This Week in Gambling: Updates on The Mirage, Hard Rock and Dream Las Vegas

It’s said all good things come to those who wait, which is a good mantra for those looking forward to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas in the center of the Strip.

The plan to rip out the iconic volcano attraction at The Mirage and turn it into a guitar-shaped hotel as part of the transition into the Hard Rock is in limbo at the moment. Word on the street is that the Mirage isn’t going anywhere, at least for another four, possibly five years as it seems the transition from the Mirage into the Hard Rock was just a bit more complicated than everyone involved anticipated. As a result, it appears those who wish to see the volcano show one last time will get their wish and then some until at least 2027, and maybe beyond.

In other construction news or should we say lack of construction, is the Dream Hotel and Casino, which is located on the south end of the Strip near the Welcome to Las Vegas sign and the Las Vegas Airport, formerly the McCarran Airport. This project is halted at the moment due to lack of funds, which is a nice way to say the owners are $25 million short to finish the resort. Talks for adding additional funding are underway as ownership tries to secure the money to complete the $550 million project.

In the end, the goal of the owners is to turn this five-acre lot into a 530 room, 20-story resort that includes a spa, several restaurants and nightclubs, a convention center and a casino. There will even be a rooftop pool. Dream Las Vegas was originally unveiled in 2020, but then Covid hit the U.S., which pushed the actual groundbreaking until July 2022. Despite the pandemic and now funding issues, there is still a lot of confidence that Dream Las Vegas will be completed and welcoming guests by the end of 2024.