Gaming to return to old Bill’s casino in Stateline
By Kathryn Reed
Movement is finally occurring at the old Bill’s casino in Stateline.
Mike Laub bought the property in March 2010. His original plan was to turn the parcel into a strip club. Douglas County commissioners prevented that from happening.
Douglas County Community Development has three building permits active for the building next to Harrah’s Lake Tahoe on Highway 50. One is to renovate the interior, though no specific tenant is listed.
The second permit is expected to be issued today. This is for a 6,400- square-foot Pete’s Restaurant and Brewhouse. It will have a bar and limited gaming.
“I am currently reviewing a permit application for Dotty’s Casino. It is approximately 6,600 square feet and has a small bar. They are just proposing slots and video poker games,” Dave Lundergreen, Douglas County building official, told Lake Tahoe News.
The permit is likely to be approved this month.
Never thought I’d actually be relieved to have another casino in this town, but compared to the Laub alternative, I’m quite happy. Trash, trash and more trash…
Serious waste of time & space. Does anyone really see the need for more slot machines (or tables) at Stateline? Even on holiday weekends the current lineup of casinos are not full of players. Bill’s was able to do fine in that location with the overflow from the big guys, but there is no excess overflow anymore.
I realize Dotty’s is more of a local’s brand anyway, more for street corners or strip malls. Locals already have many alternatives. Other than Lakeside Inn, there is Mott Canyon, Goalpost, Fox & Hound, Sam’s Place, and even Safeway if you really need your gambling fix.
I hope the DCC denies the application based upon the true business climate. The climate is this:
1.)Bigger Fish – Can we finalize the future of the Horizon first? Is Edgewood going to be allowed to demolish & rebuild? That venue would be a better tourist attraction that would include gaming.
2.)Monopoly – If the DCC is serious about bringing more, or diverse gaming options to Stateline, let’s see a real player in the industry here…like a Steve Wynn, or Sheldon Adelson from Venetian/Palazzo (Las Vegas Sands, co.). While their list of concert performers has improved recently, the MontBleu/Horizon combo is barely even competitive with Harrah’s/Harvey’s. This town needs some fresh gaming ideas. Nobody can argue that Dotty’s supports that kind of thinking.
Glad to see that LOCALLY owned businesses will be operating. I think that Mr. Laub got outmaneuvered by Mont Bleu and the County Comnissioners blocking his original plan.
They should make it a non-smoking gaming facility. THAT I would do business with!