South Shore attorney buys Bill’s Casino for $5.22 mil.
By Kathryn Reed
South Shore attorney Mike Laub paid Harrah’s Entertainment $5.225 million for the five parcels that encompass Bill’s Casino at Stateline.
The sale went through Friday.
Bill's is gone; what the new business name will be remains to be seen.
Billâ’s ceased being a casino Jan. 4. It was a slots only gaming facility for the past few years. Named after Harrah’ founder Bill Harrah, the small club nestled on the east edge of Harrah’s Lake Tahoe was a draw for locals and tourists in its heyday. People used to spill out onto the sidewalks because it didn’t have traditional doors.
Like so much of the gaming industry in Northern Nevada, but especially in Lake Tahoe, the influx of Indian casinos throughout California has been debilitating.
Laub, who has a Glenbrook mailing address, has spoken with Douglas County officials about putting a strip club in where the casino was.
It’s zoned for such a business.
Douglas County Manager Michael Brown said Laub has not submitted any plans to the county.
Brown said the county, including the elected commissioners, have jurisdiction over land use issues but cannot deny a business the right to operate just because they may not like the type of establishment.
Commission Chairwoman Nancy McDermid did not return phone calls.
Laub did not return phone calls Monday either. Jacqueline Peterson with Harrah’s Entertainment in Las Vegas said, “I don’t imagine we’re commenting” when asked what the company thought of potentially having a strip club steps from its Harrah’s Lake Tahoe and Harvey’s properties.
Even though Harrah’s and MontBleu have nightclubs inside the casinos, access to them is only from inside the casino. Scantily clad women have been part of their lineup at times, but never have they operated what would be called a strip club.
“We are opposed to it,” Mike Donovan, spokesman for MontBleu, said of a strip club moving in next door. “I don’t think it’s good for the overall market place. An element like that taints the cleanliness of the Lake Tahoe market just a bit. I think it will hurt other aspects of the Lake Tahoe market.”
Lakeside Inn and Casino as well as the Gaming Alliance are also opposed to this type of business going in.
“Douglas County commissioners will hear an overwhelming weight of opposition to this not for moral reasons, but purely for economic development reasons,” Mike Bradford, president of Lakeside Inn, said. “Edgewood Companies is working on a proposal that would turn Horizon into some completely different kind of facility. With a strip club across the street, it would be a disincentive to do that.”
Edgewood Companies officials didn’t return calls. The Minden-based company owns the property Horizon and MontBleu are on as well as the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
Bradford acknowledged that gaming is taking a backseat to the outdoors and that something more inline with what he envisions for the future of the South Shore should occupy the Bill’s property to better complement where the area is going, not where it has been.
No one from Horizon or Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority returned calls.
Excellent!! Brilliant!! Can’t Wait!! That is exactly what Tahoe needs….a little exitement! Well done Mr. Laub- hope to see you open very soon!
Going to be in South Lake for a Bachelor Party over the Memorial Day Weekend. Please get this up and running by then so we don’t have to make the trek all the way down to Reno. This would be great for South Lake Tahoe Business.
We live in one the greatest recreation area in California and the best we can do is a cheep topless strip club. The reason gambling and prostitution is legal in Nevada is that rocks and sage brush wont draw much business. but we are better than that and we do not have to lower our standards. The business climate will improve and when it does how long will it take to reverse this dive to the bottom. please i live here.
David, You live on the strip in South Shore? There are a number of nice neighborhoods around the strip that you should look into. Living next to a casino can’t be a good thing. If you don’t like topless clubs don’t go there. Gambling is an adult activity, so are topless clubs. Maybe they should put a chuck e cheese in there, then parents could drop the kids off and go gambling.
Skier There’s places down in the near by Valley that has everything you are looking for.
Just look in the yellow pages for Kit Kat or Sage Brush …….The old saying is A little peace never hurt anyone.
Tell them Dem-witt from Tahoe sent you there to spend 1000’s.They will take your money treat you very kindly.
Skier we have no Standards here just some old has beens that doesn’t need to get back in the saddle again.”lol”
Yes all the recent development in the area has been a real improvement to my little mountain town. The convention center whole in the ground the shopping center with no parking and prices i can not afford.I am not a prude and i dont care what goes on in a strip club i just dont like what such businesses do to the community. There is not much i can do about it but i do not have to like it.
MY WIFE AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN GOING TO LAKE TAHOE FOR THE PAST 28 YEARS. WE HAVE SEEN A BIG DECLINE IN THE CASINOS THERE..WE CAN REMEMBER WHEN YOU COULD PLAY FOR HOURS ON $20.00..NOW I KNOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED..BUT WE DID NOTICE ALONG WITH OHTER PEOPLE THERE THAT THE WINNING HAS DECLINED..AND I DONT MEAN JACK POTS..BUT JUST THE $500 AND $800.00 AMOUNTS..SEEMS TO ME IF THE CASINOS LOOSEN UP THE SLOTS A BIT WORD OF MOUTH GOES A LONG WAY..WE HAVE KINDA STOP GOING AS OFTEN TO TAHOE AND STARTED SPENDING MORE TIME IN RENO..WE HAVE WON A LOT MORE THERE..BUT YOU CAN NOT COMPAIR THE MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS AND VBIEWS THERE..WE STILL GO FOR THAT..BUT NOT TO GAMBLE AS MUCH..
Larry “YOU GOT BE IN THE RIGHT SPOT AT THE RIGHT TIME,LUCK COMES IN PEAKS AND VALLEYS.”
The Friday before super-bowl I went into Harveys to place a football bet,the line was long so I decided to take the bet paper out check it out all the props ,sat down at a dollar machine,what the heck put in 100 bucks ,5 dollar bet,on the forth draw 20.00 bucks ,dealt me a royal, $9138.35 jack pot.I tip well,Cool, got up left to Lakeside Inn made a 4 figure bet on the New Orleans +5 1/2 went up stairs to see who was at the bar that was local,hit another royal for 1000.00 ,boy this really been a cool day,left went to Mott’s to have a burger ,on the first 40.00 bucks hit the 4 Aces for 600.00…….Larry the machines aren’t tight the players are. THE following Sunday The Saint kicked butt and I got paid with a grin on my face.
You got play if you want win.
People who aren’t coming is their own doing,They still hand out money at the clubs here, they still got it to give away ,you got come out your Huts lay some cash out to win.
I’m not giving it back either Larry, I plan on doing some engine power toys for the twin v-8’s On the boat this year,got cash for gas, summer concerts,Babes that go topless ride for free.
That Larry is the “TAHOE LIFESTYLE.”