Las Vegas Casino Timeline
From the first resort in 1931 to today's megaresorts - the complete visual history of 143 Las Vegas casinos.
Pioneer Era
1930-1945
The birth of Las Vegas gambling, from the first resort to the earliest Strip casinos.
Golden Age
1946-1966
The Rat Pack era. Mob-built casinos defined the Strip with glamour, showmanship, and legendary entertainment.
Corporate Era
1967-1988
Howard Hughes and corporate ownership transformed Vegas from mob-run operations to legitimate businesses.
Megaresort Era
1989-2004
The Mirage sparked a building boom. Themed megaresorts replaced classic casinos with billion-dollar spectacles.
Modern Era
2005-Present
Luxury redefined. CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Resorts World, and Fontainebleau represent the cutting edge.
Visual Timeline
Each bar represents a casino's lifespan. Active casinos extend to the present day. Hover or tap for details.
Key Milestones
The Meadows opens as Las Vegas's first resort
Thomas Hull builds the first resort outside of downtown, pioneering the concept of resort-style gambling.
El Rancho Vegas becomes the first Strip casino
Located on what would become the Las Vegas Strip, El Rancho Vegas established the model for future Strip resorts.
The Flamingo opens, ushering in the mob era
Bugsy Siegel's Flamingo brought Hollywood glamour and organized crime money to Las Vegas.
The Moulin Rouge opens as Vegas's first integrated casino
The Moulin Rouge made history as the first major casino to welcome guests of all races.
Howard Hughes arrives, beginning the corporate era
Hughes purchased the Desert Inn and several other casinos, starting the transition from mob to corporate ownership.
The Mirage opens, launching the megaresort era
Steve Wynn's The Mirage cost $630 million and transformed Las Vegas with its volcano, dolphins, and luxury.
MGM Grand opens as the world's largest hotel
With over 5,000 rooms, MGM Grand represented the peak of 'bigger is better' Vegas thinking.
Bellagio opens, redefining luxury in Vegas
Steve Wynn's $1.6 billion Bellagio brought European elegance and fine art to the Strip.
CityCenter opens as the largest privately funded project in U.S. history
The $8.5 billion CityCenter complex included ARIA, Vdara, and Crystals.
Resorts World Las Vegas opens on the former Stardust/Echelon site
The $4.3 billion resort marked the first new-build megaresort on the Strip in over a decade.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas finally opens after 16 years
Originally started in 2007, the $3.7 billion Fontainebleau finally welcomed guests in December 2023.
The Mirage closes, ending an era
The iconic Mirage closed on July 17, 2024, to be transformed into the Hard Rock Las Vegas.