Circa Las Vegas Celebrates Its Opening

Exclusive guest list under restrictions

Like many things in Las Vegas, new casino openings are known for being over the top. In the past, the extravagant parties were often accompanied by VIP guest lists, show actors and fireworks. For operators, they have always provided not only an excuse to pop champagne corks, but also a first chance to impress, boost operations and build long-term customer relationships.

The long-awaited reopening of the Circa Hotel & Casino in Downtown on Wednesday (October 28th) was different than usual given the global health crisis. Before the outbreak of the pandemic, the crowds at casino openings could be overwhelming, but now the celebration merely featured an exclusive guest list. In addition to standard capacity restrictions, distancing measures and mask requirements, the casino did not open in conjunction with the hotel.

The hotel tower, which has 777 rooms, will not open until December 28th. This could deter many visitors, but owner Derek Stevens, who also owns the Golden Gate and D-Casino in Las Vegas, has come up with a plan B. Guests staying at Circa's sister properties will receive perks when visiting the new resort, such as early and free access to a pool amphitheater.

The swimming area, which includes six pools with a total area of over 1,500 square meters, is already considered legendary. It is not for nothing that there is talk of a pool amphitheater on several levels - the so-called StadiumSwim is located on the roof terrace and has a 38 meter long screen where sporting events are broadcast. The system is also considered virus-proof. The latter is due to a new cleaning system. The water can be completely filtered and purifiedigt within just one hour. Thanks to a UV-C light, viruses are also killed.

A tribute to old Las Vegas

The new Circa was designed by Steelman Partners, an architectural firm specializing in casino resorts, which is currently also notable for the construction of the Greek Hellinikon Casino. Circa Las Vegas is located on Fremont Street near the Las Vegas Strip. The site was previously home to the Las Vegas Club, Mermaids Casino and the GLItter Gulch strip club.

The buildings were demolished in 2017 and construction of the Circa began in November 2019. The result is a superlative luxury resort - Vegas Vickie, the legendary GLItter Gulch cowgirl from the entrance area, is now in the foyer of the new establishment. Here the carpets are in a 70s style, which is a homage to the golden era of the gambling metropolis. Portraits of earlier gaming days hang on the walls.

The establishment is still a state-of-the-art resort, which has a digital power grid and AI elevators. The latter generate energy themselves when driving. A backup power system ensures WiFi even in the event of a power outage. The rooms can be opened using a smartphone and also offer their own tablets. In addition, smoking is permitted in the building as a modern permanent filter system ensures a constant 98 percent fresh air.

Similar to the pool area, the Circa casino area speaks for itself: It covers two floors and offers 49 gaming tables and 1,350 slot machines in an area of 650 square meters. There is also the largest sports betting lounge in Las Vegas. A number of terminals are located on three levels and are spread over a large number of tables and seats, which must be booked in advance. The sporting events are broadcast on a total of 19 screens. In total, Circa offers 55,000 square meters of space for playing, celebrating and eating.

A new opportunity for Las Vegas?

The gambling delta of Las Vegas was hit hard by the casino shutdown. Sales are recovering slowly due to restrictions and international travel bans. The operators and city fathers expect even greater opportunities from the new Circa Hotel & Casino, which, according to Nehme E. Abouzeid, President of the consulting firm LaunchVegas, could bring about a new upswing.

Like Abouzeid Versus local Newspapers stated that Las Vegas is alive, healthy and reinvested again. The shared opening between the casino and the hotel would enable the company to optimally adapt its operations to the current situation. In addition, the employees are currently incredibly motivated; ultimately it is about the survival of an entire industry.

What do the sales figures say?

In fact, Las Vegas casinos posted their strongest month since February in August. Revenue increased by 10.5 percent, but remained 22.4 percent below the previous year's level. Total revenue for September was $821.1 million, with stakes of $10.32 billion. This marks an increase of 3.3 percent compared to the previous month.

The most popular were slot machines, which contributed over 12 percent of total revenue at $607.5 million. This value is also 12 percent below the level of 2019. Table games brought the casinos a further $213.6 million, and stakes were $1.95 billion. Also a loss of 17.9 percent compared to the previous year. It seems like Las Vegas will need some time to continue to recover.

News/circa-las-vegas-feiert-eroeffnung