Hard Rock seeks gaming license waiver during Mirage's transformation

As the Mirage casino-hotel prepares for its rebranding and transformation into Hard Rock Las Vegas, its operators have requested that Clark County allow their gaming license to remain active throughout the property’s lengthy remodeling period. 

On July 11, six days before the Mirage permanently closed, Hard Rock officials applied for a three-year waiver of their gaming license with the Clark County Department of Business License. According to county regulations, gaming licenses can be automatically suspended or rendered nonrenewable if the licensee does not meet the conditions of the license for over 30 consecutive days, unless a valid reason is provided.

The redevelopment plans for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, which include the construction of a 660-foot guitar-shaped hotel tower, are expected to take nearly three years to complete. To accommodate this timeline, the Mirage/Hard Rock team has requested an initial 24-month waiver with the option to extend it for up to two additional six-month periods if necessary.

The Clark County Liquor and Gaming Licensing Board is set to review the waiver request during its August 20 meeting. If the board approves the waiver, it would be retroactively applied to July 17, 2024, the date when the Mirage ceased operations.

Additionally, the board will discuss whether to grant the director administrative authority to further extend the waiver beyond the initial period, should the project require more time.

Hard Rock International, the Florida-based company owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, acquired the Mirage from MGM Resorts International in 2022 for approximately $1.1 billion. Following the purchase, Hard Rock revealed plans to close the Mirage to make way for a complete overhaul of the property. The planned guitar-shaped hotel tower, modeled after a similar structure in Hollywood, Florida, will occupy the space previously held by the Mirage’s famous volcano attraction.

The newly envisioned Hard Rock Las Vegas is expected to open its doors in 2027. Once completed, the property will employ approximately 6,000 staff members, nearly double the number required to operate the Mirage, highlighting Hard Rock’s commitment to expanding its footprint on the Las Vegas Strip.