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Palms Casino Hopes to Open One Month Early

George Maloof's $268 million Palms casino is expected to open in November, one month prior to its previously announced opening date.

A fireworks show is slated to kick off the scheduled Nov. 15 evening opening, with a weekend of activities to follow, Maloof said Thursday.

"It will be a high-profile opening and a big party," Maloof said. "I'm having the time of my life, but the anticipation before the opening is unreal."

Big-name live entertainment is also likely for the opening weekend, but Maloof said those plans were not yet finalized.

Maloof, who turned 37 on Sunday, said the property is opening 30 days ahead of schedule because of the focus and commitment of his employees. He credited the work of Jim Hughes, the Palms general manager, in particular, for the early opening.

Billboards touting the property's grand opening, which read "We'll see you in December," will likely not be changed despite the newly scheduled November date, Maloof said.

The 455-room property will target both tourists and locals with a mix of upscale, hip and value-conscious restaurants, live music and a movie theater.

"This is my ultimate hotel," Maloof said. "We have incredible restaurants, a great spa, an unbelievable nightclub and better odds.

Maloof sold the Fiesta hotel-casino to Station Casinos for $185 million in January.

The owners of the Flamingo Road property face licensing hearings with Nevada gaming regulators this month.

Maloof and a group of his family members own 88 percent of the property. Station Casinos owns 6 percent, and a company controlled by the Greenspun family, the publishers of Showbiz Magazine and the Las Vegas Sun newspaper, owns the final 6 percent.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board is slated to consider the property's license application Wednesday in Las Vegas. If recommended by the three-member panel, the Nevada Gaming Commission would likely vote on the Palms' license Sept. 26.

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