The Pass Casino

The Pass Casino is a casino in the Water Street District of downtown Henderson, Nevada. The property opened on February 15, 1961, as the Wheel Casino, but closed during its first year. Paul Perry subsequently agreed to purchase the property, with attorney Bill Boyd representing him in the transaction and taking an ownership interest. Boyd brought in additional investors, including his father Sam Boyd, who was then general manager of the Mint, and the property reopened on July 1, 1962, as the Eldorado Casino. The Boyd family and its partners developed the casino around Henderson's smaller-town identity rather than presenting it as a Las Vegas-style destination resort. The business expanded in the mid-1960s when the owners acquired the adjacent Royal Club, approximately doubling the Eldorado's size. In 1966, Sam Boyd and Bill Boyd took controlling ownership stakes, while Joe Crowley retained the remaining share until being bought out later. A major renovation in 1977 expanded the casino to approximately 30,000 square feet as Henderson grew. The property later became part of Boyd Gaming's operating portfolio when that company acquired it in 1993. During its Boyd Gaming period, the casino also served as a practical training environment for company executives. Its relatively compact scale required managers to remain closely involved in day-to-day operations. Boyd Gaming carried out further renovations in the mid-2000s, reportedly spending about $3 million on improvements. Nevada's statewide casino closure order during the COVID-19 pandemic forced the property to shut in March 2020. In December of that year, Boyd Gaming agreed to sell the closed casino to DeSimone Gaming, the company associated with Railroad Pass Casino. DeSimone undertook a renovation lasting approximately 45 days and costing about $7 million. The property reopened on April 1, 2021, under the name The Pass Casino. The renovation added two restaurants, two bars, event space, and a reconfigured food-and-beverage offering. A former Mexican restaurant was converted into an Italian restaurant, while a 1950s-themed diner became a cafe. The gaming floor reopened with more than 350 machines, approximately 80 percent of them new, along with six table games. A new sportsbook, operated by Circa Sports, opened on April 29, 2021. In March 2022, DeSimone announced plans for a 90-room Atwell Suites hotel in the casino's parking area, in partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts. Construction began in February 2023. The proposed hotel was intended to become the first hotel in the Water Street District and would complement the casino's existing parking facilities. The Pass Casino remains a locally oriented gaming and entertainment property rather than an internationally marketed resort brand.

The property now known as The Pass Casino began operations as the Wheel Casino in Henderson, Nevada, on February 15, 1961. The initial venture closed within its first year. In 1962, Paul Perry agreed to acquire the site. Attorney Bill Boyd represented Perry in the transaction and received an ownership interest. Boyd subsequently assembled a broader investor group that included his father, Sam Boyd, as well as other family and business associates. The property reopened on July 1, 1962, as the Eldorado Casino. The new owners sought to distinguish the casino through a Henderson-oriented operating style. Rather than relying on the scale and spectacle associated with major Las Vegas resorts, the Eldorado emphasized the identity of Henderson as a smaller community. Around 1965, the owners acquired the neighboring Royal Club, substantially increasing the property's footprint. In 1966, the Boyd family assumed ownership control: Sam Boyd purchased half of the property and Bill Boyd acquired a quarter, while Joe Crowley retained the balance until a later buyout. Henderson's population and commercial activity grew during the following decade. To keep pace, the casino underwent a renovation costing approximately $1.5 million in 1977. The work expanded the casino to roughly 30,000 square feet. The property continued to operate as a neighborhood casino and remained materially smaller than the destination resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. Boyd Gaming acquired the casino in 1993. Under Boyd ownership, the property had an additional role as a management training ground. Its compact size meant that executives and managers could gain direct experience with casino operations and customer service. Boyd Gaming also invested in renovations during the mid-2000s, with reported spending of approximately $3 million. The casino was forced to close in March 2020 when Nevada ordered casinos to suspend operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2020, Boyd Gaming agreed to sell the closed property to DeSimone Gaming, which also owned and operated Railroad Pass Casino. DeSimone spent approximately $7 million on a renovation completed over about 45 days. The project introduced new restaurants, bars, event space, and updated gaming equipment. The former Mexican restaurant was changed to an Italian concept, and the former 1950s diner was converted into a cafe. The property reopened on April 1, 2021, as The Pass Casino. Its renovated gaming floor contained more than 350 machines, with roughly 80 percent identified as new, together with six table games. A sportsbook operated by Circa Sports opened on April 29, 2021. The relaunch represented both an ownership change and a repositioning of the property as a refreshed Henderson entertainment venue. In March 2022, DeSimone announced plans to add a 90-room Atwell Suites hotel in the casino's parking lot, in partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts. Construction began in February 2023. The proposed hotel was described as the first hotel planned for the Water Street District and was intended to operate alongside the casino's existing parking garage. The Pass Casino's documented history therefore spans several distinct phases: the short-lived Wheel Casino, the locally focused Eldorado era, Boyd Gaming ownership, the pandemic closure and sale, and the post-2021 operation under DeSimone Gaming.

• 2022

  Atwell Suites hotel announced

  [1]The Pass Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  DeSimone announced a planned 90-room Atwell Suites hotel in the casino parking area, with construction beginning in February 2023.

• 2021

  Reopening as The Pass Casino

  [1]The Pass Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  DeSimone reopened the renovated property on April 1 under the name The Pass Casino.

• 2021

  Sportsbook launch

  [1]The Pass Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  A Circa Sports-operated sportsbook opened at the property on April 29.

• 2020

  Pandemic closure and sale agreement

  [1]The Pass Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  The casino closed under Nevada's COVID-19 restrictions, and Boyd Gaming agreed to sell it to DeSimone Gaming in December.

• 1993

  Boyd Gaming acquisition

  [1]The Pass Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  Boyd Gaming acquired the Eldorado Casino and later used it as a training environment for company executives.

• 1977

  Major expansion

  [1]The Pass Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  A renovation costing approximately $1.5 million expanded the casino to about 30,000 square feet.

• 1966

  Boyd family takes ownership control

  [1]The Pass Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  Sam Boyd and Bill Boyd acquired controlling ownership interests, while Joe Crowley retained the remaining stake temporarily.

• 1965

  Royal Club acquisition expands the property

  [1]The Pass Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  The owners acquired the neighboring Royal Club, approximately doubling the Eldorado's size.

• 1962

  Property reopens as Eldorado Casino

  [1]The Pass Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  After the Wheel Casino closed, Paul Perry and a group including Bill Boyd reopened the property as the Eldorado Casino on July 1.

• 1961

  Wheel Casino opens

  [1]The Pass Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  The property opened on February 15 as the Wheel Casino in Henderson, Nevada.

A locally oriented downtown Henderson casino emphasizing approachable neighborhood gaming, food and beverage, and entertainment rather than a large integrated resort model.

• Casino gaming · 2021

  Casino gaming floor

  The Pass Casino's principal offering is its casino floor, which has more than 350 gaming machines and six table games. Following the 2021 renovation, approximately 80 percent of the machines were described as new. The property operates as a compact local casino rather than a large destination resort.

• Sports betting · 2021

  Sportsbook

  The property added a sportsbook during its post-pandemic relaunch. The facility opened on April 29, 2021, and is operated by Circa Sports, extending the casino's gaming offer beyond slots and table games.

• Hospitality and entertainment · 2021

  Restaurants, bars, and event space

  DeSimone's renovation added two restaurants, two bars, and event space. The project also changed the property's food-and-beverage mix by converting a Mexican restaurant into an Italian restaurant and a 1950s-themed diner into a cafe.

• Hotel development · 2022

  Atwell Suites hotel project

  DeSimone announced plans for a 90-room Atwell Suites hotel in the casino's parking area, in partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts. Construction began in February 2023. The available reference material describes this as a planned development rather than confirming its completion.

• 2022

  Planned hotel expansionStrategy

  Background

  DeSimone sought to broaden the property's hospitality presence within Henderson's Water Street District.

  Action taken

  The company announced a planned 90-room Atwell Suites hotel in the casino parking area, working with IHG Hotels & Resorts.

  Aftermath

  Construction began in February 2023. The available reference material does not establish whether the hotel was completed.

  Source

• 2021

  Rebranding and renovation as The Pass CasinoGeneration change

  Background

  DeSimone acquired a casino that had been closed during the pandemic and sought to relaunch it for the Henderson market.

  Action taken

  The Eldorado Casino was renamed The Pass Casino and reopened after a roughly 45-day renovation that added restaurants, bars, event space, updated machines, and a sportsbook.

  Aftermath

  The property returned to operation on April 1, 2021, with more than 350 machines and six table games; Circa Sports opened the sportsbook later that month.

  Renovation spending. $7 million (2021 reopening renovation)

  Source

• 2020

  Sale from Boyd Gaming to DeSimone GamingM&A

  Background

  The Eldorado Casino was closed during Nevada's COVID-19 casino shutdown when Boyd Gaming agreed to sell the property.

  Action taken

  Boyd Gaming agreed to transfer the casino to DeSimone Gaming, the parent company of Railroad Pass Casino.

  Aftermath

  DeSimone renovated the property and reopened it in April 2021 under the name The Pass Casino.

  Source

1. 1The Pass Casinoen.wikipedia.org