Las Vegas was hit harder by pandemic closures than almost anyplace else in the U.S.
Because Nevada is so dependent on tourism, having hotels, restaurants, casinos, and entertainment venues closed for weeks — and in some cases, months — did serious economic damage.
In April 2020, the state reached an overall unemployment rate of 30%, the highest ever recorded for any state at the time. Las Vegas, particularly reliant on tourism, saw its unemployment rate soar even higher, reaching 34%.
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That is all to say, recovery was difficult, especially for independent businesses located off the Las Vegas Strip.
The number of independent casinos in Las Vegas is dwindling.
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Poker Palace beloved by locals and military personnel since 1974
The latest victim of all the changes affecting Las Vegas is The Poker Palace Casino, a decades-old staple for local gamblers and military personnel near Nellis Air Force Base.
The Poker Palace will permanently close on October 1, 2025, ending a 50+ year run as a family-operated gaming establishment.
In a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act filing submitted to Nevada state agencies, the casino reported that 126 employees will lose their jobs, with the first layoffs beginning September 30.
The filing also confirmed that the property will be sold, though no details about the buyer or future plans have been disclosed, according to a report in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Related: Las Vegas Strip hit hard as visitors stay away from the city
Originally built in 1951 as Bunny’s Bar, the property was rebranded as Poker Palace in 1974 under the ownership of Marvin “Mickey” and Laura Coleman.
It maintained a 25,900-square-foot gaming floor, offering slots, poker, bingo, sports betting, table games, and a locals-favorite diner, Maddy’s Paddy Cafe.
Off Strip casinos, restaurants and bars face increasing pressures
The closure of Poker Palace is part of a broader trend hitting off-Strip casinos across Las Vegas. Independently owned businesses do not have the same resources as the Strip’s billion-dollar resorts.
The independents must also contend with a decline in foot traffic, in part due to online and mobile sports betting, coupled with inflation and increased costs of labor and regulatory compliance.
Poker Palace’s past regulatory trouble
The Poker Palace was subject to regulatory scrutiny in the past. A 2006 Nevada Gaming Control Board investigation found that three employees engaged in illegal race book activities, including offering unlawful rebates on pari-mutuel wagers, unlawfully shared pari-mutuel revenue, illegally accepted wagers from messenger bettors, illegally paid winnings to persons who did not place bets, and failed to adequately monitor activities on the premises, according to the Las Vegas Sun.
Poker Palace owner Marvin Coleman was cited for supervisory failures and fined $250,000. While the casino remained operational, the event may have affected its long-term standing with gaming regulators.
Economic and community impact of Poker Palace closing
Poker dealers, wait staff, porters, and security officers will be among the employees who will lose their jobs. The closure raises concerns about support for displaced workers, particularly those with long tenures at the property.
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While Las Vegas’ overall economy has diversified in recent years — with growth in technology, logistics, and construction — hospitality remains fundamental. The loss of over 100 jobs in a single closure is a notable blow for North Las Vegas, where wages and job opportunities can be more limited than on the Strip.
No redevelopment plans have been shared. With prime frontage on North Las Vegas Boulevard and proximity to Nellis Air Force Base, the property could attract interest for a retail, mixed-use, or housing conversion — but that remains speculative.
The closing of Poker Palace is a business headline and a symbolic end to a type of casino that once defined Las Vegas: affordable and local.
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