Las Vegas Cosmopolitan granted licensing approval

Operators of the Las Vegas Cosmopolitan celebrated a triumphant week after Nevada gaming regulators awarded the casino its long awaited licensing approval. The agreement will pave the way for the Cosmopolitan's opening in May of this year and represents one of the most significant developments in the casino-hotel industry of recent months. Convening in Carson City, the Nevada Gaming Commission took approximately one hour to grant a license to the estimated $3.9 billion development. 2,000 of a total 2,995 hotel rooms are scheduled to open on May. 15 with a launch party due to mark the start of the New Year in 2025.

The licensing agreement represents a crucial achievement for the firm which signed a recent contract with Marriott International. The deal will see the Cosmopolitan feature as part of the chain's Autograph Collection and will grant the casino access to the Marriott's rewards program as well as a 32 million member customer database. The Cosmopolitan, which occupies 8.5 acres on the Strip between Bellagio and CityCenter, is expected to open a 150,000-square-foot casino complete with numerous dining venues and luxury rooftop pool facilities.

Acknowledging the importance of the new agreement, Cosmopolitan Chief Executive Officer John Unwin noted the company's excitement in the run up to the launch. He paid tribute to the quality of the Cosmopolitan's services and added that there was a significant market for the casino on the Strip. The German-based Deutsche Bank will be responsible for operating the Cosmopolitan through its wholly-owned subsidiary. All members of the gaming industry will no doubt be monitoring the Cosmopolitan's progress very closely indeed.