Vegas, Asian investors betting on Sin City's Chinese tourism

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Sin City and Asian investors are going all in on Chinese tourism, as some of Las Vegas' latest developments on and off the Strip target Chinese nationals and Chinese-Americans.

Nonstop flights from mainland China are planned for the first time, and two Asian-themed casinos will be among the first post-recession additions to Sin City's glittering skyline.

Lucky Dragon executives said the new casino will focus on domestic Chinese gamblers, calling them an underserved niche market made up of Chinese-Americans and Chinese people who live in America's ethnic enclaves, including local Las Vegans, the reliable weekend hordes from California, and tourists from the Pacific Northwest and East Coast.

The mega resorts catering to Chinese gamblers target "ultra-high-end players," while the more casual Chinese bettors are left with more generic amenities designed for "American white people," said Dave Jacoby, Lucky Dragon's chief operating officer.

The casino is financed with money from Chinese investors through the EB-5 visa program, which grants green cards to foreigners in return for investments of at least $500,000 on job-creating projects.

Gerald Gardner, the casino's general counsel and senior vice president of government affairs, said Resorts World expects to build its Las Vegas business through its existing branding among Chinese already familiar with its Asian properties.

Tourism officials and experts said that although Macau's casino empire remains a competitor for Las Vegas' gambling revenue, the new nonstop flight will be a catalyst for the Chinese to see — and spend their money on — other parts of the state and region, such as the Grand Canyon, Lake Tahoe and Death Valley.