The Pass Casino in downtown Henderson has been sold to the ownership group behind the Emerald Island and Rainbow Club casinos, with plans to close the property on August 1 for a year-long renovation.
The acquisition consolidates three gaming properties in downtown Henderson under ECL Gaming, a division of ECL Water Street. Owned by Marc Falcone and Ron Winchell, ECL operates Emerald Island and Rainbow Club, both located across the street from The Pass Casino.
Joe DeSimone, owner of The Pass Casino through DeSimone Gaming, is currently seeking a Nevada Gaming Control Board license to operate two other casinos in Las Vegas: the Bighorn Casino in North Las Vegas and the Longhorn Casino on Boulder Highway. Approximately 60 employees work at The Pass, and DeSimone intends to transfer as many as possible to his other properties.
Tim Brooks, general manager of Emerald Island and Rainbow Club, explained that the acquisition fits ECL’s plan to expand its presence in the growing Water Street District and the east Henderson market. “We wanted to expand on the growing Water Street District and east Henderson market,” Brooks said. “A lot of houses are being built in that area and a lot of people are moving to Henderson as the second largest city in the state.” He also described The Pass as “a cornerstone of this community.”
The Pass Casino is scheduled to close on August 1, after which ECL will assess renovation plans to upgrade the property and introduce new amenities. Currently, The Pass has about 350 slot machines, with plans to increase to between 450 and 500 following the remodel. Brooks indicated that the renovation would create approximately 50 new jobs compared to the current staffing levels.
“We’re going to upgrade the food and beverage, remodel the entire inside, and make it a beautiful property,” Brooks said. “It’s nice now, but we’re going to improve on what Joe DeSimone started. We haven’t defined the full scope of work yet, but that should be forthcoming in the next few months.”
The Pass originally opened in 1961 as the Wheel Casino. It was later renamed the Eldorado Casino under the ownership of Sam and Bill Boyd, founders of Boyd Gaming. The property closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and was sold by Boyd Gaming to DeSimone in December 2020. DeSimone reopened it as The Pass in April 2021.
Brooks expressed confidence in the future of downtown Henderson, stating that ECL is “very bullish on the future of east Henderson and in particular downtown Henderson.” He pointed to the nearby Cadence master-planned subdivision, one of the fastest-growing in the nation, which has already seen about 7,500 homes built with several thousand more planned. This residential growth has attracted other operators such as Boyd Gaming, which opened the Cadence Crossing casino in spring 2026.
Following the sale, DeSimone Companies will continue to own and operate the adjacent Atwell Suites hotel on Water Street, maintaining a presence in the area.
For further information, see the original report from CDC Gaming. Related coverage on casino operations and Nevada gaming is available on GamblingNews.today USA and in the Business section.
Additional recent developments in Nevada gaming include the planned takeover of Primm properties by Terrible’s, as reported by CDC Gaming, and the Las Vegas tourism agency’s allocation of $4.6 million to host the NBA Summer League through 2028, detailed here.
- Pass Casino Sold to Owners of Emerald Island and Rainbow - June 10, 2026
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