The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is reportedly well on its way to becoming the first Native American tribe with a Las Vegas casino resort after having its deal to purchase the Palms Casino Resort unanimously approved by the four-member Nevada Gaming Commission.

According to a Thursday report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper, the federally-recognized band inked an agreement with Red Rock Resorts Incorporated in May that is to see it pay around $550 million so as to assume ownership over the 703-room property located just a stone’s throw from the Las Vegas Strip. The source detailed that this arrangement for the 30-acre property, which was signed off by the Nevada Gaming Control Board earlier this month, is now expected to close later today to give the tribe a prominent presence on the southern Nevada casino scene.

Burgeoning buyer:

Headquartered in the California city of San Bernardino, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has been responsible for its home state’s San Manuel Casino venue since 1986 and recently rebranded the property as the Yaamava’ Resort and Casino at San Manuel while simultaneously unveiling an adjacent 432-room hotel. The tribe via its San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority enterprise offers a collection of over 4,900 slots and 100 gaming tables at the San Bernardino County operation and purportedly declared that it wants to re-open the Sands Casino Resort, which has been closed since March of 2020, in the spring with reservations becoming available ‘within days.’

Preparatory procedures:

Cynthia Kiser Murphey (pictured) was hired by the San Manual Band of Mission Indians in September to serve as the new general manager for the Palms Casino Resort and she reportedly disclosed that the tribe had already begun procuring branded cards, dice and chips that will need to be approved by regulators. The former MGM Resorts International executive purportedly moreover noted that this endeavor is bound to ‘take some time’ although very little capital improvements are to be needed owing to Red Rock Resorts Incorporated’s commitment to diligent maintenance.

Aboriginal appeal:

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that another tribe, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, is next year slated to become the first Native American enterprise with a property on the actual Las Vegas Strip after its Hard Rock International subordinate completes the $1.075 billion purchase from MGM Resorts International of the 3,000-room Mirage Las Vegas venue. This arrangement is purportedly due to eventually see the 32-year-old facility rebranded under the Hard Rock Las Vegas moniker and feature a guitar-shaped hotel similar to that already offered by Florida’s massive Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood development.

Area assurance:

Latisha Casas serves as the Chair for the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority and she reportedly told the newspaper that her organization now intends to begin marketing the Palms Casino Resort towards Las Vegas residents and members of its own database. She purportedly furthermore divulged that the facility is to re-open complete with a sportsbook under the operation of William Hill US while employing approximately 1,200 people including any former workers who may now want to return.

Casas reportedly pronounced…

“We are grateful for this opportunity to share our long-standing tradition of hospitality with Las Vegas and execute our vision for this iconic resort.”