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Bright lights, big cities
Working in the gaming industry for even a short time, it’s easy to think the glitzy, glamorous larger casino hotels are the only locations where the big money is made. The industry has evolved to where that’s no longer necessarily true. Sharon Harris reports.
growth has skyrocketed since 2000, increasing 142 percent to a population of more than 337,000 in 2023. The city is no longer just a “bedroom” community for Las Vegas, but an economic hub on its own.
Despite multiple small properties dominating its gaming composition, Henderson has more than kept pace with Nevada’s more prominent nearby gaming centers. It even reached $1 billion in annual gaming revenue not long ago. The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) categorizes Henderson’s casinos within city limits as the Boulder Strip. The criteria cover 41 venues earning more than $1 million in annual gaming revenue. For many tourists, the most recognizable casinos are probably Sam’s Town and Boulder Station along Boulder Highway. They appeal to a very different clientele than the Strip sites.
G
enerating huge revenues may be easy at properties along the 4.2-mile Las Vegas Strip, Atlantic City’s Marina District, Biloxi’s casino row along Beach Boulevard on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast and other major jurisdictions. However, smart operators should also focus on smaller communities within those geographic regions. They too offer profitable opportunities.
While Las Vegas is the superstar, only 665,640 residents actually live within the city limits. The North America Community Hub
10 MAY 2025
Statistics report revealed the metro Las Vegas population increased from almost 40,000 in 1950 to more than 2,952,756 this year.
Credit this mass influx over 75 years to better transportation access, air conditioning against the oppressive summer heat, favorable tax rates, inexpensive housing and good job opportunities.
Henderson, a Las Vegas suburb, is enjoying a business boom. Henderson has overtaken Reno up north and is now Nevada’s second most populous city. Its
Investments and a business-friendly environment have fueled Henderson’s continued economic growth these past two years. Casinos do not work in a vacuum and success must be from an all-out effort of the entire community. After the Covid-19 pandemic permanently shuttered two Henderson casinos, operators Ron Winchell and Marc Falcone entered the picture. As owners of 45 small casinos and 36 tavern-type locations in three states, they recognized Henderson’s potential. Last year, they bought the Emerald Island and Rainbow Club gaming halls for $64.5 million. Since then, Henderson’s Water Street, a center of activity and home to the Rainbow Club, has been transformed into a lively entertainment district. New dining spots, bars and hotels have already opened and more are on the horizon.
2/4/25 10:09
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