The last remaining Sigma Derby machine in operation will soon have a new casino home in downtown Las Vegas.
The iconic mechanical horse racing game is moving from The D to the Golden Gate, where it is scheduled to reopen on June 19 at 4 p.m., according to a press release.
To mark the move, Circa Hospitality CEO Derek Stevens will lead a public farewell celebration and procession across the Fremont Street Experience, featuring miniature horses, entertainers and special guests. The event will culminate with remarks from Stevens on the significance of the relocation.
Originally introduced in the 1980s, Sigma Derby remains a cult favorite among casino patrons for its interactive, communal play. Players bet between 1 cent and $2 on mechanical horse races and gather around the machine’s arena-like viewing area to see what happens.
Guests will have their last chance to play Sigma Derby at The D until midnight on June 14. Following the move, the game will debut at Golden Gate on June 19, coinciding with the property’s nightly “The Night Starts Here 3.0” promotion, which includes an open bar, free play incentives and slots leaderboard contests.
All-inclusive nightlife package debuts at new Vanderpump Hotel
Drai’s After Hours presents what it describes as the city’s first all-inclusive nightclub experience as part of a broader $250,000 update tied to the opening of The Vanderpump Hotel.
The late-night venue, located inside the recently rebranded Strip boutique hotel, has launched a $99 VIP admission package that includes expedited entry and an open bar wristband that lasts all evening.
In addition to the new entry-level model, Drai’s introduced a cotton candy and caviar package for $695, featuring champagne service, caviar and themed presentations inspired by the Vanderpump brand. The venue also expanded its food and beverage offerings with a new late-night dessert menu and hookah specialty.
The renovation included upgraded seating, refreshed guest areas and a new sound system. According to president Dustin Drai, the changes are designed to adapt the venue to changing consumer preferences that prioritize convenience, value and experience-driven hospitality.
The 11,000-square-foot nightclub, which has been in Las Vegas for nearly three decades, remains focused on the after-hours market, which is open Thursday through Sunday from
The Mirage Volcano appears
Artifacts from the Mirage Volcano were on display Friday at the Neon Museum, the nonprofit organization that displays and illuminates signs and other collections from Las Vegas’ cultural past.
Mirage and Hard Rock International donated a 13-foot, 400-pound sign and a FireShooter to the museum and conducted a relighting ceremony with Mirage designers Jon Sparer (FAIA), Andrew Kraft (Lifescapes International), Brett Ewing (Cuningham) and Desmond Stevens (STO Design Group).
The lagoon sign once served as a prominent marker for The Mirage Volcano attraction along Las Vegas Boulevard and was originally manufactured in September 2008.
“The Mirage transformed Las Vegas and redefined what a resort destination could be,” said Aaron Berger, executive director and CEO of The Neon Museum, in a press release. “For generations of visitors, the Volcano became more than an attraction, it was a shared experience, a gathering place and one of the most recognizable symbols of The Strip. Preserving the lagoon sign and a FireShooter ensures that an important part of Las Vegas history remains accessible to future generations. In addition to giving visitors the chance to reconnect with this ghost of times and designs, and the design will be added to this ghost and design. K-12 field trip This work will range from nostalgia to inspirational education.
Cabanas for a Cause continues
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas has expanded its Cabanas for a Cause summer fundraising platform with the addition of Opportunity Village, its fourth nonprofit partner.
The organization will participate on Monday, July 20, when it will receive all proceeds from the $99 private pool rental at the hotel casino off the Strip.
This year’s other nonprofit partners are the Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation, which participated on the first Monday in June (June 1); the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada, which will participate on the first Monday in July (July 6); and HELP from Southern Nevada, participating on the first Monday in August (August 3).
Cabanas accommodate up to eight guests and must be reserved by emailing the resort’s marketing team at marketing@vhlv.com.
Guests should note that the cabana rental fee does not apply to food and beverage minimums.
Best dealer
The American Gaming Association continues to accept nominations to find the best casino dealer in North America.
A deadline of July 17th has been set for nominations for the competition which is scheduled at this year’s Global Gaming Expo at The Venetian Expo which opens on September 28th this year.
Competitors will demonstrate their expertise in blackjack and roulette, tackling a series of challenges designed to showcase technical mastery, showmanship and dedication to delivering an exceptional player experience.
To be considered, each competitor must be nominated by a representative of the casino operator in a director-level or higher table gaming role, using a form available on the G2E website. Nominators will be asked to include information about themselves, the contestant and a judge from the same property.
In the inaugural 2025 competition, Elleonor Hoffman, a dual-rate table game dealer at Graton Resort & Casino in Sonoma County, California, won the $5,000 first prize. She also received an individual trophy and the dealer championship cup, which was engraved with her name and was displayed at Graton until this year.
MGM Macau ownership
The chairman and chief executive of MGM China has sold his MGM Resorts International shares but still has an ownership position in MGM’s Macau operations.
Pansy Ho Chiu King sold her 3.1 million shares in MGM, a 1.2 percent stake, for an estimated $140.1 million (US) in five transactions between May 28 and June 3, according to filings with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The transactions came in the wake of American businessman Barry Diller’s bid to acquire the company and take it private.
Ho continues to hold an estimated 22.5 percent stake in MGM China, a subsidiary that owns two casinos in the Chinese gaming enclave, MGM Macau and MGM Cotai.
MGM Resorts has a majority stake of 56 percent in MGM China.
Tax increase
The state of North Carolina is considering a tax increase on the state’s eight legally operated sports betting operators.
Lawmakers are debating whether to raise the state’s 18 percent tax on gross gaming revenue generated by sportsbooks to between 20 percent and 30 percent.
The move could move the rate above neighboring Tennessee, 19.7 percent, and Virginia, 15 percent, while New York is at 51 percent.
Nevada’s gaming tax is 6.75 percent and was established in 1983.
Contact Todd Dewey at tdewey@ theplayerlounge.com. Follow @tdewey33 on X. – Contact David Danzis at ddanzis@ theplayerlounge.com or 702-383-0378. Follow @AC2Vegas_Danzis on X.
