Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino

History

Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino is one of the most historically significant properties on the northern end of the Strip corridor. Its story begins in 1967 when Kirk Kerkorian, a real estate developer and later aviation/entertainment magnate, acquired a 64-acre site on Paradise Road. He commissioned architect Martin Stern Jr. to design a massive hotel that would become the largest in the world upon opening. The International Hotel debuted on July 2, 1969 with 1,512 rooms – a title it held until the Las Vegas Hilton expansion in 1975. It was also the first Las Vegas resort to offer a “showroom with no cover charge” and the venue where Elvis Presley performed his famous 1969 comeback, later returning for 837 consecutive sold-out shows until 1976.

In July 1971, Hilton Hotels Corporation bought the property and renamed it the Las Vegas Hilton, adding two expansion wings (the north and south towers) in 1975 and 1979. By 1981, with 3,174 rooms, it became the world’s largest hotel again until the late 1980s. In 1981 a devastating arson fire killed eight people and damaged several floors. The hotel also introduced the SuperBook in 1986 – a race and sports book that at 30,000 square feet was the largest in the world. The top floor Sky Villas, each with a private swimming pool, were added in 1995.

Colony Capital bought the resort for $280 million in 2004 but defaulted during the Great Recession. In 2012 it was renamed LVH – Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, and later that year Goldman Sachs and Gramercy Capital purchased the property. In 2014, Westgate Resorts (founded by David Siegel) acquired it and rebranded it as Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. Westgate subsequently launched a multi-year renovation, converting a significant number of hotel rooms into timeshare villas while maintaining 2,956 guest rooms.

Casino and Sportsbook

The property spans 30 floors and 375 feet. The casino offers 54,923 square feet of gaming space with 576 slot machines, 38 table games, a 7-table poker room, and the iconic SuperBook sportsbook. In April 2026, Westgate announced a partnership with Caesars Entertainment to rebrand the SuperBook as “Westgate SuperBook powered by Caesars Sportsbook,” enhancing mobile and retail betting experiences.

Entertainment and Dining

Entertainment is a major draw. The International Theater seats 1,607 and has hosted headliners from Elvis to Barry Manilow (who began a residency in 2015). A 400-seat Westgate Cabaret features rotating acts. The resort also features an Elvis Presley-themed attraction and hosted Star Trek: The Experience from 1998 to 2008. Dining options include Benihana (Japanese teppanyaki), Edge Steakhouse (rated #1 on TripAdvisor for Las Vegas), Fresco Italiano (rated Las Vegas’ #1 Italian on TripAdvisor), and Silk Road Asian Bistro. The Velvet Bar opened in 2025 as a tribute to Kirk Kerkorian’s vision.

Amenities and Awards

Amenities include a newly renovated pool deck, a full-service day spa, tennis courts, a fitness center, and direct access to the Las Vegas Monorail. The resort also contains convention space and has been used for professional boxing and esports events. Westgate Las Vegas is a timeshare property as well, with Westgate Owners having access to dedicated floors and lounge.

The property has won multiple industry awards, including recognition in TIME’s America’s Best Private Companies 2026 and the ARDA ACE Philanthropic Award in 2026. A guest won a $10.29 million Megabucks jackpot in June 2026. The hotel maintains a four-diamond AAA rating and continues to draw both leisure and business travelers due to its adjacency to the Las Vegas Convention Center.