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There’s an interesting thing going on at the soon-closing The Mirage Las Vegas — lines and lines of bettors are waiting to play. Not necessarily because they are going to miss the iconic casino, but because they’re hoping to hit a jackpot before the casino shutters its doors on June 17.
You’re going to want to keep reading to get insights into this one-of-a-kind situation that’s in its final hours.
$1.6 Million In Jackpots Before Close
The above headline is no mistake — the Mirage had $1.6 million in jackpots to give away in its final days. Why? Well, not because they’re charitable folks, but because under Nevada Law, all remaining balances must be paid out before it officially closes. Tuesday, July 16 is the final day to get in before July 17 is the closing day.
As a few of days ago, the number was $1.2 million in slot jackpots and another $400,000 in table game jackpots left. That’s what the Los Angeles Times reported last week, but it’s been whittled down considerably since.
The progressive slot jackpots started on Tuesday, July 9, and have been happening every 30 minutes from 3 pm to 7 pm. On July 12 and 13, the jackpots reached $250,000 each day. On July 16 — the final hoorah — it will be a $100,000 jackpot.
Here is the thing though, only players with loyalty cards at the Mirage were eligible. Since last week, they’ve lined up in droves for a chance to grab a piece of the pie. These members swipe their cards in a machine within two minutes of any drawing in order to be eligible to win. Lucky winners get a voucher that can be exchanged for hard cash.
If you’re in the Vegas area (and have a Mirage card), you’ll want to rush over right after reading this. Time is just about up on the casino AND your chances at this jackpot.
Mirage Set Time For Volcano’s Final Eruption
Let’s be honest, Vegas isn’t the cheapest place in the world — not on The Strip at least. Four- and five-star resorts run for $300 a pop on the weekends, glitzy restaurants line up the casinos, elegant shops do too. It’s hard to enjoy the Strip without coming strapped with hundreds of dollars.
One of the few free attractions was The Mirage’s volcano. This massive replica would erupt four times a day — blasting fire, smoke, water, and light each time to the tune of hundreds in attendance. It too will go off for the last time in the casino’s final day.
This is despite an online petition garnering 11,000 signatures to keep the attraction around. Property owners, the Hard Rock International, aren’t budging though and are moving on with the demolition, along with the rest of the resort (more this soon).
The Mirage will host a closing ceremony on Wednesday, July 17. It’s set for 9 am and the volcano is expected to light up one last time. The property will then officially close at 11 am for good.
Hard Rock Readies For Replacement Casino
The Mirage’s date was sealed in 2022 when Hard Rock bought it from MGM. Once the deal went through, it was a matter of if, not when, Hard Rock would rebuild the location with its famous guitar-shaped building.
That’s right, a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will replace the Mirage on Las Vegas Strip. The old property will be torn to shreds and then rebuilt from scratch on the same plot of land. Demolition is slated to begin next year, while Hard Rock is hoping to be done and launched by 2027.
The guitar-themed tower is planned to stand 700 feet tall, making it a striking addition to Sin City’s already bustling skyline. Elsewhere, the Hard Rock’s plans for the new property are extensive. It will boast 3,600 rooms, increasing the Mirage’s current capacity by about 600. The casino floor will cover 174,000 square feet and include 2,000 slots and 212 table games.
Additionally, the sportsbook is expected to feature the Hard Rock Bet platform. Now that the Seminole Tribe — the owners of the Hard Rock — won their sports betting in Florida case, we expect the platform to really hit its stride. By the time this casino is up and running in 2027, Hard Rock Bet might be one of the top sports betting apps around.
The entire project is projected to employ nearly 7,000 people once completed — with around 2,500 construction jobs during the build phase alone. This development not only promises a new entertainment hotspot in Las Vegas but also significant job creation in the local area.
But hey, that’s the least the Hard Rock could do for Vegas’ betting scene. After all, Mirage was once a signature property of the city, and losing it is a sting to locals who’ve been around. It first opened in 1989, as the then-most expensive resort in the city. The Mirage also marked the first new Strip property since 1973 and eventually led to a boom in other new developments such as the Luxor and MGM Grand. For the four decades that followed, Mirage made a name for itself as the home of Siegfried and Roy and Cirque du Soleil shows.
But as they say, “all good things must come to an end.” Goodbye and thanks for the memories, Mirage.
