The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) recently recommended approval of a plan by Red Rock Resorts to open several new Silver State gaming taverns under its Station Casinos subsidiary.
The taverns offer drinking, dining, and small scale gambling aimed at locals. They are set to be named Seventy Six taverns, referencing the year 1976, in which Station Casinos was founded.
The inaugural Seventy Six tavern will be located at North Lamb Boulevard and East Centennial Parkway, with two more locations planned for January. One near the U.S. 95 highway on Kyle Canyon and another on Aliante Parkway, directly across from Boyd Gaming’s Aliante casino.
“We’re always looking for opportunities to bring our products closer to our customers, and the tavern business is a natural extension of what we already do. We can grow in our big box operations, our middle-sized operations, and the taverns as well,” said Station Casinos President Scott Kreeger during the company’s recent Q2 2024 earnings call.
“So the first one will come online in September, the second one in January, and the third in June of next year. So we have contracted 7 units.”
The Taverns
Operating under restricted gaming licenses, each Seventy Six tavern will feature up to 15 gaming machines. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has recommended approval for Station Casinos’ licence, with the final decision expected from regulators on August 22.
The taverns will offer a menu curated by Chef Danny Wilkins, featuring twists on U.S. and South American classics. That is set to include fried tacos, cowboy burgers, and sliced ribeye steaks.
They will also feature sports betting and limited casino gaming. That’s via countertop machines from International Game Technology and sports betting kiosks from the operator’s in-house brand, STN Sports.
The concept was first mentioned during Red Rock Resorts’ first-quarter earnings call earlier this year. Vice Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta highlighted the tavern sector as a promising market, particularly among younger players interested in sports betting
Fertitta noted the resilience and growth of smaller properties within the Las Vegas locals market. He also said the properties had potential to boost brand awareness of STN Sports across Nevada more widely.
The Rollout
Station Casinos already operates four Las Vegas local casinos, and parent company Red Rock operates several more large casino resorts. Station also owns several small-scale Wildfire Casinos, which offer up to 200 slots under a more limited license.
The company’s main competitor in the gaming tavern space could also set it up for a family feud. Golden Entertainment owns 71 gaming bars across the U.S., including dozens in Nevada. It is owned by Blake Sartini, whose wife, Delise, is the sister of Red Rock founders Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta.
As well as the location for September and the further two for January 2025, Kreeger said he expects Station to launch seven Seventy Six gaming taverns across the state by the end of 2025.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
