, live poker, an 8,700-square-foot event center, and a dozen restaurants and bars, including Tony's of North Beach operated by 11-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani.