The Silver Legacy Resort and Casino is one of three connected hotel casinos in downtown Reno, encompassing three city blocks, all now owned and operated by Eldorado Resorts. The three hotel casino complex includes the Circus Circus Reno, the Eldorado Reno, and the centerpiece of the project, the Silver Legacy Resort and Casino.
Eldorado Resorts was founded by Reno attorney Don Carano with the opening of the Eldorado Reno in 1973, starting out with a very modest 282 guest rooms and eventually expanding to 815 rooms.
In 1992, as the more lavish Las Vegas resort casinos began to capture more and more of the Nevada gambling market, Carano came up with a plan to build a new resort and casino in Reno to offer Las Vegas some stiffer competition. He joined forces with Circus Circus Enterprises, who owned the Circus Circus Reno next door, who partnered with him to build the new hotel.
A city wide naming contest was held in 1994, as this was the first major casino hotel project in Reno in many years and therefore attracted quite a bit of fanfare, and this resulted in the Silver Legacy name being selected. The new casino hotel was opened a year later, in 1995.
This allowed Carano’s Eldorado, the Circus Circus Reno, and the joint project Silver Legacy to all be connected together and allow guests to easily travel between the three properties. The Silver Legacy is the tallest building in Reno at 42 stories, and its 1720 rooms is second only to the Grand Sierra as far as the area’s largest hotels go.
Circus Circus Enterprises later became acquired by casino giant MGM Resorts International, who inherited both the Circus Circus Reno and the 50% stake in the Silver Legacy. The Carano family eventually bought them out in 2015, and they now have full ownership in all of the three connected casino properties.
MGM usually buys you though, not the other way around, and this deal is testimony to the success that the Carano family has had in Reno. Don Carano is now retired, but his sons have carried on his legacy and they take pride in their family run business and their philosophy.
The Silver Legacy employs an 18th Century theme, complete with a 120 foot high old time mining rig, a testimony to the silver mines of the area. The sign out front says established in 1895, a century earlier than its actual completion, which is meant to add to the old time feel they are out to capture here. It’s biggest signature is being lit up emerald green at night, and they even ran an online contest to ask if people wanted it changed to blue, and the people voted to keep it green.
The Features of the Silver Legacy Reno
While the exterior design of the building has a Victorian feel to it, this is limited to the outside. This is one of the newer hotels in Reno and on the inside does look impressive, with modern stylish décor throughout. This place truly stands out.
Various room types can be selected here, available with either a king or two queen beds. You may choose from deluxe, luxury, superior, or panoramic, all offering 336 square feet, or check a premium room with 500 square feet.
Every room includes rich modern furniture, plush carpeting, and fine linen bedding. There are three unique types of suites here, the 500 square foot deluxe spa suite, and the 700 square foot superior spa suite and executive spa suite, all designed with whirlpool tubs, California King beds, and excellent views.
Prices here start at about $50 a night, with suites beginning under $100, making the Silver Legacy both luxurious and economical.
Sterling’s Seafood Steakhouse highlights the selection of restaurants here, voted one of America’s top 100 eateries and a 16 times Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner, and offering steak, veal, poultry, and seafood specialties.
They also have a Sunday Brunch that features some exceptional dining for under $40, and is the first restaurant in Reno to offer an electronic interactive menu ordering system, so they are pretty hip as well. The technology adds a modern touch.
The Pearl Oyster Bar and Grill is noted for having the best seafood in Reno and their guests agree as visitors just keep coming back for more. Hussong’s Cantina is the oldest bar in Mexico and is the home of the original Margarita, and also offers a fantastic selection of Baja inspired Mexican cuisine.
Flavors! The Buffet cooks up authentic American, Mexican, Italian, and Asian dishes prepared fresh daily, offering discounts for Star Reward club members. Café Central is the Silver Legacy’s 24-hour café with daily specials and meals for under $16 a person. Sips Coffee and Tea and Starbucks serve coffee along with lighter meals.
The Laugh Factory presents comedy acts 6 nights weekly and has launched the careers of many of today’s hottest comedians. The Silver Legacy also has an ongoing variety of live acts with some very famous performers. The lineup is impressive.
There are numerous bars and lounges to explore here, including the Aura Ultra Lounge, Rum Bullions, the Blender Bar, Drinx, and the Silver Baron Lounge. There is a vast assortment of entertainment options and special occasions here.
The Silver Legacy additionally offers an extensive range of other amenities. Massage services are accessible right on the casino floor by licensed massage therapists. The Health Spa won Reno’s Best Health Club and Spa by Casino Player Magazine. There’s a pool where you can enjoy breathtaking views while sipping poolside drinks.
There’s also a newly upgraded fitness center with the newest in exercise equipment. Lulu’s Hair Salon will pamper you, and they also have a business center where you can do some work during your stay. There’s also a flower shop, a boutique, and more, and the concierge desk is on hand to assist you with all of your needs.
The Casino at the Silver Legacy Resort and Casino
The Silver Legacy has a good sized casino, with 89,000 square feet of gaming space, a nice size but still cozy enough to not be too overwhelming. Both the casino and the hotel resort are run with sincere dedication to friendliness and excellent service that keeps people coming back for more.
Players here are treated to the Star Rewards program, with five different levels, and a bevy of comps, perks, and discounts based upon your play here, including a 50% discount off rooms at the hotel. The higher your level, the better the VIP treatment, although all players are taken care of here well.
The Silver Legacy claims to have the best gaming in town and even if this isn’t quite the case, the gaming here is certainly among the best at the very least. They start you out with 1,200 slot and gaming machines, including 100 in their non smoking slot area, with all of the latest and most popular slots on hand to entertain you and excite your senses.
They also have an impressive number of gaming tables, with 63 table games, and the most liberal and player friendly rules and limits in Reno. There’s also a lot of different games to play here, including single and double deck Blackjack, Roulette, Pai Gow tiles, Fortune Pai Gow, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride, Craps, Baccarat, and Texas Holdem, all in a friendly and luxurious setting.
The Silver Legacy’s William Hill branded Race and Sports Book provides comfortable seating with a huge video wall, so you can enjoy the action as it unfolds, and takes bets on all major sports as well as horse racing, with some of the biggest betting limits in town.
People who love progressive jackpots are in for a treat as well, as there are an extensive number of slots that you can cash in very big on, as well as at the Fortune Pai Gow tables.
Keno also runs here, 7 days a week, from 7 AM to midnight, with games starting at $1. This is a very friendly atmosphere to play in and while just about any casino offers betting on quite a few things, it’s the people that really makes this place stand out from the crowd.
The Silver Legacy is certainly one of the best resort casinos in Reno. The idea behind it was to bring Las Vegas quality to Reno, and they have done a pretty good job at doing this.