Palms Casino Resort Becomes First Tribal Casino in Las Vegas After Reopening

April 27th, 2022, spelled a momentous day for the Native Americans and, to a larger extent Las Vegas. It marked the triumphant return of the Palm Casino Resort after a two-year closure. This glorious re-emergence was one for the books in the long history of Sin City, the entertainment capital of the world’s gambling. The Palms Casino Resort became the first casino in Las Vegas to be wholly owned and operated by a Native American tribe. Its new owner is the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority (SMGHA) which is the governmental instrumentality of the federally recognized Native American tribal nation, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

Besides the tribal significance, there is more historic significance placed on the iconic Palms Casino Resort. It opened just after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 when it was under the ownership of the Maloof family. Since then, it has been a leading industry pillar in the Las Vegas casino scene.

However, the facility ended up facing some unprecedented financial difficulties that eventually led to its closure two years ago due to the raging Coronavirus. Of course, at that time, the land-based casino industry at large went through tough financial times that shook it to its core. Thankfully, with things taking a semblance of normalcy, it seems just like the right time for the sleeping giant to make a return to the big stage, albeit under new ownership.

A New Dawn for Tribal Gaming in Sin City

The San Manuel Gaming and Hospital Authority bought the Palms Casino Resort from Red Rock Resorts for a reported fee of $650 million. On the day the resort was officially opened, the new tribal ownership presence could be heavily felt with a traditional tribal ceremony ushering in the new Native American presence in the famed gambling mecca.

Poolside cocktails and fireworks were also a great highlight of the day, as the highly charged ceremony was led by the SMGHA Board and Palms General Manager Cynthia Kiser Murphy. She ushered in the new era of her company’s takeover of the resort with a statement that showed how excited she was about the task ahead. She said,

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“Our team has worked incredibly hard to get to this day, and it’s a great accomplishment to introduce Palms once again to Las Vegas. The excitement and outpouring of support to see Palms reopen has been incredible. This is truly a special property, and we will consider it a privilege to be trusted with its return to the city. Our goal is to deliver a distinctive experience that makes everyone feel at home while they are in Las Vegas.”

The cultural undertones are intentionally heavy in the revamped Palms Casino Resort. In part of her inaugural speech for the grand opening of the property, General manager Cynthia Kiser Murphey promised this much now in the future when she added:

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“A tribe is a family, and it’s our responsibility to honor our tribe. Why? To honor the seven generations’ past and create opportunities for the next seven generations. So, it is our responsibility to make that work, to bring that to life. And it’s really an honor to get to do that.”

A Sterling Facelift for a Revived Icon

The Palms Casino Resort is in splendid shape, having undergone a $690 million facelift that had been initiated by its previous owners, the Red Rock Resorts, in 2019. As a result, it boasts an array of features, including several well-decorated bars and restaurants, with some culinary bigwigs famous in the Las Vegas scene. They include the likes of Mabel’s BBQ by Chef Michael Symon, Scotch 80 prime, and Tim Ho Wan, just to mention a few.

This revamped resort also has a massive 73,000 square foot pool space highlighted by two main pools. Additionally, it boasts a 2,500-seat venue for special events, the Pearl Theatre, A grandeur ballroom complete with open space where you can hold a dinner event, 14 other small theatres that vary in size, and the Palms Night Club.

Better still, if you crave California culture in Vegas, there will be a California-themed Serrano Vista Café. The William Hill Sportsbook that previously operated in the facility has also undergone some revamps to make it more interactive and entertaining for sports bettors.

More Than Just Customer Service

For some observers, one of the most impressive changes the tribe has introduced in the property following its takeover is with employee treatment. Records show that the employees’ welfare has taken center stage, with plans already in place for the back of the resort to be repaired immediately. This is a part of the casino resort that only the employees can access, and it’s commendable that the management is keen on making it more accommodating for staffers.

On top of that, there will be a new employee dining room, locker rooms, and lounge space. While we are practically early days of new management, these gestures from the SMGHA show that it equally cares about the employees as much as it does for the customers. Still on the workforce, the Palms Casino Resort will not be exactly how it was when it closed two years ago. There will be new employees on duty, but more than half of previously furloughed 1,400 staffers will be returning from two years ago.

As the new management takes shape at Palms Casino Resort, the air in the facility is filled with excitement and tons of gestures of respect for culture. For instance, the tribe has initiated plans to work on a land acknowledgment for the piece of land the resort sits on to the Paiute tribes. We can confidently say that the direction the Palms Casino Resort is heading is one that will blaze the trail for the USA land-based gambling sector for years to come.