Lucky Dragon, the first Chinese-themed hotel and casino in Las Vegas, has temporarily shut down all casino and restaurant operations in what it says is part of a “repositioning” process.
In a statement, Lucky Dragon said, “Effective immediately Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino is beginning the process of repositioning and, in doing so, will have a reduction in staff while it temporarily closes all gaming and restaurant operations.
“While this is a difficult decision, this reorganization paves the way for Lucky Dragon to establish new partnerships that will enhance the property’s long-term positioning and provide a better guest experience.”
According to local media reports, the casino was shut down at 07:00 on Thursday morning, barely 12 months since it first opened in December 2016. The hotel and gift shop will remain open while Cha Garden bar and tea room will also stay open with an expanded food menu.
Gaming chips and tickets can still be redeemed but all former promotions are no longer valid.
A spokesperson for Lucky Dragon told local media that the casino will be closed for six months with laid off staff able to re-apply for their positions once gaming operations resume. They also suggested that the owners would look to outsource casino operations upon re-opening.
Lucky Dragon, a boutique property featuring distinctly Chinese themes and aimed primarily at Asian tourists and California’s large Asian population, opened its doors just 13 months ago but has reportedly struggled to gain any momentum and was forced to make 100 staff redundant in March 2017.
Inside Asian Gaming CEO Andrew W Scott visited Lucky Dragon in January 2017 and identified some major flaws in its quest to capture a slice of the lucrative Chinese gambling market.
“Asia is not one place, it is an entire continent with many different countries all of which are very distinct,” he said. “Lucky Dragon was trying to be all things to all people and succeeding at none of them.
“There really exists an opportunity for a Las Vegas casino to theme itself exclusively as a Chinese property and we were excited when news of Lucky Dragon’s opening broke that this might finally be the one, but sadly upon visiting we realized that in many respects it was going to fall short of the mark.”
Lucky Dragon is the first of two Chinese-themed casino-resorts planned for the Las Vegas Strip with Genting’s US$4 billion Resorts World Las Vegas currently under construction nearby and scheduled to open in 2020.
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