The Poker Palace on North Las Vegas Boulevard is on track to reopen in mid April after a months-long gut job by Reno-based Truckee Gaming. The longtime locals casino, which closed last fall, is coming back under a new name and with poker back on the floor, although leadership says regulars should expect a very different-looking joint.
Truckee won regulatory approval to operate the site and plans to relaunch the building as Club Fortune Casino North after buying the property for about $20 million. "It had the look that if Circus Circus and the Excalibur had a baby, that was Poker Palace," Truckee CEO Ferenc Szony told commissioners, according to CardPlayer.
What's changing inside the building
The remodel will bring in new slot machines and gaming systems, a redesigned bar, a larger restaurant and kitchen, refreshed restrooms and new exterior and interior finishes, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Truckee says it hopes to add a sportsbook down the line, and the poker room will be rebuilt as a focal point, although most other table games at the property are not expected to return, per CDC Gaming.
Jobs and neighborhood impact
Truckee plans to give former Poker Palace employees hiring preference, but total staffing is expected to shrink from roughly 125 to about 100 as the rebrand takes effect. Some managers will be temporarily reassigned to Truckee's Club Fortune in Henderson while hourly workers face layoffs during construction, according to CardPlayer.
Where this fits in Las Vegas’ poker picture
The reopening lands in the middle of a modest rebound for live poker rooms after a string of closures, with industry trackers noting several recent reopenings at major Strip properties. Poker.org has been following that trend. Meanwhile, Boyd Gaming's Cadence Crossing project in Henderson, which filings say will include roughly 10,000 square feet of gaming and about 450 slots, underscores continued locals-market investment, per Boyd Gaming.
The Nevada Gaming Commission is expected to take up final approval as Truckee pushes to finish construction and open by mid April, a timeline first reported by CDC Gaming. The Las Vegas Review-Journal documented the company's licensing testimony and purchase details.
