When the Lady Luck closed February 12, 2006, its owners told the nearly 700 displaced workers that renovations should be completed within nine months to a year. It’s been more than a year, and the property that was supposed to be “the anchor of the Downtown market” does not look very different from the day it closed.

Andrew Donner of Lady Luck-owner Downtown Resorts told the Nevada Gaming Control Board in November that the project was delayed a year for unspecified reasons. City officials, who have been actively working with Donner and Downtown Resorts, say the project is on hold due to financial troubles.

“It’s on a complete hold while they get financing,” Mayor Oscar Goodman said last month.

Since closing a year ago, the owners have gutted the casino building at Stewart and Fourth Street, but the main towers look untouched. Paul Wilkins, director of the Las Vegas Building Department, said the owners have not applied for nor received any new permits since a demolition permit was issued more than six months ago.

“In my estimation, that project has just sort of fizzled out,” Wilkins said.

By Greg Jones

Greg Jones is managing editor of Casino Connection Nevada, as well as associate editor of Global Gaming Business magazine.

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