Palace Station
Encyclopedia
Palace Station is a hotel
and casino
in Las Vegas, Nevada
. It is a locals casino
that is owned and operated by Station Casinos
and has 1,028 rooms. Palace Station has a large Asian customer base due to its 10 mini-baccarat tables and 2 full size baccarat
tables, and because of its location near Chinatown
.
, and his two partners, opened The Casino, a 5,000 sq ft gambling hall attached to a Mini Price Motor Inn, in an off-Strip
location where few observers expected it to succeed. In 1977, he added bingo and renamed the property as the Bingo Palace. The casino was the first to target a clientele of local residents with offerings like giveaways, cheap buffets, and bingo. It thrived, and Fertitta soon bought out his partners' shares. Other locals casinos like Sam's Town
and the Gold Coast
followed in later years.
In 1984, the Bingo Palace was expanded and remodeled with a railroad theme, and renamed to the Palace Station Hotel & Casino. A 22-story hotel tower and high-rise parking garage were added in 1990, bringing the room count to 1,041.
In 1993, Fertitta bought the land for what would become Boulder Station
, the beginning of an expansion that would grow Station Casinos
into a billion dollar company. But Fertitta left the firm that same year, turning management over to his sons when it went public.
The hotel has seen its share of accidents and misadventures, including a cashier's cage robbery in 1992, a 21st-floor fire caused by lightning in 1998, an armored car robbery in the parking lot in 2009, and most notoriously, the 2007 robbery of sports memorabillia
by O.J. Simpson and his associates.
Early in 2009, Improv Vegas opened at the Bonkerz Comedy Club which was renamed from the Sound Trax lounge. The tower rooms have recently been renovated but it is unknown if their "Courtyard Rooms" will receive one.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
and casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. It is a locals casino
Locals casino
A locals casino is a casino designed primarily to attract residents of the area in which it was built rather than tourists or vacationers. The term is most commonly associated with casinos in Nevada, USA, to distinguish them from casinos that target mostly tourists in a central area.- Overview...
that is owned and operated by Station Casinos
Station Casinos
Station Casinos Inc. is a gaming company based in the Las Vegas suburb of Summerlin, Nevada, founded by Frank Fertitta Jr.Station Casinos along with Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, American Casino & Entertainment Properties, and Herbst Gaming, dominate the Locals market in Las Vegas.The...
and has 1,028 rooms. Palace Station has a large Asian customer base due to its 10 mini-baccarat tables and 2 full size baccarat
Baccarat
Baccarat is a card game, played at casinos and by gamblers. It is believed to have been introduced into France from Italy during the reign of King Charles VIII , and it is similar to Faro and Basset...
tables, and because of its location near Chinatown
Chinatown
A Chinatown is an ethnic enclave of overseas Chinese people, although it is often generalized to include various Southeast Asian people. Chinatowns exist throughout the world, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, Australasia, and Europe. Binondo's Chinatown located in Manila,...
.
History
In 1976, Frank Fertitta, Jr., a former general manager at the FremontFremont Hotel and Casino
The Fremont Hotel & Casino is located in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, on the Fremont Street Experience. The casino is operated by the Boyd Gaming Corporation.-History:...
, and his two partners, opened The Casino, a 5,000 sq ft gambling hall attached to a Mini Price Motor Inn, in an off-Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
location where few observers expected it to succeed. In 1977, he added bingo and renamed the property as the Bingo Palace. The casino was the first to target a clientele of local residents with offerings like giveaways, cheap buffets, and bingo. It thrived, and Fertitta soon bought out his partners' shares. Other locals casinos like Sam's Town
Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Las Vegas
Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall is a hotel and casino located in Sunrise Manor, Nevada on the Boulder Strip. It is one of the casinos owned and operated by Boyd Gaming Corporation...
and the Gold Coast
Gold Coast Hotel and Casino
The Gold Coast Hotel & Casino is a hotel and casino located in Las Vegas, Nevada. This locals' casino is owned and operated by Boyd Gaming Corporation. The Gold Coast is located one mile west of the Las Vegas Strip on West Flamingo Road. It is located across the street from the Palms Casino...
followed in later years.
In 1984, the Bingo Palace was expanded and remodeled with a railroad theme, and renamed to the Palace Station Hotel & Casino. A 22-story hotel tower and high-rise parking garage were added in 1990, bringing the room count to 1,041.
In 1993, Fertitta bought the land for what would become Boulder Station
Boulder Station
Boulder Station is a casino and hotel located in Sunrise Manor, Nevada on Boulder Highway. Owned by Station Casinos, the hotel opened on August 23, 1994, and has a casino...
, the beginning of an expansion that would grow Station Casinos
Station Casinos
Station Casinos Inc. is a gaming company based in the Las Vegas suburb of Summerlin, Nevada, founded by Frank Fertitta Jr.Station Casinos along with Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, American Casino & Entertainment Properties, and Herbst Gaming, dominate the Locals market in Las Vegas.The...
into a billion dollar company. But Fertitta left the firm that same year, turning management over to his sons when it went public.
The hotel has seen its share of accidents and misadventures, including a cashier's cage robbery in 1992, a 21st-floor fire caused by lightning in 1998, an armored car robbery in the parking lot in 2009, and most notoriously, the 2007 robbery of sports memorabillia
O. J. Simpson Las Vegas robbery case
The O. J. Simpson robbery case was a criminal case prosecuted in 2007-2008 in the U.S. state of Nevada, primarily involving the retired American football player O. J. Simpson....
by O.J. Simpson and his associates.
Early in 2009, Improv Vegas opened at the Bonkerz Comedy Club which was renamed from the Sound Trax lounge. The tower rooms have recently been renovated but it is unknown if their "Courtyard Rooms" will receive one.