The Nevada Gaming Commission on October 22 licensed Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment to run Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, making it the first tribal gaming company to do so in the Strip corridor. The Nevada Gaming Control Board recommended unanimous approval earlier this month.
The property, once the site of Hard Rock Las Vegas, expects to open January 15 after a $200 million facelift, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. A fall opening was pushed back because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The property will follow protocols and directive from both Nevada and Mohegan Gaming.
Mohegan, which runs its flagship Mohegan Sun hotel-casino in Connecticut, will operate the 60,000-square-foot casino—with 650 slots and 50 table games—under an agreement with JC Hospitality LLC. Virgin Hotels will operate the property’s 1,110 guest rooms, which will be part of the Hilton Hotel’s Curio Collection. AEG will oversee the entertainment. The restaurant lineup will feature several outlets held over from the Hard Rock days.
“I will say that this is a very impressive group of individual applicants — very clean backgrounds with not a single hiccup,” said Commissioner Deborah Fuetsch, of Northern Nevada. “I anticipate this will be a win-win for Las Vegas and Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment.”
The Mohegan Tribe was not required to sign a compact with Nevada because the company leases and manages the property, which does not sit on sovereign tribal land, according to CDC Gaming Reports.
Mohegan Gaming’s nine properties expect to attract 25 million visitors by 2025 and employ more than 22,000. Mohegan Gaming CEO Mario Kontomerkos and longtime Nevada gaming executive Joe Hasson—named general manager in July—said the property will draw customers from Mohegan’s east coast casinos looking to visit Virgin. The property also presents the opportunity to cross-market with a planned $5 billion resort under development in South Korea.
While the resort opens in January, the pool complex won’t come online until March, complete with VIP cabanas, daybeds and a dayclub among the mix.
The resort pool adjoins the Promenade, which will feature the Event Lawn and a number of restaurants—Olives from Todd English; Hakkasan Group’s Casa Calavera; and Kassi Beach Club from restauranteur Nick Mathers—and Money, Baby!, a sports and entertainment venue from Clive Collective, according to Travel Agent.
The two-story dayclub, set for an April debut, will include an open-air stage for a DJ and a music festival. Bars and a poolside restaurant for casual beach food round out the offerings. The outdoor Event Lawn can attract concerts and private events, as does the connecting Manor.
“Our new five-acre pool and entertainment complex will connect the entire property,” said Richard “Boz” Bosworth, President and CEO of JC Hospitality, owner of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, “and serve as a gathering place for guests.”
