Boomer’s Sportsbook is expanding its Las Vegas presence with new sportsbooks at Four Queens hotel-casino and Binion’s Gambling Hall after receiving approval Wednesday from the Gaming Control Board.
The independent sportsbook operator, led by President and CEO Joe Asher, expects to open both Fremont Street locations on Sept. 1 ahead of the NFL season, pending final approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission this month.
The Four Queens sportsbook is being relocated and expanded as part of the project. Asher said the new location will be about 125 to 150 square feet larger and offer improved viewing and seating.
Binion’s sportsbook will remain in its current location, bringing Boomer’s brand to a property with historical ties to sports wagering. Asher said the location was one he visited when he was first learning the sports betting business before launching Brandywine Bookmaking in 2007.
“These are applications that I’m especially excited about,” Asher told the three-member panel during a public hearing.
The approvals mark the 17th and 18th Boomer’s locations approved by Nevada regulators, Asher said, with the company targeting at least 20 locations in the coming months.
The operator also is seeking approval to install deposit kiosks at restricted locations owned by Four Queens and Binion’s owner Terry Caudill, including Chicago Brewing Company, McGill’s and SkinnyFATS.
Asher said the company will continue emphasizing price competitiveness as it expands, including bringing back its reduced -105 pricing on all NFL games.
Circa debuting new hotel rooms this month
Earlier in the meeting, Circa Hospitality Group, which operates Circa, Golden Gate and The D hotel-casinos in downtown Las Vegas, received approval for a refinancing package that company officials said will provide greater flexibility to invest in its operations.
The refinancing involves a $290 million senior secured credit facility, including a $190 million revolving credit facility and a $100 million term loan.
Susan Hitch, Circa’s chief financial officer and chief compliance officer, said the agreement reduces required principal payments while maintaining current rates.
“One of the biggest benefits with this agreement is it allows us to keep our current rates in place, but we were able to reduce our required principal payments,” she explained. “That allows us to invest cash in the business.”
Hitch also provided an update on Circa’s expansion plans, saying the company expects to complete a project this month adding 49 hotel rooms to the top two floors at Circa.
When the downtown resort opened, seven hotel floors were left unfinished to allow the company to determine future room demand. Four floors were completed in 2024, and two additional floors are debuting this month.
Circa Sports also continues expanding outside Nevada, with Hitch saying the company recently received a temporary license in Arizona. The sportsbook currently operates in Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, Kentucky and Illinois.
Hitch said prediction markets have affected the sportsbook business, but the company continues focusing on its regulated operations.
“They definitely affect our business,” Hitch said.
Attorney Kate Lowenhar-Fisher, representing Circa, offered a more forceful assessment of prediction markets, calling them “an existential threat to regulated gaming.”
Park MGM exec gets green light
The board also approved several executive licensing applications, including Andy Meese, senior vice president and general manager of Park MGM hotel-casino.
Meese, who has spent more than 26 years with MGM Resorts International, told commissioners he began his career at Treasure Island while attending UNLV before moving through leadership roles at properties including New York-New York, Bellagio, Aria, Mandalay Bay and Luxor.
He has led Park MGM for about nine months, overseeing the property’s hotel, casino, food and beverage and other operations.
Meese said Park MGM has benefited from its location near T-Mobile Arena and reported the property operated at 93 percent occupancy during the first half of the year.
He described his leadership approach as service-oriented and focused on developing future MGM executives.
“I am a service leader,” Meese said. “I want to really help develop them and grow them in their role.”
Wynn CFO clears regulatory review
The board also approved the application of Robert Amerine, Wynn Las Vegas’ senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer.
A Nevada native, Amerine joined Wynn Resorts in 2017 after working in corporate strategy and mergers and acquisitions at International Game Technology and its DoubleDown Interactive subsidiary. He became CFO of Wynn Las Vegas in 2025 and oversees accounting, financial planning, cage operations, purchasing, payroll and workforce administration.
Amerine told the board Wynn Las Vegas had experienced “a very healthy first half” of the year, citing demand in the luxury segment and continued investment in the property, including new venues and renovations.
“We’re seeing great pockets of healthy demand among our consumers,” Amerine said.
He also discussed Wynn’s compliance culture, saying the company has strengthened its independent compliance function and emphasized communication between operational teams and compliance personnel.
Board members questioned Amerine about past money laundering cases involving casinos and the importance of identifying suspicious activity. Amerine said suspicious activity reports are an important part of casino operations and should be reviewed and acted upon by compliance teams.
Circus Circus heir OK’d for license
Additionally, the board approved licensing Michelle Ruffin-Stein as vice president of Circus Circus LV LLC. Her Circus Circus license application was related to family estate planning involving the property.
Ruffin-Stein said she has spent 32 years with Marriott, beginning at the front desk before moving into sales, catering and eventually hotel leadership. She told regulators she was not relocating to Las Vegas and would continue serving as general manager of the Wichita Marriott.
The board praised her hospitality background and noted the legacy of her father, Phil Ruffin, who owns Circus Circus and Treasure Island.
Contact David Danzis at ddanzis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0378. Follow @AC2Vegas_Danzis on X.
