DESERT DEGENS WEEKLY BRIEF • APRIL 30, 2026
This Week in Vegas: MGM Grand Buffet Closes, Caesars Takes Over SuperBook, and Dragon Link Hits Big
Vegas had one of those weeks where the stories hit every lane — old-school Strip nostalgia, sportsbook history, and the kind of slot jackpots that make every player say, “Maybe I should have sat at that machine.”
TL;DR (60-Second Version)
MGM Grand Buffet is closing — final service is May 31, ending a Strip buffet run that started in 1993.
Caesars may take over SuperBook — Caesars Sportsbook is expected to operate Westgate’s iconic sportsbook, pending approval.
Dragon Link hit big at Durango — a $25 spin turned into a $1.15M+ jackpot.
Buffalo paid at Red Rock — a $7.50 spin hit for $205K+ on Buffalo Gold Revolution.
Plaza gets a new slot first — Bluberi’s Smokin’ Train is debuting at Plaza before anywhere else in Vegas.
More Vegas changes — Durango added a must-hit bonus room, Harry Reid added live TSA waits, and Le Cirque is closing.
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MGM Grand Buffet Is Closing — Another Vegas Buffet Era Ends
MGM Grand confirmed its buffet will close after service on May 31, 2026, ending a run that goes back to the resort’s 1993 opening. For a lot of Vegas visitors, this was not just a buffet — it was part of the classic Strip experience.
The bigger story is what it says about Vegas now: traditional all-you-can-eat casino buffets keep disappearing from the Strip. MGM reportedly has no immediate plans for the space, so the question is whether this is simply a closure or the start of whatever the next version of Strip dining becomes.
Caesars Sportsbook Is Taking Over the Westgate SuperBook
Caesars Entertainment and Westgate announced a partnership that would put Caesars Sportsbook in charge of operating the Westgate SuperBook, pending Nevada Gaming Commission approval. The transition is expected before the 2026 NFL season.
That matters because the SuperBook is one of the most iconic sportsbook brands in Las Vegas. Caesars brings a bigger digital platform and national betting footprint, but the SuperBook has history, identity, and a loyal crowd. If approved, this could be one of the biggest Vegas sportsbook shifts heading into football season.
Durango and Red Rock Remind Everyone: Local Casinos Can Still Hit Huge
Two local jackpot stories got slot players’ attention this week. At Durango, a player hit a $1,159,768.43 Dragon Link: Panda Magic jackpot on a $25 spin inside the high-limit slot room.
Over at Red Rock Casino, another player reportedly turned a $7.50 Buffalo Gold Revolution spin into a $205,453 jackpot.
The takeaway: these were not Strip mega-floor stories. They were local/off-Strip hits at two Station Casinos properties, which is exactly why Vegas regulars keep paying attention to places like Durango and Red Rock.
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