An exclusive photo shoot deal with Vanity Fair has kept pictures of the latest development on the Las Vegas Strip out of the media, but tomorrow night guests paying $7,500 (to include an overnight stay) or $1,500 will be amongst the first people to see Steve Wynn’s latest creation. All 2,087 seats have been sold for the fundraiser at The Wynn Theater, and the charity gala is in aid of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, the Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Stars and Communities in Schools. One minute after midnight, when Wednesday has become Thursday 28 April, the public will be allowed into Wynn Las Vegas and gaming will commence.

Steve Wynn has developed three other casino resorts in Las Vegas since 1967: The Mirage, Treasure Island and Bellagio. He was also responsible for the Golden Nuggets in Laughlin and Atlantic City, Beau Rivage in Biloxi, and is constructing Wynn Macau, due to open in the autumn next year. Last week Wynn Resorts learnt that it had been invited by the Singapore government to present a Request for Proposal, the second stage in the bid to build Integrated Resorts on Sentosa Island and at Marina Bay. Wynn Las Vegas has brought around 9,500 jobs to the city, some 1,300 positions having gone to employees previously with MGM Mirage.

The Mirage was opened by Wynn in 1989, the first new development for almost twenty years. Costs reached a then staggering $630 million, which pales into insignificance when compared to Wynn Las Vegas at $2.7 billion. Mirage Resorts was sold to MGM Grand, Inc in 2000 for $6.4 billion. Unlike most casinos, the Wynn Las Vegas entrance is concealed from the Strip. A $130 million man-made landscaped mountain rises as high as seven storeys in some places. The 2,716-room hotel is on the 200-acre site that was once the Desert Inn Resort & Casino. The casino will cover 111,000 sq ft, retail space is 74,700 sq ft filled with top designer names, and more than 223,000 sq ft is convention area. The adjoining redesigned golf course is expected to charge $500 per round.

The casino will feature some exclusive slot experiences. Bonus Bingo is an industry first, offering a free bingo game to casino clients at random intervals and with a prize of up to $10,000. Windfall is a Wynn exclusive with machines in denominations of 25c, $1 or $5 and jackpots over $100,000. Gaming tables have all the usual games, including Blackjack, Big 6, Craps, Caribbean Stud, Roulette, Let-it-Ride, Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow, Three Card Poker and War. Blackjack can also be played at the poolside Cabana Bar & Casino.

A lake, pine trees, dancing fountains, art works and natural light are just embellishments to a location that will doubtless become another outstanding success for Wynn Resorts. Steve Wynn has long been redesigning the casino experience and Wynn Las Vegas looks a sure bet to continue to delight its visitors. (E-04.26.05)

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