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April 29, 2026

How a 1970s Bingo Hall Led to a Big, Bold Tribal Casino on the Strip

City Cast Las Vegas

How a 1970s Bingo Hall Led to a Big, Bold Tribal Casino on the Strip

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That gigantic guitar rising on the Strip is the latest milestone in the growing story of tribal casinos in Las Vegas. The Hard Rock Hotel, soon to replace the former Mirage, is owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, making it one of a small but growing number of tribal-operated properties on the Strip. Host Jesse Merrick sits down with visiting UNLV Boyd School of Law professors Kathryn Rand and Steven Light to trace the surprising journey from a 1970s Seminole bingo hall in Florida to one of the most anticipated casino openings in Vegas history.


Learn more about the sponsors of this Tuesday, April 28th episode:

TEDxLasVegas


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