There’s a classic “good news, bad news” curtain closing for The Mirage. Management is shuttering the historic Las Vegas Strip casino on July 17.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida purchased the famed Las Vegas casino two years ago and plans to redevelop the property into the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. The tribe plans to build a guitar-shaped hotel like the one at its flagship property in Hollywood, Fla.
But before The Mirage closes, the tribe must pay customers the $1.6 million currently sitting in its progressive jackpots. To accomplish that, the “Progressive Finale Cash Giveaway” is underway through July 16 to distribute the money to visitors.
Nevada gaming regulations require distribution of jackpot money
The Seminoles finalized The Mirage purchase in December 2022. The tribe reportedly paid MGM Resorts $1 billion in cash for the casino property. Steve Wynn developed the property and opened its doors in 1989 as the first megaresort on the Las Vegas Strip.
The tribe expects the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas to open late next year.
Before The Mirage becomes just a memory, the Seminoles must empty the jackpots. According to Nevada Gaming Control Board rules, The Mirage must distribute the funds in the progressive slots jackpots, as well as the money in table game jackpots. The total in the progressive jackpots is $1.2 million, with another $400,000 in other jackpots.
NGCB regulations state:
“The incremental amount of a progressive payoff schedule is an obligation to the licensee’s patrons, and it shall be the responsibility of the licensee if the licensee ceases operation of the progressive game or slot machine for any reason, including a transfer of ownership of the licensed gaming establishment, to arrange for satisfaction of that obligation in a manner approved by the chair.”
Mirage to host hourly drawings for jackpot money
Entry is simple: Slide your Unity Rewards card into any slot machine. During the promo giveaway, the casino will hand out at least $100,000 to lucky winners daily.
- July 9-11: Patrons can win a piece of $200,000 in cash prizes
- July 12-13: Patrons can win a piece of $250,000 in cash prizes
- July 16: Patrons can win a piece of $100,000 in cash prizes
They will pick one winner randomly every hour. That person must claim their cash prize within five minutes. When the jackpot money is gone, The Mirage will stop the drawings for the day.
The tribe will award money from table game progressive jackpots in a similar manner on Friday, July 12, and Saturday, July 13, with drawings at 8:30 p.m.