EDITOR IN CHIEF
PRESTON P. REZAEE, ESQ.
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TYLER MORGAN, ESQ.
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
JEFFRY COLLINS, ESQ.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
BRANDON PIERCE
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INFO@VEGASLEGALMAGAZINE.COM CALL 702-222-3476
CONTRIBUTORS
MARK FIERRO
VALERIE MILLER
MARK MARTIAK
REYNALDO HERRERA
DONOVAN THIESSEN, CPA
DON LOGAY
JIM LA FORTE
BRANDON PIERCE
TYLER MORGAN, ESQ.
Adecade ago, Vegas Legal Magazine launched with a vision: to shine a light on the people, ideas, and innovations shaping the legal and business landscape of Las Vegas. Ten years later, that mission hasn’t changed - but the city certainly has.
This Summer 2025 issue marks our 10-year anniversary, and we couldn’t be more proud to celebrate it with you - our readers, contributors, advertisers, and friends who have made this journey possible. Vegas is a city defined by reinvention, resilience, and bold ambition - and this issue captures all of that and more.
We’re honored to feature Derek Stevens, the visionary owner of Circa, on our cover. In a town that thrives on spectacle, Stevens has become one of the most influential figures on Fremont Street and beyond. His story is more than a business success - it’s a study in risk, reward, and the belief that downtown still has its best days ahead.
Inside, you’ll find a deep dive into how artificial intelligence is reshaping the legal profession - from case research to client management - raising important questions about ethics, efficiency, and the future of law itself. We also explore the emergence of the Otonomous Hotel, a new hospitality concept blurring the lines between technology, luxury, and autonomy in a way only Las Vegas could pull off.
One of our most thought-provoking features this issue unpacks The One Big Beautiful Act of 2025 - a cultural, political, and social movement sweeping through Southern Nevada, aimed at redefining civic engagement and collective impact. In true Vegas fashion, it’s bold, it’s dramatic, and it just might work.
We’re also excited to welcome a new advertiser to our pages: TBI Analytics. Their expertise in forensic data and investigative analytics is a natural fit for our audience of legal professionals and decision-makers. We’re thrilled to have them join our growing community.
A decade in, Vegas Legal Magazine continues to evolve - not just as a publication, but as a platform for insight, advocacy, and storytelling. We’re grateful to the leaders, disruptors, and everyday changemakers who allow us to tell their stories - and to our readers, who keep asking the right questions.
Here’s to ten years of legal insight with Vegas flair - and to the next ten, whatever they may bring.
Artificial Intelligence is no longer something we’re anticipating—it’s here. From legal research tools that work faster than any paralegal, to the world’s first AI-powered hotel rising just blocks from the Strip, we are living in a moment of massive change. And with that change comes a familiar mix of awe, opportunity—and anxiety
In this issue of Vegas Legal Magazine, we dive into two distinct but connected worlds reshaped by AI: hospitality and law. Our feature on the Otonomous Hotel introduces a concept that feels straight out of science fiction—a place where your digital preferences are learned, predicted, and catered to by machines. On the legal front, we explore AI’s growing role in law firms, where everything from contract analysis to case strategy is now being touched, if not transformed, by intelligent software.
But let’s address the elephant in the room: fear. Many worry that AI is here to take jobs, to reduce skilled work to buttonpushing, or worse, to foster a kind of professional laziness by replacing thinking with automation. These concerns aren’t unfounded. Whenever efficiency increases dramatically, we’re forced to rethink our value, our purpose, and our role.
Yet, that same efficiency has a flip side worth celebrating. AI isn’t just about doing things faster—it’s about freeing up time and brainpower for higher-level thinking. It’s about reducing redundancy and empowering professionals to be more strategic, more creative, and—ironically—more human. For lawyers, that might mean less time sifting through case law and more time spent with clients. For business owners, it may mean faster scaling with fewer resources. For everyone, it can mean new tools to learn faster, work smarter, and live better.
There’s also the potential—perhaps the most exciting part—for AI to create entirely new industries, professions, and ways of living we haven’t even imagined yet. Every major technological leap in history has come with both disruption and discovery. This will be no different.
So, as we highlight the cutting edge in this issue, we’re not looking at AI through rose-colored glasses—but neither are we blinking in fear. We believe the better path forward is cautious optimism: to engage with this technology thoughtfully, ethically, and with curiosity. To ask better questions, not shut the conversation down.
AI is not the enemy of progress—it is the tool that will help shape it. Let’s make sure we’re not just passengers along for the ride, but thoughtful drivers of where it takes us.
“AI won’t replace lawyers. But lawyers who use AI will replace those who don’t.”
– Richard Susskind
By Mark Fierro and Jeff Haney
For the past several years my colleague Jeff Haney and I have been writing a column for Vegas Legal Magazine entitled “The Court of Public Opinion.”
It’s based on high-profile legal cases that get media attention, sometimes from the insider’s perspective because our team is working on the issue.
The court of public opinion comes into play as soon as an issue blows up into the public consciousness or one side or the other in a trial makes comment.
One of the singular, nationally famous cases involving this dynamic had its genesis right here in Las Vegas.
My friend and attorney Dominic Gentile took his case to the media after police pointed the finger at Gentile’s client in the 1987 Western Vault case. It was almost like an LSAT test. Only Gentile’s client, Grady Sanders, the owner of the private vault and Las Vegas Metropolitan police narcotics detectives, who rented a safe deposit box at the facility, had access.
Police officials said they rented the deposit box, which was open 24 hours as day, as part of a sting operation. They stored hundreds of thousands of dollars in American Express Travelers Checks and kilos of cocaine at the facility. Then the drugs and the travelers checks went missing.
The narcotics officers were early suspects. When the cops were cleared by polygraph testing, police went on the record with the media saying it wasn’t their guys. Their suspicions turned to Gentile’s client Sanders.
When Gentile fired back, police filed a complaint with the Disciplinary Committee of the Nevada State Bar. The committee upheld the complaint. Gentile appealed to
the Nevada Supreme Court which upheld the complaint against Gentile. Attorney Stan Hunterton, who would go on to serve on the Las Vegas Strike Force, the team of prosecutors who investigated organized crime in Southern Nevada, funded an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court — where Dominic Gentile prevailed in the landmark case Gentile v. State Bar of Nevada.
It was Justice Anthony Kennedy who famously stated that among the “duties” of defense attorneys is defending their client in the court of public opinion:
“An attorney’s duties do not begin inside the courtroom door. He or she cannot ignore the practical implications of a legal proceeding for the client. Just as an attorney may recommend a plea bargain or civil settlement to avoid the adverse consequences of a possible loss after trial, so too an attorney may take reasonable steps to defend a client’s reputation and reduce the adverse consequences of indictment, especially in the face of a prosecution deemed unjust or commenced with improper motives. A defense attorney may pursue lawful strategies to obtain dismissal of an indictment or reduction of charges, including an attempt to demonstrate in the court of public opinion that the client does not deserve to be tried.”
— Justice Anthony Kennedy
“For me, the rule of go or no-go as far as media attention may depend on whether your case already has attracted public attention,” Gentile told Vegas Legal Magazine in a recent interview. “If your case does not already have public attention, and if it’s a criminal case, then in my mind you have a duty to keep it out of the public’s attention because your duty is to your client.
“However, if your case already has public attention, then you have a duty to weigh in on it, to engage with the media. Because that duty is to your client, if he’s taking
a beating in the media, then you owe it to your client to correct that, and there is no way to correct that other than to come forth with additional information and perspective.”
Gentile also draws distinctions between civil litigation and criminal cases, and between defendants who are public figures versus those who have no public persona.
“In a civil litigation, insurance companies spend enormous amounts of money doing issue-related or issue-focused propaganda — and that is the word I want to use,” Gentile said. “They try to shape the public’s minds because jurors are members of the public, and that’s the term public opinion in this context. They try to shape jurors’ minds and establish prejudices and biases in a broad manner so that it is not with regard to a specific case, so that if litigation comes along, they’ve got that advantage already. In that instance, the lawyer’s concern with public opinion doesn’t mean that he or she has to go speak to the media, because there may be no attention to that case as yet.
“Now if that case is a civil rights case and there is no attention paid to that case as yet, then in my mind the lawyer has a duty to bring it to the attention of the media because that is core speech that goes right to the behavior of government, and the citizenry needs to know about government misbehaviors.”
Gentile added: “On the other hand, a criminal case may require a different approach. At least since Ronald Reagan, there has been a constant flow of media attention paid to what is described as rising criminals, and politicians have preyed upon the public’s fear of crime, which is constantly fed by public officials. So in the criminal case context, if you’re representing somebody who doesn’t have a public
profile, and there is no attention paid to the case, then your best bet is to leave it alone. But it’s different if you’re representing a public figure — you can bet that lots of adverse consequences have already occurred even prior to a possible conviction. They’re going to have people turn their back on them, people that they thought were their friends.”
Finally, Gentile noted that the historic U.S. Supreme Court decision bearing his name — which is still studied in law schools today — gives defense attorneys a good deal of leeway in responding to the opposition in the court of public opinion.
“It really does not tie your hands in terms of what that response can contain, so long as it doesn’t appear to be something that is evidentiary and not admissible,” Gentile said. “So if you have any kind of a good faith belief that this is something that’s going to come out in the case at the trial, if the trial happens, then you could go with it and you could also tell a story.”
Mark Fierro began his career as a reporter/anchor at KLASTV, the CBS television station in Las Vegas. He worked at the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. He served as communications consultant on 24 nine figure IPO global road shows on Wall Street. He provided litigation support for the Michael Jackson death trial.
He is president of Fierro Communications, Inc., which conducts mock juries and focus groups in addition to public relations and marketing. Fierro is the author of several books including “Road Rage: The Senseless Murder of Tammy Meyers.” He has made numerous appearances on national TV news programs.
By Mark Fierro and Jeff Haney
Atseven feet tall, Steve Parsons is hard to miss.
The height is one thing but it’s the big brain, the otherworldly recall, that makes clients and fellow attorneys stand up and listen to Steve Parsons.
Quick disclaimer: Parsons has been a dear friend since The Ramones were topping the charts. On one occasion in a bar 40 years ago he picked me up (I’m only 6 feet tall), turned me upside down and shook me for change to buy the next round of drinks.
Somehow, Steve Parsons has always been ahead of the curve. He was out of high school at 16. Graduated college at 20, graduated from law school at the age of 23.
Parsons’ real first break came as a second-year law student when he was completely shut out of California firms as “bad timing” for a clerkship.
However, that rejection resulted in landing his first job as a clerk in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Nevada under the wing of DeVoe Heaton.
It was a great time to be a lawyer in Las Vegas. Lots
of mob guys here. Lots of corruption in and around government.
It was the time of Watergate and the entire nation followed and debated the daily televised proceedings more closely than any Super Bowl. It was the courts, the profession of law that held the rulebook on whether the president of the United States, Richard Nixon, would be forced from office in disgrace.
As part of the local angle on that national story, Heaton assigned young Parsons to conduct an initial face off with Robert Maheu, the right hand man of the ultimate power player of Las Vegas, billionaire Howard Hughes.
Parsons would sit face-to-face with Maheu to determine whether or not Maheu might choose to become a cooperating witness against Hughes and discuss Hughes’ involvement with Richard Nixon and his political machine aptly named CREEP, the Committee to Reelect the President. You can’t make this stuff up. Might he be able to shed any
light on the activities of the group known as “The White House Plumbers,” the gang of professional burglars that broke into the Watergate Hotel where the Democratic National Committee was housed?
“So I sat down with Robert Maheu and his attorney Mort Galane,” Parsons said in a recent wide-ranging interview. (At the ripe old of age of 22 Parsons was laying down the law to the right hand man of one of the wealthiest, most powerful players of his day.) “And the premise is that I’m going to bargain for Maheu not being indicted. In fact, I didn’t know shit from Shinola.”
As might be expected, Hughes had friends — big, important friends who might have something to say about this plan. Imagine your reaction, a newbie at the U.S Attorney’s office, when there is a phone call from the White House chief of staff Alexander Haig, a former four star general, pointedly demanding you to back the “F” off. Parsons’ answer at age 22 sounds an awful lot like the answer that Parsons would give today.
“In fact, twice that I recall, and I think there was a third time, I took calls from Alexander Haig, who was Nixon’s chief of staff, because they were adamant to try to direct the U.S. Attorney Heaton, not to indict,” Parsons said. “My research had indicated that while Heaton served at the pleasure of the president, the
president didn’t have any authority direct the U.S. attorney what to do independently. So in my best falsetto voice, I’d said general, we’re not going to follow your directive.”
Wrong answer.
“There was a follow-up call. So they did everything they could to try to badger us and Department of Justice faxed a proposed indictment that they would agree to. The phone rang and I answered and it was the deputy attorney general asking if I had seen the indictment? Yes. ‘And what do you intend to do with it?’ Shred it.”
Just imagine how much fun Parsons would have when he was no longer a second summer law clerk and had actually become a licensed attorney.
By 23 he was an assistant chief deputy district attorney and by age 25 was a chief in the DA’s office with a reputation as a sharpshooter for then-Clark County District Attorney George Holt, handling some of the office’s highest profile prosecutions.
Longtime attorney Dominic Gentile has known and worked with Parsons for decades and has a special appreciation for the big man’s encyclopedic knowledge of the law.
“He is a lawyer who really, really understands the courtroom from every quarter of it,” Gentile told Vegas Legal. “Steve has been at the vanguard of some rare areas of civility, such as bad faith claims against insurance companies who denied the benefits to their customers in bad faith. Steve has probably represented more people successfully against insurance companies, directly against insurance companies than any other lawyer that I know. Steve is thorough to a point of pain — he really, really is that kind of a guy.”
The author has watched Parsons and Gentile analyze a case together and it is something to behold. Said Gentile: “Steve’s a litigator. If there’s three or four lawyers talking about something, Steve is going to be the guy that will be leading the discussion. He is a good listener, he will see the parts that are missing and he can lead the discussion in those directions. So I would say it’s his inherent leadership character trait that sets him apart. It’s respect. It’s respect for the man’s clearly above average superior intellect.”
Though Parson’s denies it, those who have known
him over the years comment on the fact that he has demonstrated a preternatural memory on any portion of the law he has argued no matter how obscure.
“There is no doubt that he has that gift,” Gentile saids. “Ironically, the person who doesn’t understand that he has that gift is himself. Steve considers himself just to be a person. Everybody’s just a person, but Steve is a gifted person and that’s what makes him different. There’s no question about it. Steve’s got a brain like a computer. What’s contained in it is not always at the forefront, but he retrieves it in a nanosecond. No experience is lost with Parsons.”
Longtime Las Vegas litigator Terry Coffing has known Parsons for decades. He has seen the lights instantly switch on when an arcane point of law is contested.
“Not only has Steve proven that with his accomplishments in so many different areas of the law throughout his career, but if you ask him a question about almost anything having to do with the law, you’d be surprised at his ability to answer with an impressive depth of knowledge,” Coffing said. “It’s like the information is right there below the surface in his mind, and he has this ability to
access it almost instantaneously, maybe more so than anyone I know.
“His memory is probably second to none. I was working with him one time on a case, and just in the course of normal discussion, he suddenly came up with this great piece of information, from another case from 20 years before, which ended up making an enormous difference in our approach to the case we were working on. Steve is and always has been a real lawyer’s lawyer. Other lawyers go to him for advice, for insight.”
And there is that height thing. Parsons insists he is not precisely as tall as he once was. The thing is you have to be at least 7-foot-1s to notice it.
Said Coffing, “The thing about Steve is his commanding presence in the room, in any room that he happens to be in. Being physically large, and he has that booming baritone voice, and you just know that at some point he’s going to take over the room — but I mean that in the best possible way.”
High praise for someone who was certain they were never going to make it out of law school. Parsons’ fallback career? He had a detailed plan to sell his classmates life insurance after he had washed out.
By Jim La Forte
Whether it’s a small practice or a large firm in a metropolitan area, growing a legal business has always been about scaling. Previously, this was done through traditional methods like software improvements, lead generation optimization, and streamlined onboarding practices.
Today, AI is poised to drastically improve how firms can scale in those areas. But not only that, AI is starting to be used for core legal work which was previously only within the domain of lawyers and paralegals.
This leads to some interesting operational and ethical questions for almost every law firm operating today.
The impact of AI on professional services is now well beyond the theoretical phase. Top law firms are either actively implementing AI or creating implementation plans to do so soon.
Besides the upsides, some negatives need to be considered when using AI for legal work. Regulatory, ethical, and client perception all need to be taken into consideration to avoid the potential drawbacks that AI can bring.
In this guide, we will outline the current state of AI in the legal field and explore areas you need to be most aware of to navigate this new technology.
Depending on the media outlets you follow, it may seem like every business is integrating AI technology at every level. But to truly get a sense of where the legal community stands on AI, it’s worthwhile to dive into some solid numbers.
Starting with an overview of the legal AI landscape, nearly 75% of lawyers are integrating AI into their practice in one form or another, according to the
American Bar Association. That’s a significant number, and it’s also an increase from the previous year.
Digging a little deeper, we find that a majority of those AI integrations (54%) are used to help create correspondence. This is likely due to the fact that using AI or chatbots for simple writing tasks is easily accessible and even free in many cases. Writing tools are included in some legal-specific AI software services, but they can be easily accessed on their own via free platforms from OpenAI (ChatGPT) or Anthropic (Claude).
When we look at using AI for firm-specific tasks, the numbers decrease. 14% say they currently use AI to deal with firm matters such as billing, marketing, or other purposes outside of legal tasks. So, there are still many firms that are not using AI for these more complex tasks.
One interesting piece of data is that AI adoption differs greatly based on the size of the law firm. Those firms with 50 or more lawyers had an AI adoption rate of 39%. While firms with fewer than 50 lawyers had an adoption rate of only 20%, according to the survey.
This is likely due to the smaller firms not having the technical resources to properly integrate AI at this stage. Despite AI getting trillions of dollars in funding, there are still only a few turn-key solutions for integrating AI directly into specific business workflows, leaving many smaller firms to cobble together their own solutions. This requires the technical prowess to do so, and some firms may simply not have it.
Smaller firms may also find it difficult to justify the costs of turn-key solutions until they have more data on how the tools perform. They also want more proof that the ROI is more of a guarantee than just a marketing promise from the vendor.
This is a low-risk, high-impact area where firms can leverage AI. By streamlining these aspects of
a practice, it makes for easier scaling and growth without the need to bring on new employees.
Commercial Options:
• Whippy AI: A conversational AI platform that helps law firms automate client intake, scheduling, and follow-up through SMS and messaging.
• Smith AI: A virtual receptionist and client engagement service offering 24/7 call answering, chat, and lead screening for law firms.
• RunSensible: An all-in-one CRM and practice management software designed to streamline operations, communications, and billing for legal professionals.
• Lawmatics: A legal CRM and marketing automation platform that helps law firms manage client intake, nurture leads, and track analytics to grow their practice.
AI tools for billing and expense analysis help firms monitor costs more effectively and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
Commercial options:
• Billables AI: An AI-powered tool that helps attorneys capture billable hours automatically by analyzing emails, calls, and calendars for time-tracking.
• MyCase IQ: An intelligent feature within the MyCase platform that leverages AI to enhance case insights, document review, and legal research.
• Clio: A leading cloud-based legal practice management platform that provides tools for case management, billing, client communication, and document storage.
In cases with extensive discovery, AI document review can provide immense time savings and efficiency. This can lower costs but also improve service, as you can go over more documents than you otherwise could.
This process still demands diligent legal oversight to ensure all documents are accounted for and that the AI accurately identifies all relevant evidence.
• Luminance: Uses AI to streamline contract review, due diligence, and document analysis for law firms and corporate legal teams.
• Harvy AI: Acts as a generative AI legal assistant to help draft, research, and analyze legal documents and cases efficiently.
• CoCounsel: An AI-powered legal research and drafting assistant designed to enhance productivity in litigation and transactional work.
• Diligen: Automates contract review and due diligence with AI-driven insights and clause extraction to save time and reduce errors.
• Spellbook: Integrates with Microsoft Word to help lawyers draft, review, and analyze contracts faster using AI suggestions and insights.
• Everlaw: Provides a collaborative litigation and investigation platform combining document review, case management, and AI-powered discovery tools.
While AI shows a lot of promise for law firms, other industries that have adopted the technology have uncovered various problems that can arise along the way. The legal field is not immune to these issues, and in many cases, there are additional consequences lawyers should be aware of.
Something that has been documented across various creative fields is that AI tends to devalue the work, even if that work is not directly replaced by AI. For example, the fields of graphic design, writing, voiceover talent, and animation are seeing the value of their work decrease.
Even when companies are still hiring humans for these roles, the fact that AI can do some or all of the work lowers the value of the underlying human work, which in turn reduces wages.
For lawyers, this is more of a long-term concern. But if more and more work at a firm is being done by AI, clients may start to take the same stance as those hiring graphic designers and voiceover artists.
Clients may begin to ask why they are paying the same fees as before when half the work is now done by AI.
The solution to this potential problem is for lawyers to provide unique value in other areas. That can mean more one-on-one time with clients or the need to show clients why your services provide more value than other firms.
This situation is not unique to law firms, and most professional services will need to find ways to increase the value proposition of their services as AI drastically improves productivity and allows lowercost competitors to enter the market.
The ethical concerns of AI come about when lawyers start using the tools for direct casework. This is a gray area with AI, as it can be hard to draw the line between activities such as research and actual case building.
Competent representation, as outlined in ABA Model Rule 1.1, requires that lawyers fully understand the technology they’re using and its limitations.
Model Rule 5.3 stipulates that lawyers must supervise any work done by non-lawyers, which can include software and AI in many use cases.
With the current gray area that AI is creating in legal work, it is easy to unknowingly violate ethical or regulatory guidelines while putting a case together.
Due to the nature of how AI works, all information must be sent to the cloud for processing. Since AI uses natural language, that means most of this data is not encrypted in any way as it moves back and forth.
Another issue that arises from AI’s use of natural language is that anyone who gains access to the system can easily search for specific data using natural language queries. For example, if someone gained access to a firm’s AI account credentials, they could simply ask for a list of cases for various clients. In the world before AI, this would take data mining and IT skills, but today you can simply ask the AI platform in plain English.
Many law firms deal with highly sensitive information, and by regulation, they must make a reasonable attempt at safeguarding that data. Some current integrations of AI may not meet that reasonable standard in certain cases.
The headlines have been filled with stories of public AI models showing a variety of biases. Sometimes these biases are comical, but other times they can be offensive and dangerous. An AI model for legal work is no different, and it may have biases that the user is not aware of.
Most AI software vendors are simply creating an interface that then plugs into one of the larger LLM models, such as Claude or ChatGPT. So, any biases or issues in those larger models will filter into the AI tools sold to lawyers.
AI bias can go both ways when working in a legal context. Certain safeguards in place may prevent the AI from truly understanding sensitive topics or might ignore those altogether based on internal training.
Legal-specific integrations such as Harvey AI, which uses ChatGPT, can be susceptible to this type of situation where certain data is not presented to the user, and there’s no way to know the information has been withheld or modified.
To deal with this, lawyers should understand that working with AI models for case research requires extensive prompting. You have to treat the AI model as an adversary and question its output until you’re satisfied.
For example, directly question the model when it provides you with information. Ask if any information was withheld or is missing. Ask it for more details if you’re unsure about what it’s presenting.
One of the biggest mistakes lawyers make when adopting legal AI workflows is not sufficiently prompting the AI after the initial information is obtained. This happens because many lawyers are used to the more traditional “search” approach, where you don’t interact with the search tool on a deep level.
But with AI, you can think of it almost like a cross-
examination. Keep probing until you’re satisfied with the answer.
Adopting AI in a law firm does not have to start with high-risk legal analysis or case prediction models. The most effective implementation plans begin with administrative and client-facing functions where the benefits are immediate and the risks are lower.
• Start with administrative, marketing, and billing tasks first. These can provide an immediate productivity boost, and most options are within the budget of both large and small firms.
• Ease into integrating AI research with your current legal workflows. It’s common for lawyers to adopt an AI tool and immediately start using the AI to create documents. This can lead to embarrassing problems, such as the viral case of the New York lawyer who left various ChatGPT hallucinations in a legal brief.
• Understand the AI models and how they work. This includes learning how to prompt models to
get the results you want. Understand that legal AI tools are based on probability, which means two people can ask the same question and get different answers. Carefully prompt and confirm all information manually.
• After implementing any new AI tool for casework, audit your new workflow to ensure you’re not violating any ethical or regulatory guidelines due to automation by the AI.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the legal landscape, firms of all sizes have an opportunity to use this technology to enhance their services while maintaining the trust and integrity clients expect. By approaching AI adoption thoughtfully— starting with low-risk areas, ensuring ethical oversight, and educating themselves on the tools’ capabilities—lawyers can strike the right balance between innovation and caution. Embracing AI doesn’t mean replacing the human touch, but rather using it to work smarter, serve clients better, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving profession. With the right mindset and plan, AI can be a powerful ally in delivering high-quality legal work.
As customers, leaving a tip is often more of a math exercise than a financial decision.
We have all had that brief flash of anxiety when looking at the bill and quickly trying to calculate percentages in our head. The speed of those calculations not at all helped by the two glasses of wine we may have had with dinner.
But to the server on the other end, those tips are wages. It’s how they pay their bills. And just like all wages, they’re taxed. At least until this summer, when the passage of the “The Big, Beautiful Bill” exempted tips from federal income tax for millions of service workers around the country. With Vegas being such a service-oriented town, the bill is likely to have more of an impact on Nevadans than residents of any other state.
But is “No Tax on Tips” a boon for service workers, or will there be unintended consequences when making such a dramatic shift in how many Nevadans earn a living?
By Jim La Forte
Below, we will dive into the bill and look at how it may impact service workers, businesses, and the customers that rely on them to make this city the international destination that it is.
If you think back to the 2024 presidential election — which already feels like a lifetime ago — both Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris campaigned on a promise to eliminate federal taxes on tips. In other words, no matter who won, some version of a “No Tax on Tips” policy was likely in the cards.
Following Republican victories in the House and Senate, President Trump was able to push through what he called the One Big, Beautiful Bill. This omnibus bill — a single, sweeping package combining numerous smaller measures — included everything from trillions in defense spending to the no-tax-on-tips provision, which changes how servers and other tipped workers report income on
their federal returns.
After weeks of negotiations, the bill passed both chambers of Congress and was signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025.
This is where things get a little interesting. Currently, the bill states that this applies to workers who “customarily and regularly receive tips.” However, an official list of occupations and industries is set to be released in October 2025.
Despite the official list not yet being available and the possibility of some surprises, it is likely to cover just about every service worker and hospitality worker in Vegas. There are some exceptions for those who are self-employed. Self-employed individuals who accept tips regularly can deduct those tips, but only if the amount is not greater than their net income.
Also, Specified Service or Trade Business (SSTBs) do not qualify for this exemption. This includes fields such as law, healthcare, consulting, and other similar professional services.
To start, “No Tax on Tips” applies to all cash tips that workers receive. There’s been a good deal of misunderstanding over the definition of “cash tips.” Contrary to how it sounds, cash tips are not just tips handed over in physical currency. The IRS just uses this term to separate monetary compensation from gifts, such as cars or jewelry, which can also be considered income.
Cash tips cover all tips, including those added to credit card receipts or point of sale (POS) transactions, like you see at coffee shops or cafes when checking out.
Importantly, mandatory service fees are not counted as tips in this legislation. So, if businesses currently apply mandatory service fees (mandatory tips) and share a portion of that with employees, they may need to reconsider that practice if their employees want to avoid paying federal income tax on that money.
Next up is the total amount that service workers can claim an exemption on. The current limit is $25k in total tip income. However, not every income level will qualify. The deduction begins to phase out at a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) over $150,000 for single filers, or $300,000 for joint filers.
Both itemized filers and those taking the federal standard deduction can take advantage of the “No Tax on Tips” exemption.
Nationally, about 30% of tipped workers already don’t pay any income tax because they don’t meet the threshold to pay any income tax at all. For those workers, this new tax policy will not affect them.
The benefit will be mostly felt by service workers who cater to higher-end customers and receive a substantial amount in cash tips that their employer reports to the IRS. In Vegas, most bartenders and cocktail waitresses should experience a tax reduction due to the high volume of customers they see, which raises the percentage of income they receive from tips.
The “No Tax on Tips” provision doesn’t just impact workers; there are also new reporting requirements for businesses. Employers are now required to report the total amount of cash tips separately on the employee’s Form W-2 and must also report the qualifying occupation of the tip recipient.
The reason this is important is that hospitality workers can often receive government benefits, mostly Medicaid, at a higher rate than other occupations. Although no public data is available on how many Vegas hospitality workers receive government benefits, it’s widely acknowledged to be a sizable percentage.
Depending on how employers choose to now report tips, it could cause some workers to have
a total income that no longer qualifies for certain benefits. This would happen if previously those workers did not claim the full income they received from cash tips on their federal income tax returns.
Nevada uses modified adjusted gross income to determine eligibility for Medicaid for working-age, healthy adults. That calculation includes tip income even if that income is now tax-exempt. That’s because “No Tax on Tips” is an above-the-line deduction, not an exclusion from gross income.
Another argument is that the new tax policy could actually hurt workers if customers adjust their tipping habits. The concern is that customers, knowing servers no longer pay taxes on tips, might start tipping less. But it’s impossible to predict how people will actually respond. Before this law, most customers didn’t factor a worker’s tax burden into their tipping decisions, so it’s entirely possible nothing will change.
An argument could also be made that some people will tip more, knowing the server will keep the full amount– similar to how food delivery services such as DoorDash make a point of informing customers that the full tip goes toward the driver, which is designed to lead to higher tips.
No Tax on Tips Isn’t the Only Provision That Impacts Nevada
While “No Tax on Tips” got much of the media attention in Las Vegas, there was something else tucked into the omnibus bill that could end up harming the same service workers that “No Tax on Tips” was meant to help.
In the bill, the way gambling losses can be deducted on federal tax forms was changed. After the bill’s passage, gamblers can now only deduct 90% of losses instead of the 100% that was allowed previously. This impacts gamblers, mostly highrollers, but it may impact service workers such as dealers, waitresses, and bartenders who interact with those gamblers every day.
Derek Stevens, owner of Circa and Circa Sports, recently told KTVN news that he’s already heard from gamblers that they will take their money offshore to avoid the additional tax penalty. If this happens, the loss of high-rollers and potentially big tippers could hurt the average service worker who depends on generous tips from those gamblers.
Soon after the bill passed, Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., introduced a bill of her own to repeal the change
in gambling deduction rules. Currently, it has nearly unanimous support from the House delegation.
States like Nevada could also sue the federal government over federal tax policy. In this case, it could be argued that taxing gambling earnings at 100% while only allowing 90% deductions is essentially punitive and unfairly harms Nevada more than other states.
With a Republican governor, such legal action may not be likely, but a legislative fix is going to have nearly full bipartisan support in Nevada. However, if that doesn’t work and there’s enough support to take further action, a lawsuit could be filed.
Lawsuits against the federal government are not uncommon, and recently, we’ve seen a flurry of lawsuits from states like California over the federal government’s role in immigration enforcement.
This new tax policy is currently more of an experiment
than a permanent change. It sunsets in 2028 and will have to be renewed for it to continue.
In Nevada, this could create some bargaining issues as the Culinary Union’s contract also expires in 2028. If it looks like the “No Tax on Tips” will sunset, it could create leverage for the Union in negotiations, as well as increase their voice in political discourse during the next presidential election season.
Sources: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/one-big-beautifulbill-act-tax-deductions-for-working-americans-andseniors
https://budgetlab.yale.edu/news/240624/notax-tips-act-background-tipped-workers
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/ senate-bill/129
https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.nv_lasvegas_ msa.htm
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By Reynaldo Herrera Jr.
After years of dramatic ups and downs, the Las Vegas real estate market in 2025 is facing a new kind of uncertainty—driven largely by rising interest rates. While the Strip has seen fluctuations in activity, the housing market just a few miles away tells a more complex story, with interest rates still holding above 6.5%.
Mortgage interest rates have hovered between 7% and 7.5% for most of the year. Just three years ago, rates were in the 4% to 5% range. That increase may not sound drastic, but it can add hundreds of dollars to a monthly mortgage payment—causing many would-be buyers to hit pause.
As responsible mortgage lenders, we work to guide buyers in making sustainable, long-term decisions. While we don’t have a crystal ball, we remain confident that rates will eventually come down, providing an opportunity for buyers to refinance when the time is right.
Buyers: The Hidden Opportunity in a HighRate Market
Affordability remains the biggest hurdle for many buyers in Las Vegas. Higher mortgage rates mean reduced buying power, and home prices—though cooling—have not dropped significantly. This forces buyers to ask a personal question: Are you willing to temporarily adjust your lifestyle in exchange for long-term stability and the American Dream of homeownership?
However, this market isn’t all bad news for buyers—far from it. In fact, there are key advantages to buying in this environment that often go overlooked:
Less Competition: With fewer buyers in the market, you’re not getting caught in bidding wars or rushed into overpaying for a home.
More Negotiating Power: Sellers are now far more open to negotiations. Buyers can often secure concessions such as closing cost credits, in-
terest rate buydowns, or even price reductions.
Time to Think: In today’s climate, buyers have more time to research, tour homes, and make informed decisions—unlike the frenzy of just a few years ago.
Future Refinancing Potential: Locking in a home now—even at a higher rate—allows buyers to start building equity sooner. When rates eventually fall, refinancing becomes a strategic financial move rather than a desperate one.
This is a rare moment where smart, patient buyers can position themselves for long-term wins.
Sellers are navigating a shifting landscape. Homes are sitting on the market longer, especially in neighborhoods that once moved within days. While prices haven’t crashed, sellers have had to temper expectations. The days of “name your price and get it” are behind us.
Many sellers are also now offering incentives— closing cost assistance, rate buydowns, or repair credits—which directly impact their bottom line. For sellers who’ve gotten used to the red-hot market of 2020–2022, this adjustment can be tough.
On top of that, many homeowners are simply holding onto their homes. Why list when you’re sitting on a 3% mortgage and would have to buy again at 7%? This “rate lock-in effect” is keeping inventory low—but not low enough to push prices dramatically higher.
Much of the market’s movement—or lack thereof—comes down to the Federal Reserve. Despite signs of cooling inflation, the Fed has been cautious about lowering interest rates. Many in Las Vegas were hoping for cuts by mid-2025, but political gridlock in Washington and uncertainty from the current administration have slowed that momentum.
This economic limbo has left both investors and everyday homebuyers hesitant to make bold moves. Policy direction remains unclear, and until the Fed signals a strong pivot, the market will likely continue to hold steady—neither crashing nor climbing.
For now, the Las Vegas housing market remains in a state of cautious waiting. Buyers are watching interest rates. Sellers are watching buyer demand. And everyone is watching the Fed.
But in a city built on calculated risk, today’s housing market offers something rare: a chance for buyers to win without overbidding, rushing, or overextending. It’s not the loud, flashy kind of win—but for those who plan ahead, buy smart, and prepare to refinance later, it could be the most valuable hand they ever play.
Reynaldo Herrera Jr., Branch Manager, DTLV Merit Lending can be contacted at 626-991-9540 or rey@meritlending.com.
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By Mark Martiak
Every July 1, retired MLB All-Star third baseman Bobby Bonilla receives a $1.19 million check from his former team, the New York Mets, even though he hasn’t played an MLB game in over 25 years. The reason is that back in 2000, the Mets owed Bonilla $5.9 million to buy out his contract, but instead of taking that cash up front, he negotiated a contract that spreads out $30 million in guaranteed payments to him through annual installments from 2011–2035. (1) And so, July 1 has become a yearly tip of the cap from fans and players to Bonilla’s financial foresight—and a perfect excuse to razz the Mets all over again.
U.S. stocks are extended their scorching spring rally into the close of the second quarter, with the S&P 500 probing record levels as investors ride bets on Federal
Reserve rate cuts, fading tariff risks, and stimulative tax and spending plans from Capitol Hill.
Trump’s “Liberation Day” initiative, which proposed significant tariffs on trillions of dollars in imports, signaled a clear push from the White House to prioritize Americanmade goods for U.S. consumers. Fears that tariffs could reignite inflation, however, keep the Fed from a dovish pivot. With Trump cranking up pressure for rate cuts, markets increasingly price a more dovish Fed, weighing on the dollar.
Q2 earnings season will begin in early to mid-July, with major companies like banks kicking things off. Some investors are worried that expensive stock valuations and subdued levels of market risk could
suggest markets are pricing in more profit growth and a better economic performance than is likely over the coming year. The S&P 500, which closed at a record high of 6201 points on June 30, is now trading at 22.8 times the collective earnings its constituents are expected to generate over the next 12 months.(2)
Collective second-quarter earnings for the index are forecast to rise 5.9% from last year to around $529 billion, according to LSEG data, but that growth rate is only around half of the 10% gain the benchmark has recorded since the end of March. (3)
Half of the benchmark’s 11 subsectors, meanwhile, aren’t expected to see any earnings growth at all. Of the six sectors that will generate higher profits, around 82% of the increase will come from just two: communications services and information technology.
LSEG data point to earnings growth of 8.5% for the year. That implies that stocks are valued at 23.4 times earnings, compared with their current 22.8 times, even though 8.5% is well below the 14% increase in profits expected at the start of the year.
U.S. Treasury yields fell in early trade to close out Q2 extending the prior week’s trend, as the economic outlook softens.
U.S. first-quarter GDP was revised lower to -0.5% from
-0.2% previously, while consumer confidence is weak, data last week showed.
“As a result, U.S. yields declined and the dollar fell further, also due to speculation that Trump may soon pick a more dovish replacement for [Federal Reserve Chair] Powell,” Generali Asset Management said in a note.
The two-year Treasury yield fell 1 basis point to 3.729%; the 10-year yield declined almost 3 basis points to 4.254%; the 30-year yield dropped 3 basis points to 4.813%, according to Tradeweb. (4)
Wall Street closed Q2 at its strongest since 2023 but opened July with a mild pullback—Dow futures down 0.1%, S&P futures off 0.3%—as final tariff tweaks, earnings reports and the Senate’s sprint on President Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” ahead of the July 4 deadline weigh on sentiment. Despite resilient corporate profits and firmer consumer confidence, the tug-of-war between trade policy and that massive budget package shows markets remain firmly in Washington’s grip.
As always, I will be here to provide insights into and analysis on the latest market trends and developments. I am passionate about defining what’s next for investors because what’s new has already arrived, so if you need to define whether you have any financial blind spots in your financial life, please reach me directly at mark.martiak@ prudential.com
1. ESPN.com, “Bobby Bonilla Day: New York Mets pay him $1.19M every July 1,” July 1, 2025.
2. BARRON’S TAKE June 30, 2025: Stocks Haven’t Been This Expensive Since 2003. Earnings Need to Justify That 3. LSEG Data: London Stock Exchange Group June 30, 2025
4. Dow Jones Newswires: U.S. Treasury Yields Drop as Economic Outlook Softens by Emese Bartha
Mark Martiak is a Financial Advisor affiliated with and offers securities and investment advisory services through LPL Enterprise (LPLE), a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC, and an affiliate of LPL Financial. The views expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of LPL Financial or LPLe. This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide specific financial advice or recommendations for any individual. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Such forward-looking statements are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and actual results could be materially different. There are no guarantees associated with any forecast and the opinions stated here are subject to change at any time and are the opinion of the individual strategist. Data is taken from sources believed to be dependable, but no guarantee is given of its accuracy. Indexes are unmanaged, and investors are not able to invest directly in any index. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
News items are based on reports from multiple commonly available international news sources (i.e., wire services) and are independently verified, when necessary, with secondary sources such as government agencies, corporate press releases, or trade organizations. All
information is based on sources deemed dependable, but no warranty or guarantee is made as to its accuracy or completeness. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed herein constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities and should not be relied on as financial advice. Forecasts are based on current conditions, subject to change, and may not happen. U.S. Treasury securities are guaranteed by the federal government as to the principal and interest. The principal value of Treasury securities and other bonds fluctuates with market conditions. Bonds are subject to inflation, interest-rate, and credit risks. As interest rates rise, bond prices typically fall. A bond sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is a priceweighted index composed of thirty widely traded bluechip U.S. common stocks. The S&P 500 is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of five hundred largest, publicly traded companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-value weighted index of all common stocks listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The Russell 2000 is a market-cap weighted index composed of 2,000 U.S. small-cap common stocks. The Global Dow is an equally weighted index of 150 widely traded bluechip common stocks worldwide. The U.S. Dollar Index is a geometrically weighted index of the value of the U.S. dollar relative to six foreign currencies. The market indexes listed are unmanaged and are not available for direct investment.
By Donovan Thiessen, CPA
The
One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), signed into law on July 4, 2025, is the most important update for tax law since The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017. Most OBBB tax provisions take effect for years beginning after December 31, 2025, aligning with the TCJA’s expiration to ensure ease of continuity. However, several aspects begin during 2025 to provide immediate relief or phase out existing benefits. This article aims to inform you of the most relevant changes affecting individuals and small businesses.
The OBBB extends and modifies TCJA elements, creating questions on eligibility, phase-outs and deduction types. Here is a breakdown of the areas:
The seven individual brackets (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37%) are made permanent beyond 2025.
The rates will not adjust, but marginal brackets will continue to adjust for inflation. This averts a preTCJA maximum rate of 39.6% and benefits passthrough business owners by keeping effective rates lower when combined with the Qualified Business Income Deduction.
Effective for tax years beginning on January 1, 2026, itemized deductions are capped at 90% of gambling winnings (down from 100%). This means at least 10% of gambling winnings will be taxable even if losses offset them fully. The standard deduction for 2025 is 15,750 (an extra 750 is allowed in 2025) and 31,500 for married filing joint (with an extra 1,500 for 2025). This means that similar to prior years, if you have gambling income, you’ll need to deduct them on Schedule A as itemized deductions, which must exceed the thresholds listed above or else you’ll take the standard deduction. Itemized deductions on Schedule A include but are not limited to medical
expenses, property taxes, mortgage interest, and gambling losses. If those actual amounts exceed the standard deduction, you can itemize deductions on Schedule A and reduce your taxable income by greater amounts.
Increased SALT Cap. The $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions enacted by the TCJA is increased to 40,000 effective after December 31, 2025, but with a 35 cents per dollar value limit for those in the top marginal bracket. In other words, this itemized deduction’s value is limited to 35% for top bracket filers. This will expand the limit on deducting property taxes for taxpayers in Nevada, but for California and other taxpayers that have state income tax liabilities, it will also unlock limitations on deducting state income taxes paid as well.
Changes to Tip Income Taxation. A new abovethe-line deduction (not as itemized deductions on Schedule A) allows up to $25,000 in qualified tips to be excluded from Adjusted Gross Income for 2025-2028, phasing out above $150,000 AGI single / $300,000 joint. We expect payroll reporting to provide more detailed W2 reporting for this purpose.
No Tax on Overtime. This provision aims to support hourly workers by deducting up to 12,500 per taxable year for single filers and 25,000 for married
filing jointly. The phase out starts at 150,000 AGI for single filers and 300,000 for married filing jointly. This deduction is effective for 2025-2028 as an abovethe-line deduction (not as an itemized deduction).
Increased Social Security Exemption. This is a 6,000 above-the-line deduction for those 65 and older, effective 2025-2028. The phase-out begins for adjusted gross income above 75,000 singles and 150,000 married filing joint.
Child Tax Credit increases. The credit rises to 2,200 per qualifying child for 2025 (up from 2,000), then becomes permanent at that level with inflation adjustments from 2026.
EV Tax Credits. The 7,500 new electric vehicle and 4,000 used EV credits, and home charger incentives enacted by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 have been repealed, but still available for qualifying purchases by September 30, 2025. If you are considering buying an EV vehicle right now, do not delay. As a reminder, this tax credit reduces your tax liability dollar for dollar up to 7,500 and it is not refundable (you can not be refunded if your credit reduces your tax liability to zero).
For small businesses, there are significant updates to the tax treatment of fixed assets, which are classified as equipment, machinery, furniture,
buildings and vehicles used in business operations and with a useful life greater than one year. Under the TCJA, bonus depreciation allowed for 100% bonus depreciation from 2018-2022, then began to phase down to 40% in 2025. For assets placed in service after January 19, 2025, bonus depreciation is back to 100% and has been made permanent with no phase-outs. This applies to both new and used property, as long as it is the taxpayer’s first use. Businesses can deduct 100% of the asset’s cost in the year it is placed in service, reducing taxable income immediately, rather than spread out over the asset’s useful life (anywhere from 3 years up to 20 years). For example, a small Las Vegas construction contractor purchasing a new excavator can immediately write off the full cost under the permanent 100% bonus depreciation rule, instead of recovering it slowly over 5-7 years. That upfront deduction may free up cash to hire seasonal workers.
Upon taking this bonus depreciation deduction, the asset’s basis then becomes zero, so no further depreciation. If the asset is later sold, depreciation recapture applies. This means that gain up to the deducted amount is taxed as ordinary income.
“Section 179” has also been expanded, providing similar accelerated depreciation on these asset types. It is common for tax professionals to coordinate and determine how best to coordinate these depreciation methods.
The TCJA introduced the Qualified Business Income Deduction. This temporary deduction was set to expire on December 31, 2025, but was made permanent by OBBB. The most significant change with the QBI deduction is an increased phase-out from 50,000 single / 100,000 joint to 75,000 single / 150,000 joint. The increase will take effect beginning with tax year 2026. For 2025 the deduction begins to phase out for taxable incomes of 197,300 single and 394,600 joint for 2025. This deduction has many limitations and has been a focus for tax
planning purposes at year-end to ensure you are maximizing the deduction. It is a 20% deduction off of the qualified income, normally self-employed income or pass-through business activity and can offer substantial tax savings. If your taxable income approaches the phase-out thresholds, you need to make sure you have sufficient W-2 wages or else you risk limiting your QBI deduction. The solution to this is often simple, but requires your accounting to be up to date at year-end to properly plan and make adjustments at year end.
As it relates to annual Form 1099 filings, the OBBB has provided compliance relief for issuing Forms 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC for nonemployee compensation to contractors and certain other payments, such as rent expenses and payments for legal expenses. The threshold to issue these forms has increased from $600 to $2,000 per calendar year per contractor or vendor.
As the OBBB ushers in these tax changes, it is clear that tax planning will be relevant for many small businesses and individual taxpayers. The new phase-out thresholds and deduction limits often interact in ways that demand a comprehensive review to uncover the best strategies. By evaluating your income, deductions, and investment plans now, you can take full advantage of these opportunities when they matter most. If you’re uncertain how these updates will impact you, don’t wait until tax season catches you off guard. Reach out to your tax advisor to explore how these new laws can work in your favor.
Donovan Thiessen, CPA is the founder and shareholder of The Accountant, LLC. Our mission is to help business owners make better decisions by providing timely and accurate financial and tax analysis. You may reach Donovan at hello@ theaccountantcpa.com, www.theaccountant.cpa and 702-389-2727.
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By Tyler Morgan
In
a city known for high rollers and bold dreams, Derek Stevens stands out—not just for his vision, but for his loyalty. While others rushed to the glitz of the Las Vegas Strip, Stevens made a different kind of bet: downtown.
Today, that bet is paying off.
As the owner and developer behind Circa Resort & Casino, the D Las Vegas, and the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, Stevens has reshaped the skyline of Fremont Street—and redefined what’s possible in a part of town long overlooked by major developers. With Circa, the first groundup casino built in downtown Las Vegas in 40 years, Stevens didn’t just build a hotel—he built a statement.
And that statement is clear: Downtown is back.
Derek Stevens didn’t come to Las Vegas to blend in. Originally from Detroit, he brings a gritty, entrepreneurial energy to everything he touches. After earning degrees in mechanical engineering and business, he entered the gaming and hospitality world not as a lifelong insider—but as a student of Las Vegas culture. He observed. He listened. And then he acted.
“I first came to Las Vegas in 2006, got my gaming license in 2008, and right away, I was struck by how open and entrepreneurial this town is,” Stevens said. “If you’ve got a good
idea and are willing to put your equity on the line, there’s no better place in the world to build something.”
In 2008, while most investors were running from risk, Stevens and his brother Greg purchased the Golden Gate—the oldest hotel in Las Vegas. “People don’t always realize we’ve renovated that property four separate times,” Stevens said, referencing expansions including the addition of two-bedroom penthouses and 14 junior suites. “Those remain some of my favorite room designs we’ve ever done.”
Then came the Fitzgerald’s, which the brothers transformed into the D Las Vegas. But it was Circa—opened in late 2020 during the height of the pandemic—that cemented Derek Stevens’ legacy.
“When we built Circa, we knew we had to create compelling reasons for people to visit,” he explained. “Downtown has the energy of Fremont Street, but we wanted to add something you can’t find anywhere else— certainly not at home.”
From its rooftop Stadium Swim amphitheater to
the largest sportsbook in the world, Circa wasn’t built as a replica of Strip extravagance. It was built as a love letter to Vegas—past, present, and future.
Unlike many casino owners who operate behind closed doors, Stevens is famously present. He walks the floor. He chats with guests. He watches games in his own sportsbook, often side by side with the patrons. Most casino owners are ghosts glimpsed only in framed photos. Stevens is a handshake away, from predawn coffee at Saginaw’s Delicatessen to midnight celebrations when a guest hits a sixteam parlay.
His accessibility has cultivated a following so loyal that regulars jokingly call themselves the “Stevens Syndicate.” These guests plan annual pilgrimages timed to March Madness or MLB Opening Day, confident they will spot Derek in black slacks and that unmistakable Tigers cap, trading predictions and toasting to victories.
Opening a new resort in October 2020 - while travel corridors worldwide were clamping shut—
might have seemed reckless. For Stevens, it was an act of faith. Circa Resort & Casino, the first ground-up build in downtown in four decades, debuted amid face masks and temperature checks. Yet through the challenges, Stadium Swim’s six rooftop pools shimmered like an open invitation to the good times ahead. The massive three-story sportsbook—billed as the largest on Earth—radiated 78 million pixels of possibility, luring sports diehards who hungered for communal roar after months of silence. “I’ll never forget what it felt like to put everything— your career, your net worth—on the line,” he reflected. “But because of that risk, I’m even more grateful for where we are today. Every smile we bring to a guest’s face makes it all worth it.”
The payoff? A resort where the details dazzle. “Stadium Swim had to be more than just a
great pool,” Stevens said. “I wanted to build the best pool in the world.” Add in the Legacy Club—“the best view in Vegas, hands down,” he notes—and a sportsbook designed to be “the biggest and best in the world,” and you get the full Circa experience.
Every inch of Circa bears a hidden Easter egg for Vegas historians: the retro Vegas Vickie neon cowgirl re-illuminated in the lobby, the pennyslot-era font on directional signs, the tactile glam of 1960s carpeting updated for 2025 sensibilities. Even the “21-and-over” policy is a wink to Rat Pack nights when adults behaved badly with style.
Stevens didn’t just build properties. He helped build momentum.
“Downtown Las Vegas is changing—dramatically, and in a very good way,” he said. “You look out from Legacy Club now, and there are cranes everywhere. That reflects real demand for highend residential, which downtown hasn’t had in a long time. It’s amazing to see so many people wanting to live here now.”
While others chased the mega-resort model, Stevens invested in community—knowing that the best version of Las Vegas includes both polish and personality.
“Circa feels like a turning point,” says longtime downtown advocate and Vegas Legal contributor, Jason Bailey. “It’s ambitious without being impersonal. Derek understands that Vegas isn’t just about what’s new—it’s about what feels like Vegas.”
That balance, Stevens says, is deliberate: “If you respect the past while giving guests what they need today, you can strike the right balance.”
Every detail in Circa is deliberate. The resort is 21+ only, a nod to Stevens’ belief in offering adults a grown-up playground. The art, music, even the throwback signage reflects a deep love of classic Vegas—and a refusal to lose its soul in the process.
What sets Stevens apart is not only what he builds, but how he anchors it to its neighborhood. Instead of attempting to import the Strip’s luxury-for-luxury’s-sake blueprint, he double-downed on local entrepreneurs:
• Food & Beverage: Circa’s nine restaurants— most formed in partnership with independent restaurateurs—serve up flavors as diverse as Fremont Street itself. From Barry’s Downtown Prime bringing back classic steakhouse swagger to Saginaw’s Delicatessen flying in
the kind of rye bread Detroit locals swear by, there’s something unique at every turn. “We wanted our restaurants to reflect the energy of downtown,” he said. “That’s why we partnered with independent restaurateurs. It gives each venue a unique identity.”
• Arts & Culture: He commissioned Fremontthemed murals from local graffiti artists and resurrected defunct neon classics like Vegas Vickie. “Bringing her inside was about celebrating our roots,” Stevens explained.
• Employee Uplift: Circa launched a tuitionassistance program for hospitality associates in 2023, creating a pipeline of homegrown managers and culinary talent who might otherwise have left downtown for Strip wages.
It paid off. According to city economic reports, the Fremont East Entertainment District experienced a 37 percent increase in tax revenue between 2015 and 2024, and downtown hotel ADR (average daily rate) finally eclipsed the $150 mark—unheard of a decade ago.
• 1,000 Free Flights: In May 2020, weeks before Circa’s debut, Stevens purchased 1,000 commercial airline seats, giving them away to future guests as a symbolic “openthe-doors” gesture when planes were half empty.
• The $1 Million Parlay Pay-Out: On Super Bowl Sunday 2024, Circa’s sportsbook paid a record seven-figure ticket to a 32-year-old HVAC tech from Phoenix.
• Staff Holiday Bonus: After Circa’s second profitable year, every employee—from pit bosses to parking valets—received a $1,500 holiday bonus.
In true Las Vegas fashion, Stevens plays his cards close—but he’s not standing still.
“We just completed a $21 million expansion inside Circa,” he noted, referencing the buildout of four previously empty floors. And then there’s Symphony Park, where his company recently leased land to assist with the Cello Towers project. “It’s still too early to say what the long-term project will be,” he said, “but we’re excited about the future of that site.”
As for acquisitions? “We’re always looking for ways to grow,” Stevens said. “If the right opportunity comes along, we’ll be ready.” And what do the Vegas visitors of the future want?
“They want what they can’t get at home— world-class entertainment, unforgettable dining, exciting gaming. Some call it an ‘adult
Disneyland.’ The only difference? This is way better than Disneyland.”
At a time when Las Vegas is undergoing yet another transformation—welcoming tech conferences, major league sports, Formula 1 races, and global entertainment brands— Derek Stevens remains grounded in the city’s original promise: that anything is possible, and everything should be fun.
As we mark the 10-year anniversary of Vegas Legal Magazine, it’s fitting that we feature someone who embodies that same spirit. Visionary. Risk-taker. Community builder. Stevens isn’t just a businessman. He’s a reminder that Las Vegas still belongs to the bold.
And that the heart of Vegas still beats loudest downtown.
“The future of AI is not about replacing humans, it’s about augmenting human capabilities.”
– Sundar Pichai
By Don Logay
Implosion of the iconic Dunes on October 27,1993 marked the beginning of ‘out with the old and in with the new’ to become the massive Bellagio
Vegas is a town pretty much like no other. It grew out of the scorching dry desert heat as a chance encounter by early explorer, John Charles Fremont, who was charting the wild West for the U.S. Government in the mid-1800’s. He camped one night by a spring the natives called Las Vegas (“The Meadows”) and he put it on his map of the area.
Sixty years later, it was a just a dusty water-stop for the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad. Owner and East Coast financial tycoon, William Andrews Clark, keenly sensed opportunity and in 1905, subdivided the area around his train station into 1,200 lots, auctioned them off and officially founded Las Vegas as a city.
In 1931, work began on Boulder Dam. Anticipating a potential windfall with thousands of workers coming into the area, the Nevada State Legislature, saw gambling as a “dam good idea” and legalized it.
While a number of early gaming pioneers gained fame and fortune in the 1930’s downtown, in 1938 – and again by chance – a little-known event set in motion what is today’s world-famous Las Vegas Boulevard... also known as the “Strip.”
A businessman named Thomas E. Hull, was on his way to a meeting in downtown Las Vegas when his car broke down. Sitting on the side of the road on Highway 91, Hull noticed all the out-of-state license plates whizzing by. Sitting under a scorching sun, he thought, “this is a great location for a resort hotel and casino!”
In short order, Hull – who had built and managed a number of major hotels in Hollywood and throughout California – gathered investors and purchased land at the southwest corner of what is now Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue. In 1941, they built and opened the flashy El Rancho Vegas Hotel and Casino – the first (but not last) major resort on the Las Vegas Strip.
While other minor casinos, hotels and motels began to emerge in the shadow of El Rancho Vegas, it is the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in 1946 that is heralded as the real beginning of Vegas and the 4.2 miles of Las Vegas Boulevard’s neon-drenched Strip.
In the twenty years that followed, success as a mecca for gambling, entertainment and fine dining
– along with a salacious “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” reputation – saw many more flashy new casinos and resort hotels cropping up all along the fast emerging brightly-lit neon corridor.
In the mid-1960’s, standing in front of the now wellestablished Flamingo, one could look south and see a white structure off in the distance. It was the Tropicana (built in 1957), 1.5 miles away, anchoring the South end of the Strip – with little else in between.
In the other direction, 2.7 miles to the North, the Sahara (built in 1952) anchored the other end of the Strip – located across the street from an empty lot where the original El Rancho Vegas once stood that burned down in 1960. The Sahara was also wellestablished, and together with the Flamingo, these two big early casino/hotels bookended – and paved the way – for rapid growth and dozens more iconic locations.
Driving down Strip in the late 1960’s, one passed famous names like the Desert Inn (built in 1950), Sands (1952), Dunes (1955), Riviera (1955), Hacienda (1956), Stardust (1958), Aladdin and Caesars Palace (both built in 1966) and Circus Circus (1968)... to name but a few.
But like the winds that continually reshape the desert landscape, the sands of time take their toll... and one by one, great change came to these iconic locations... and a new and even more exciting “Entertainment Capital of the World” began to emerge where these legendary names once stood.
In the decades that followed a number of MegaHigh Rollers were drawn to Las Vegas.
While names like Benny Binion of Horseshoe Casino fame symbolized the growth and success of Downtown and Fremont Street, others came and focused on mining the riches to be found on Las Vegas Boulevard.
Howard Hughes came to Las Vegas in 1966 – and like a real life game of Monopoly – soon bought the Desert Inn, Castaways, New Frontier, the Landmark Hotel and the Sands. Other high rollers came as well... like Kirk Kerkorian, known as the “Father of Mega-Resorts” – who ushered in trend-setting lavish concepts like Caesars Palace and the MGM Grand –and a young newcomer from the East Coast, named Steve Wynn.
Wynn envisioned a new level of multi-million and billion-dollar world class super-resorts on the Strip. He began purchasing famous aging properties and was the first to introduce “implosions” as the latest form of entertainment on Las Vegas Boulevard.
By definition, implosions are the 180-degree opposite of “explosions” whereby charges are strategically placed so as to cause a structure to violently collapse inward.
On October 27, 1993, the famous Dunes Hotel and Casino was imploded with great fanfare. In its place, Wynn built the spectacular Bellagio. Its opening in 1998 alone cost a reported $88 million and Wynn’s centrally-located Strip-centric implosion of the iconic Dunes set in motion a trend of “out with the old and in with the new” that exists to this day.
Next to go was the Landmark Hotel and Casino located just one block off the Strip – on Paradise Road across from the Las Vegas Convention Center. Originally owned by Howard Hughes, and after changing hands numerous times, it was imploded in 1995 and today is the site of a vast expansion to host some of the largest trade shows in the world.
One year later, the Sands – once home of the famed Rat Pack – was imploded on November 26, 1996 to make way for the luxurious Venetian. That same year, the Hacienda on the South end of the Strip –near the famed “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign – was imploded on New Years Eve 1977 to make way for today’s Mandalay Bay.
Two years later, the original Aladdin – where Elvis got married – was imploded in April 1998. Two years later it reopened as a “bigger and better” new Aladdin that lingered until 2007, when it was renovated and reopened as Planet Hollywood.
In 2000, at the North end of the Strip, the old Thunderbird (later renamed El Rancho to honor the original El Rancho that burned down across the street) was imploded with fanfare and 700 pounds of explosives to make way for Turnberry Towers condominiums and the spectacular Fontainebleau that opened in December 2023.
In addition to building the twin Mirage and Treasure Island locations (1989 and 1993 respectively), Wynn purchased the aging Desert Inn across the street on its 50th anniversary for $275 million and later
proceeded to implode it in two stages – 2001 and 2004 – for his new Wynn Las Vegas. The Encore was added next door in 2008.
In 2006, Bourbon Street was imploded for a Harrah’s property and further south on the Strip, the longclosed Boardwalk Casino was imploded on May 9th to prepare for the massive $7 billion MGM City Center hotels, condominiums and entertainment venues.
The next iconic hotel/casino slated for implosion was the famed Stardust. On March 13, 2007, the once heavily mob-operated location was wired with 428 pounds of dynamite and the 32-story structure was brought down to make way for the Echelon Place that never materialized. Today, it is the site of the massive Resorts World Mega-Hotel and Casino that opened in 2021.
On November 13, 2007, the New Frontier (second built on the strip in 1941) was also reduced to rubble. While many plans for this location have come and gone over the years, the Trump International Hotel was built on a portion of this land in 2008 with the remainder currently owned by Wynn Resorts for possible future expansion.
The Tropicana (originally built and opened in 1957) was the latest implosion on the Strip – and in the early morning hours of October 9 2025the site for a new “A”s baseball stadium and resort complex became the latest evolution of the Las Vegas Strip.
In 2016, the iconic Riviera was brought down with two separate implosions on June 14th and August 16th – to make way for a huge Las Vegas Convention Center expansion.
Most recently, the luxurious Mirage closed in July 2024 to be totally reimagined as a new Hard Rock Casino and guitar-shaped Hotel... and, after an amazing 67-year run, the famed Tropicana was imploded on October 9th last year to make way for the new “A’s” baseball stadium.
Driving today’s glittering Strip, one sees an amazing array of brilliant marquees and towering replicas of the famous wonders of the world. Only in Vegas can you find an Egyptian Pyramid, the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower... all in one 4.2 mile stretch of neon-drenched wall-to-wall spectacular Hotels and Casinos.
And while we have all “heard” the iconic names of the past... such as the Sands, Dunes and Desert Inn... few know exactly where they were, when they disappeared and what is in their place today.
Today’s amazing properties lining Las Vegas Boulevard – like the Bellagio, Venetian and Wynn –are ongoing enhanced replacements for the legends and lore of days gone by... and the recipients of fourteen spectacular implosions that ushered these multi-billion-dollar mega-resorts into today’s Las Vegas.
Don Logay is an award-winning journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of three national magazines. Today he writes luxury lifestyle articles for numerous publications. He can be reached at (949) 240-4444 or press@donlogay.com.
By Tyler Morgan
In a city known for outlandish ambition and dazzling reinvention, the Otonomous Hotel in Las Vegas is pushing boundaries yet again. Touted as the first hotel and apartment complex fully powered by artificial intelligence, it isn’t just a place to sleep—it’s a glimpse into the future of hospitality and smart living. And at the heart of it all is a man with an equally remarkable story: developer and visionary Philippe Ziade.
Ziade’s journey from war-torn Lebanon to Las Vegas is as transformative as the hotel he’s built. Born during Lebanon’s civil war, he grew up amid bombings and political instability.
“Growing up into the war, that gave me so much resilience,” he recalls. “Because there’s no other option. You either give up or you try to go through.”
At 21, Ziade immigrated to Las Vegas in 1999 to study engineering at UNLV. He chose Las Vegas not for its glitz, but for its practicality: affordable tuition, low cost of living, and major potential for growth in construction. With no backup plan, he enrolled and stayed. “I didn’t even apply to any other colleges. That was it for me.”
Years later, after flipping distressed properties and pioneering Airbnbs in Las Vegas, Ziade encountered the headaches of short-term rentals: zoning issues, angry neighbors, HOA complaints. That’s when the lightbulb went off. “How can I provide that product to the market with the right zoning, with the right infrastructure, at the same cost?” he asked. The answer: build it from the ground up—but smarter.
The Otonomous Hotel is the result. A blend of hotel and apartment living, the property reimagines everything from booking to checkout using advanced AI. Guests and residents can custom-build their stay, choosing the number of bedrooms and desired services. Need a one-bedroom for a quick stay? Done. Bringing family and want six interconnected rooms? The AI adapts. Behind the scenes, connecting doors open and close automatically, reshaping the
layout without human input.
Ziade calls this “attribute-based booking.” Instead of choosing from a list of pre-set room types, guests tell the system what they want. The AI builds the stay around them. Soft attributes— like daily cleaning preferences, lighting moods, or dietary choices—are also programmed in.
But the personalization doesn’t stop at booking. The guest experience unfolds in four phases:
Guests enter their preferences, from room size to lifestyle details. This data starts shaping their stay.
Once booked, the AI interacts with the guest, learning likes and dislikes—from coffee habits to sleeping patterns—while scraping public data like social media to enrich the profile. Ziade calls this the “avatar” stage, where a digital blueprint of the guest is formed.
During the stay, every behavior is tracked: when you wake up, where you dine, your preferred lighting, room temperature, and even how you take your coffee. A digital key, stored in your phone’s wallet, gives cashless access to everything.
After checkout, the AI compares the predicted avatar behavior with actual usage. Any gaps are analyzed, and the system seeks feedback in a gamified, user-friendly way. The goal? Understand what went wrong, what delighted, and how to improve for next time.
And yes, it’s not just one building. A sister AIpowered hotel is already in the works in the Downtown Las Vegas Arts District, offering everything from studios to six-bedroom units with the same interconnectivity and smart infrastructure.
Ziade’s vision is rooted in the belief that technology should serve humans, not the other way around. His properties are designed to anticipate needs, reduce inefficiencies, and offer a hyper-personalized stay that traditional hospitality can’t match.
But the Otonomous Hotel is more than tech. It’s a personal triumph for a man who once had nightmares of bombings, only to build dreams of digital transformation. His message to young people? “When you think you’re very unlucky and you’re going through hardship, that’s probably the best thing that’s ever happened to you. You won’t know it till later.”
In Las Vegas, that future has arrived—and it has AI at its core.
By Tyler Morgan
In a city where reinvention is the default setting, Bar Boheme doesn’t just follow the trend — it sets it. Nestled on Main Street in the heart of the Las Vegas Arts District, this sultry, Paris-inspired brasserie is redefining what it means to dine downtown. It’s the kind of place where sidewalk café culture meets old-world elegance, where a plate of steak frites feels just as at home as a well-dressed guest sipping Sancerre under a palm-shaped light fixture.
Bar Boheme is the latest venture from Chef James Trees — the culinary force behind some of the city’s most beloved restaurants. Here,
he shifts gears, trading rustic Italian for refined French with an unapologetically modern twist. The moment you walk in, it’s clear: this isn’t a replica of a brasserie plucked from the Left Bank. It’s something far more interesting — a layered, lovingly curated space that feels both familiar and fresh.
Set in a converted auto garage, the space feels intimate without being precious. Velvet banquettes in shades of pink and teal line the walls, floral wallpaper adds a feminine wink,
and globe lanterns hang like glowing moons from a lofty ceiling. The massive front windows invite in all the Arts District energy — especially vibrant on a warm summer evening when locals and tourists drift by in search of something unexpected.
Out back, the mood shifts slightly. A more relaxed patio shared with the adjacent Petite Boheme bar creates a breezy contrast to the elegance inside. It’s the perfect spot for golden hour drinks, tucked away from the Strip but buzzing with personality.
Bar Boheme’s menu is rooted in French classics, but it doesn’t feel trapped in tradition. Instead, it’s a celebration of technique with just enough modern flair to keep things interesting. The soupe à l’oignon is everything it should be — deep, rich, and blanketed in bubbling cheese. Escargots come tucked in delicate puff pastry, their garlicky goodness balanced by fresh herbs and bright acidity.
The entrees follow through with confidence. Steak frites are a standout, served with your choice of Béarnaise, Bordelaise, or peppercorn sauce — each more tempting than the last.
My personal favorite? The Jidori chicken for two carved tableside and finished with a rich albufera sauce. Even the burger is a study in balance: prime brisket and chuck, gooey cheese, and Dijonnaise on a soft roll. Bar Boheme proves that classic French cooking can still surprise and delight — a timeless experience with just the right touch of modern charm.
The wine list leans exclusively French, offering something for every palate, from delicate whites to bold Burgundies. Cocktails are crafted with care and a dash of Parisian cool — whether you’re in the mood for a twist on the Boulevardier or something light and botanical for summer.
And dessert? As seductive as the rest of the
experience. The crème brûlée tart is silky perfection, the tarte Tatin comes crowned with foie gras ice cream (yes, really), and the ParisBrest might just be the most elegant way to end a meal in the city right now.
Service at Bar Boheme strikes the perfect balance between polished and personal. The staff knows the menu inside and out, and they’re more than happy to help you navigate the wine list or recommend their favorite small plates. There’s a warmth to the hospitality here that feels intentional — a quiet confidence that lets you relax into the experience.
Bar Boheme is everything Downtown Las Vegas has been waiting for: elevated without being exclusive, stylish without being stiff, and unmistakably rooted in its Arts District surroundings. It’s the kind of place where dinner turns into drinks, and drinks turn into conversation that stretches long into the night. In a city obsessed with spectacle, Bar Boheme wins you over with mood, mastery, and just the right amount of mystery. It’s not just one of the best new restaurants in Las Vegas — it’s a reminder that elegance still has a place in a city built on boldness.
By Brandon Pierce
Las Vegas may be the world capital of indulgence, but behind the glittering lights and round-the-clock energy lies a different kind of luxury - one rooted in wellness, recovery, and intentional living. As more locals and visitors seek balance alongside the buzz, the city has evolved into a serious destination for those prioritizing self-care, movement, and mindfulness.
From world-class spas tucked high above the Strip to cutting-edge gyms pulsing with energy and ambition, the Las Vegas wellness scene offers something for everyone - whether you’re looking to recover from a long night or reboot your lifestyle completely. Here’s a curated
guide to the best places to relax, recharge, and reconnect in the city that never stops.
More than just a spa, Canyon Ranch is a fullscale wellness resort hidden in plain sight on the Strip. With over 130,000 square feet dedicated to fitness, relaxation, and holistic healing, guests can move seamlessly from a hot stone massage to a rock-climbing wall, or from a facial to a meditation class. This is self-care on a grand scale, with a curated menu of services designed for every kind of body and goal.
Floating above Las Vegas Boulevard, the Waldorf’s tranquil spa is a sanctuary of sleek design and thoughtful detail. The centerpiece? A striking Turkish hammam, where ancient cleansing rituals meet modern elegance. Guests can enjoy personalized treatments in serene, minimalist rooms while looking out over the Strip through floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s luxury without excess - just the way we like it.
AWANA takes a global approach to healing. Communal vitality pools, holistic bodywork, and immersive thermal experiences are all designed to soothe and stimulate the senses. Whether you’re booking a signature ritual or simply escaping to the tepidarium for a moment of stillness, AWANA offers an experience rooted in balance.
The Spa at Wynn and Encore Five-star rated and consistently ranked among the best in the world, Wynn’s spa is the pinnacle of pampered escape. Think reflexology suites, custom massages, and decadent facials in a setting that blends opulence with serenity. If you believe wellness should feel indulgent, this
is where you’ll want to spend an afternoon— or a full day.
The Strip Barbell is a hardcore, no-frills strength training gym located near the Las Vegas Strip. Known for its serious lifting environment, toptier equipment, and community of dedicated powerlifters, bodybuilders, and athletes, it’s a destination for those who train with intensity and purpose. The space is built for focused work—no distractions, just results— with heavy-duty racks, specialty bars, and calibrated plates that meet the standards of elite-level training.
Connected to the gym is The Strip Recovery, a performance and wellness center offering services designed to enhance recovery and athletic output. From infrared sauna and cold plunge to soft tissue work and mobility tools, The Strip Recovery provides everything serious lifters need to train hard and recover smarter. It’s a comprehensive setup that supports both the grind and the growth.
Kilo Club is a members-only luxury fitness facility located inside Tivoli Village. Catering to professionals and serious fitness enthusiasts, it offers high-end equipment, personalized training, and a refined, uncrowded atmosphere - strictly 21+ and no day passes allowed.
Fit Club is a vibrant and community-driven gym in Las Vegas focused on functional fitness, high-energy group classes, and personal training. With a welcoming atmosphere and a team-based culture, it attracts everyone from beginners to seasoned athletes looking to sweat, grow, and connect.
Project Wellbeing is a cutting-edge wellness center dedicated to bio-optimization and holistic
health. Specializing in advanced therapies like red light therapy, hormone optimization, IV therapy, and metabolic testing, it offers sciencebacked solutions for those committed to longterm vitality and performance.
The evolution of Las Vegas wellness reflects a bigger shift: people aren’t just coming to this city to escape reality - they’re coming to enhance it. Whether you’re a local maintaining your routine or a visitor wanting to rebalance, these spas and fitness destinations prove that health and indulgence don’t have to be opposites.
From hot stone massages and detoxifying hammams to strength circuits and custom training plans, wellness in Vegas is no longer an afterthought - it’s a destination all its own.
