Las Vegas

Las Vegas Strip Likely to Lose Casino Royale

Posted on: August 4, 2023, 12:24h.

Last updated on: August 7, 2023, 09:12h.

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Corey Levitan Corey Levitan joined Casino.org in 2022 after a long career covering Las Vegas. He currently covers entertainment, dining and gaming news in Las Vegas...
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The Casino Royale may be the next Las Vegas icon to meet the wrecking ball. The owners of the casino hotel, a Strip fixture since 1964, just received FAA approval to build a 699-foot tower in the space.

The Casino Royale, a fixture of the Las Vegas Strip since 1964, may soon be no more. The Best Western chain, the property’s owner since 2012, plans to replace it with a new 699-foot tower. (Image: Wikipedia)

The news was broken by Casino.org’s own Vital Vegas blogger Scott Roeben. who published the contents of a July 21, 2023 letter documenting the FAA’s approval of the project.

The aeronautical study revealed that the structure would have no substantial adverse effect on the safe and efficient utilization of the navigable airspace by aircraft or on the operation of air navigation facilities,” it read.

The Casino Royale’s owners have until Jan. 21, 2025, to build their tower, or else the FAA’s approval will expire.

In probably related news, Roeben reported that staffers at the property’s Outback Steakhouse were informed that the restaurant will close, though casino employees were given no such notice.

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The 164-room Casino Royale opened in between the Flamingo and the Desert Inn (now Wynn Las Vegas) on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard in 1964. It was originally the 164-room Caravan Motor Hotel. Its gaming hall debuted in 1978 as the Nob Hill Casino.

In 1990, both the Nob Hill and Caravan were purchased for $17 million by the Elardi family, owners of the Frontier at the time. They combined the two businesses into the Casino Royale, which opened two years later with a gaming floor upgraded to 10K feet with 225 slots and four table games.

In 2012, the Casino Royale became part of the Best Western chain.

No approved plans on the Las Vegas Strip are guaranteed to cross the finish line, however. There’s even an example at the Casino Royale.

In 1994, the Elardi family proposed another construction project that received several approvals before eventually stalling. It was an amusement ride known as a space probe. The powerful Culinary Union objected, as did the neighboring resorts, which argued that it wouldn’t fit in with the Strip.

Corey Levitan joined Casino.org in 2022 after a long career covering Las Vegas. He currently covers entertainment, dining and gaming news in Las Vegas.

Corey spent six years covering the Vegas Strip for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, where he also wrote the most popular humor column in the city’s history. (For “Fear and Loafing,” he tried out 176 Vegas jobs, including poker player, blackjack dealer and Follie Bergere dancer.)

Corey has won more than 100 local, state and national awards for his journalism, which has also appeared in Rolling Stone, New York Magazine and the New York Post.

Corey is a New York native whose hobbies include playing guitar, trying to be a better husband, and arguing with strangers on Facebook.

Contact Corey at corey@casino.org.

Conversation (34 comments)

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MK

M kelleher August 5, 2023

I live in las vegas and go to the hotels on the strip and never went in thear no interest to me

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Carrie August 5, 2023

We LOVE casino royale Please just do some upgrades And leave it there. Best place ever!

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Abelito August 5, 2023

I know there's a model of the new perspective building that's going up. How come there is not a picture of it here?

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Mike August 5, 2023

That's Vegas for you. My brother had worked there for close to 25 years

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David DeRango August 5, 2023

These big companies are just overtaking the strip and making it all about them building a 699 tower with no casino is just a bid… These big companies are just overtaking the strip and making it all about them building a 699 tower with no casino is just a bid deal and just add another place that has no free parking, that is why we stay off the strip because us locals cannot come down town to a show without paying for parking. So my money will be spent at the local casinos for us locals. I said this to Star and they changed there policy. So do what you want it will just keep us out of the strip.

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PB

Peter Bijlsma August 5, 2023

Casino Royale is still owned by the Elardi family - Tom Elardi (75) and Margaret Elardi (97). It became part of the Best Western chain In… Casino Royale is still owned by the Elardi family - Tom Elardi (75) and Margaret Elardi (97). It became part of the Best Western chain In 2012 but was not sold to Best Western. All of the Best Western Hotels are independently owned and operated by those that have bought into the franchise.

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Douglas August 5, 2023

If the tower is built, will there still be any casino? Can we still play?

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BC

Brian Collins August 5, 2023

Old Vegas has been gone for many years

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Ernest Spaulding August 5, 2023

Good news

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Laura August 5, 2023

So what happens to White Castle? Is it a separate business then Casino Royale? I stay at Harrah's all the time and I go over… So what happens to White Castle? Is it a separate business then Casino Royale? I stay at Harrah's all the time and I go over to White Castle twice during my seven day stays and I usually spend a couple hours at the casino just playing some video poker and relaxing. I enjoy playing there and definitely will miss it. I will be sorry to see it go!

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SB

Sean Burke August 5, 2023

The strip just gets WORSE AND WORSE

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Velma Nichols August 5, 2023

I love casino Royale it's been here in many years please don't change is that 669 tower worth it ? And what about the employees… I love casino Royale it's been here in many years please don't change is that 669 tower worth it ? And what about the employees there is it worth it all the people that's going to be out of jobs just for upgrade or change and will Best Western still own the tower? A concerned fan please don't change!!!

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Clifford August 5, 2023

Why a tower that's weak

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harriet schaffer August 5, 2023

terrible

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Dominic August 5, 2023

Where some "improvements" in Vegas are larger more spectacular hotels,others just remove the great old school las Vegas locations from our experience! Casino Royal is… Where some "improvements" in Vegas are larger more spectacular hotels,others just remove the great old school las Vegas locations from our experience! Casino Royal is a prime example of this "old school" historical vibe! I know that the "historical" reference has no place in the decision making processes when it come to Las Vegas casino/hotels. What is here today will eventually be replaced by the implosion or the wrecking ball process with something newer and (supposidly) more "spectacular"!

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