The Pass Casino Sold to ECL Gaming Group
HENDERSON, Nev. – The Pass Casino in downtown Henderson is set to change ownership after ECL Water Street, the company behind Emerald Island and Rainbow Club, agreed to acquire the property from DeSimone Gaming.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The transaction is expected to close on 1 August, pending regulatory approvals. Following the sale, The Pass Casino will temporarily close for an extensive renovation expected to last about a year.
The acquisition will place all three casino properties in Henderson’s Water Street District under the same ownership group.
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Renovation Plans Unveiled
ECL Water Street is owned by Marc Falcone and Ron Winchell and operates the nearby Emerald Island and Rainbow Club casinos.
Tim Brooks, general manager of both properties, said the company intends to upgrade The Pass and introduce new amenities while supporting the ongoing redevelopment of downtown Henderson.
“The Pass is a cornerstone of this community”, Brooks said. “We are honored to welcome The Pass into the ECL family and look forward to building on the strong foundation Joe and his team have established.”
Plans include renovations to food and beverage facilities, interior upgrades and an expansion of the gaming floor. The casino currently operates around 350 slot machines, with the renovated property expected to feature between 450 and 500 machines.
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Property Was Facing New Chapter
The deal comes as Joe DeSimone, owner of DeSimone Gaming, focuses on other Nevada gaming properties, including the Bighorn Casino in North Las Vegas and the Longhorn Casino in Las Vegas.
DeSimone acquired the property from Boyd Gaming in late 2020 and reopened it as The Pass in April 2021 after renovations. Before that, the venue operated for decades as the Eldorado Casino and was the first casino owned by the Boyd family.
The latest transaction follows a long history for the property, which originally opened in 1961 as the Wheel Casino.
Downtown Henderson Growth Drives Investment
Brooks said ECL sees strong long-term potential in Henderson, particularly as residential developments continue expanding across the eastern part of the city. The company cited growth in communities such as Cadence and broader investment across the Water Street District as reasons for increasing its presence in the area.
When renovations are completed, ECL expects to add around 50 new jobs at the property. DeSimone said he is confident the new owners will continue investing in the casino and the local community.
“ECL Gaming has demonstrated a strong commitment to our community, and I’m confident they will continue to invest in the success of The Pass for years to come”, he said.
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