A casino located just miles northwest of the Las Vegas Valley was acquired by the U.S. Government earlier this month for $11.45 million. Indian Springs Casino was a private business in the community of nearly 1,000 residents until it was forced to close in a sale that was years in the making. It originally opened in 1985.

The former casino site and other businesses on the property will be razed. An expanded security buffer for Creech Air Force Base will be put in its place.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal first reported in 2011 that the Indian Springs Casino and related businesses may need to be acquired by the federal government to ensure safety for base operations related to Creech Air Force Base. Barracks and sensitive military operations are located in close proximity to the former casino property. This was no longer acceptable under current security policy for military bases.

Indian Springs Casino was more than just a local gaming establishment. It provided a 24-hour restaurant that was popular among military personnel stationed at Creech Air Force Base. The casino was just minutes north of the main base entrance. It also spread a full bar and pool tables.

The recently acquired property was also home to a gas station and small hotel. Civilian contractors for the base, visitors for the nearby Indian Springs Correctional Facility, and Mt. Charleston tourists, kept the hotel booked nearly year round. It was also a popular rest area for long haul truckers.

Former Casino’s Games

Indian Springs Casino was rather plain. It could be described as a grind joint by today’s standards. It spread about 50 machines. It offered three video table games until its last year in business. There were once two video blackjack machines and one Ultimate Texas Hold’em game, all distributed by Shuffle Master. The remaining games were slots and video poker machines.

The casino only issued Gold Pass players cards to Indian Springs locals. This excluded Las Vegas residents and anyone else that was not a resident in the community.

All cashouts were hand pays. No games used tickets or operated on coins.

There was a William Hill sports book at Indian Springs Casino until 2012. It offered limited hours and eventually closed due to a lack of interest in sports betting in the community.

The gaming license attached to the Indians Springs Casino is active, pending placement in a new establishment. No plans for relocation have been announced at this time.

The casino’s website is still live at Indianspringscasino.com for those that want a trip down memory lane. It includes images of the property that former employees report closed on October 1.

About 10 of the 50 displaced employees have found employment within the community, according to a recent report on the Indian Springs Casino closure.

(Image credit: Indianspringscasino.com)