Red Rock Resorts receives final regulatory approval for Durango Casino opening amid ongoing labor disputes

Red Rock Resorts, the parent company of Station Casinos, has secured the final regulatory approval for its much-anticipated $780 million Durango Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, marking a milestone as the property prepares to open its doors to the public on November 20.

The approval comes amidst long-standing labor disputes between Station Casinos and members of the Culinary Workers Local 226. The Nevada Gaming Commission, in a unanimous decision, approved the licensing for the Durango project. Some members of the commission, however, expressed their hope that the decades-old feud between the Culinary Workers and Station Casinos would eventually find resolution.

Commission member Rosa Solis-Rainey voiced her concerns during the proceedings, stating: “To see these kinds of disputes are just a little bit troubling to me and hopefully you can work them out.”

The public comment session during the gaming commission meeting witnessed Culinary representatives, as well as current and former Station Casinos employees, expressing their grievances against the company. A similar scene unfolded during a recent Gaming Control Board hearing.

The Culinary Workers Local 226 and Station Casinos have been at odds over union organizing efforts for more than two decades, and the gaming commissioners noted that there is active litigation pending with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). “We hear the allegations, and they do concern us,” Solis-Rainey added.

In both hearings, Culinary members, who have been seeking union contracts at Station Casinos properties in Las Vegas since the 1990s, claimed that they were not rehired following the pandemic, while others alleged that they were targeted after the pandemic due to their union-organizing activities.

However, in contrast to these allegations, several Red Rock employees and managers spoke in support of the company during both hearings.

Gaming Commission Chairwoman Jennifer Togliatti acknowledged the complexity and protracted nature of the NLRB litigation, preventing gaming regulators from acting on the allegations.

Despite these labor disputes, Durango Casino is set to become the first all-new locals casino to open in Southern Nevada in 14 years. Located near the 215 Beltway and South Durango Drive, the casino and resort is strategically positioned to serve the approximately 250,000 adults residing within a 5-mile radius.

The property boasts an array of amenities, including 209 rooms, 28 suites, an 83,000-square-foot casino floor featuring almost 2,300 slot machines and 63 table games. Culinary options span 15 dining establishments, including four full-service restaurants and a 25,000-square-foot food hall. Additionally, the property offers 20,000 square feet of convention and meeting space and a resort pool area.

In terms of employment, Red Rock Resorts is in the process of hiring the casino’s 1,700-person workforce, with approximately 55% already onboard as of the latest update.

Looking beyond the labor disputes and challenges, Red Rock Resorts remains steadfast in its expansion plans, aiming to double its Southern Nevada footprint over the next decade. Durango Casino is just one of seven properties the company intends to open in the coming years.