The Pass Casino, located in Henderson, Nevada, is poised for a change in ownership, with plans for the transition to take place by August 1, 2026. This acquisition will bring all three casinos situated in the historic Water Street District under the management of ECL Water Street.
ECL Water Street, which operates the Emerald Island and Rainbow Club casinos, has reached an agreement to purchase The Pass from DeSimone Gaming, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Details regarding the financial aspects of the deal have not been made public, and the transaction is pending approval from gaming regulators.
This upcoming ownership change marks the fifth time The Pass has changed hands since its inception. Originally opened on February 15, 1961, as the Wheel Casino, it faced challenges and closed within a year. The original ownership details are not documented by the Clark County Assessor’s Office.
The casino currently occupies a space of 17,756 square feet and features 350 slot machines, six table games, and a sportsbook managed by Circa Sports. ECL has expressed intentions to renovate the casino and introduce new facilities following the completion of the acquisition.
DeSimone, the current owner, expressed confidence in ECL’s commitment to the community, stating, “ECL Gaming has demonstrated a strong commitment to our community, and I am confident they will continue to invest in the success of The Pass for years to come.”
DeSimone has been the owner of the historic Railroad Pass Casino, which lies between Henderson and Boulder City, since 2015. He also acquired the former Eldorado Casino from Boyd Gaming in December 2020, renovated it, and reopened it as The Pass on April 1, 2021.
The history of The Pass is intertwined with Boyd Gaming. After the Wheel Casino closed in 1962, local businessman Paul Perry purchased the property, with attorney Bill Boyd joining as a stakeholder. This group reopened the venue as the Eldorado Casino on July 1, 1962, marking the beginning of what would evolve into the Boyd Gaming organization. The Boyd family took full ownership in 1966, and the casino was officially incorporated into Boyd Gaming’s portfolio in 1993. Sam Boyd and Bill Boyd co-founded Boyd Gaming in 1975.
Tim Brooks, the general manager of the Emerald Island and Rainbow Club, emphasized The Pass's significance, calling it “a cornerstone of this community” and noted that ECL aims to build upon the legacy established by DeSimone.