Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel was the name and brand of not only a hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, but also an entire company called Fitzgeralds Gaming that had a few other hotels across America.
Fitzgeralds Hotels and Casinos
Fitzgeralds Gaming Group was based in Reno, Nevada, and had a total of four casino hotels under its portfolio. The casinos were located in Las Vegas, Colorado, Reno and Tunica Mississippi. All the properties have since been sold and renamed due to Fitzgerald Gaming going bankrupt in 2000. The most well known Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel was in Las Vegas, Nevada, and still operates as a hotel and casino although under a different name.
The Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel Las Vegas
The Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel was originally opened as the Sundance Hotel in 1980. The hotel was owned and operated by a known organized crime figure, Moe Dalitz who was tied to the Chicago Outfit. This obviously caused some difficulty in getting a gaming licence, so the Hotel and casino was nominally run by his associates who also ran the Fremont and the Stardust casinos in Las Vegas. In 1983 these two men however faced suspension of their gaming licence as well, due to skimming. Dalitz then applied to manage the resort himself, but was thwarted by the Gaming Commission who stalled on his license yet again.
Dalitz then decided to call it a day, and sold the hotel and casino in 1987 to Fitzgerald Gaming, whereupon it was renamed Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel. The hotel and casino sported a Luck of the Irish theme, with leprechauns and four leaf clovers all over the place. Sadly in 2001 Fitzgeralds Gaming filed for bankruptcy and the Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel changed hands, retaining its name however. The new owner, Don Barden bought not only the Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel Las Vegas, but the two other Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotels in Colorado and Mississippi for a total of $141 million.
Barden was then the first ever African American owner of a hotel and casino in Las Vegas. In may 2008 it was reported that Barden was pledging the Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel to generate $35 million equity stake in a slots only casino in Pittsburgh, which meant that the sale yet again of the Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel was imminent. Barden died in 2011 and the Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel was sold by his estate a few months later to brothers Derek and Greg Stevens who were majority owners of the Golden Gate casino.
The Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel Today
Today the Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel has been renamed the D Hotel and casino, D standing for Downtown. $22 million dollars was dropped on it by its new owners for renovations and modernising. The casino now offers dancing dealers on table games, and one of the only operational Sigma Derby slot machines in Las Vegas. This slot is located in the second floor of the casino, which has a Vintage Vegas theme.
The hotel itself was upgraded as well, with all of the rooms now offering modern amenities and luxurious finishes. Suites were added too as there had only been simple rooms previously. New restaurants were added, as were new bars and entertainment venues. The D has a permanent street front bar in Fremont Street that has flair bartenders as well as dancing bartenders. Another of its bars, LONGBAR is the longest bar in all of Nevada. In 2013 the D began hosting martial arts competitions as well.