Last Updated on July 26, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Palms Casino Resort has changed hands several times since opening in 2001, which can make its current ownership confusing. The Las Vegas resort was founded by the Maloof family, later came under private-equity ownership, was acquired by Station Casinos in 2016, and changed owners again in 2021. Today, Station Casinos no longer owns the property.
Quick Answer
Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas is owned by the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority (SMGHA), a governmental instrumentality of Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, formerly known as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. SMGHA acquired the Palms from Station Casinos in December 2021 for $650 million.
Key Takeaways
- The current owner of Palms Casino Resort is the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority (SMGHA).
- SMGHA is an instrumentality of Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, formerly known as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
- Station Casinos sold the Palms ownership entities to SMGHA in December 2021 for $650 million.
- The resort reopened under tribal ownership on April 27, 2022.
- Palms is located just west of the Las Vegas Strip on Flamingo Road; it is not technically on the Strip.
Background on the Previous Owner
Station Casinos was the owner immediately before SMGHA. Its parent company, Red Rock Resorts, announced in May 2016 that Station Casinos had agreed to acquire Palms for $312.5 million. Red Rock later reported an acquisition cost of $316.4 million after the transaction closed on October 1, 2016.
That was not the first change in ownership. George Maloof and his family developed the Palms and opened it in 2001, but the Maloofs did not maintain majority ownership all the way through 2016. In 2011, private-equity firms TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners gained a combined 98% interest in the resort, while the Maloof family’s stake fell to 2%.
| Period | Ownership milestone |
| 2001 | Palms opens as a Maloof family project led by George Maloof. |
| 2011 | TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners gain a combined 98% ownership interest; the Maloof family’s stake falls to 2%. |
| 2016 | Station Casinos, part of Red Rock Resorts, acquires Palms. |
| December 17, 2021 | Station completes the $650 million sale of the Palms ownership entities to SMGHA Nevada, LLC. |
| April 27, 2022 | Palms reopens to the public under SMGHA ownership. |
Who Owns the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas Now?
The current owner of Palms Casino Resort is the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority. SMGHA is a governmental instrumentality created to own and manage gaming and hospitality businesses outside the Tribe’s California reservation.
The Tribal nation behind SMGHA is now called Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. It was previously known as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, which is why older announcements about the Palms acquisition use that name.
Red Rock Resorts’ SEC filing confirms that Station Casinos completed the sale on December 17, 2021, for aggregate cash consideration of $650 million, subject to working-capital adjustments.
Note: Palms Casino Resort is often grouped with Las Vegas Strip hotels, but the property is actually located at 4321 W. Flamingo Road, just west of the Strip and I-15.
When Palms reopened in 2022, it became the first resort in Las Vegas to be fully owned and operated by a Native American tribe.
Plans for Renovations and Upgrades
The ownership change should not be confused with the major renovation that had already taken place before SMGHA bought the property. According to the official Palms reopening announcement, the resort underwent more than $600 million in renovations in 2019 while it was under Red Rock Resorts and Station Casinos ownership.
Those renovations substantially updated the property before the 2021 sale. When SMGHA prepared to reopen Palms in 2022, the resort highlighted existing upgraded facilities rather than announcing the complete room, casino, bathroom, kitchen, and roof overhaul previously described in this article.
The reopened resort was described as having two hotel towers with 766 rooms and suites, a roughly 95,000-square-foot casino, extensive meeting and event space, the Pearl Theater, pools, dining, and other resort amenities.
As with any operating resort, individual venues and amenities can continue to change over time. However, there is no basis for presenting an unsourced property-wide renovation schedule or dollar budget as a confirmed SMGHA project unless Palms or SMGHA has officially announced it.
Impact on the Las Vegas Hospitality Industry
The strongest documented significance of the transaction is not a prediction about future tribal acquisitions. It is what the Palms deal itself represented: SMGHA’s ownership made Palms the first Las Vegas resort fully owned and operated by a Native American tribe.
The acquisition also represented an expansion of the Tribe’s gaming and hospitality operations beyond its California reservation. SMGHA was created specifically to make and manage gaming and hospitality investments outside the reservation.
For Las Vegas visitors, the ownership change did not turn Palms into a new resort with a different identity. SMGHA retained the Palms name and reopened the existing property, combining the established resort with the Tribal owner’s approach to hospitality and community involvement.
Current Entertainment and Dining Options
Entertainment and dining remain important parts of the Palms experience under its current ownership. Instead of relying on speculation about venues that may be introduced in the future, visitors can look at the resort’s current lineup.
The official Palms entertainment schedule includes events at Pearl Theater as well as nightlife and other programming around the resort. Ghostbar, located high in the Ivory Tower, also continues to operate as a rooftop nightlife venue with views across Las Vegas.
Current dining options listed by the resort include Scotch 80 Prime, Tim Ho Wan, Palms Pizza, quick-service restaurants, and several bars and lounges. Because restaurant concepts and operating schedules can change, guests should check the current Palms dining directory before a visit.
The Current Owner’s Vision for the Palms Hotel
SMGHA’s public statements around the acquisition emphasized hospitality, Tribal culture, employees, and a connection with the Las Vegas community. When the Palms prepared to reopen, the organization also focused on welcoming former employees back to the property.
Community involvement has remained visible through Palms Cares. The program supports charitable organizations serving Nevada communities and reflects SMGHA’s stated goal of creating a positive local impact.
This community activity is more concrete than unsupported predictions about broad sustainability programs or redevelopment projects. For readers trying to understand what changed under the current owner, the clearest documented themes are Tribal ownership, continued resort operations, community giving, and preservation of the Palms brand.
Reactions and the Palms’ Role in the Las Vegas Community
The ownership change marked an unusual moment in Las Vegas gaming history because a Tribal gaming organization became the full owner and operator of an established Las Vegas resort.
Rather than treating the acquisition only as an investment transaction, SMGHA has tied its Las Vegas presence to community activity. Its Palms Cares program provides a formal channel for charitable giving and support for organizations working in Nevada.
The Palms also continues to serve both visitors and Las Vegas residents through its casino, hotel, restaurants, entertainment venues, pool, theater, and event facilities. That mix reflects a long-standing feature of the property: although it attracts tourists because of its proximity to the Strip, it has also maintained a significant local audience.
The key ownership fact is now straightforward: Station Casinos is a former owner, not the current one. Palms Casino Resort is owned by SMGHA, an instrumentality of Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the current owner of the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas?
Palms Casino Resort is owned by the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority, or SMGHA. SMGHA is a governmental instrumentality of Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, formerly known as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
Does Station Casinos still own the Palms?
No. Station Casinos completed the sale of the Palms ownership entities to SMGHA Nevada, LLC on December 17, 2021. The transaction was valued at $650 million before applicable working-capital adjustments.
When did Station Casinos acquire the Palms?
Station Casinos completed its acquisition of Palms in October 2016. The deal was initially announced at $312.5 million, while Red Rock Resorts later reported an acquisition cost of $316.4 million in its financial statements.
Did the Maloof family own the Palms?
Yes. George Maloof and his family developed the resort, which opened in 2001. However, their controlling ownership ended before the Station Casinos acquisition. In 2011, TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners gained a combined 98% interest while the Maloof family’s stake fell to 2%.
When did the Palms reopen under its current owner?
Palms reopened to the public on April 27, 2022, after being closed for more than a year. The reopening began its operating era under SMGHA ownership.
Is the Palms Hotel actually on the Las Vegas Strip?
No. Palms Casino Resort is located at 4321 W. Flamingo Road, just west of the Las Vegas Strip and I-15. It is close to the Strip but is considered an off-Strip property.
Why do some sources still call the owner the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians?
That was the Tribe’s former name and was the name used when the Palms acquisition was announced and completed. In 2025, the Tribe reclaimed its ancestral name, Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. The San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority name remains in use for the entity that owns Palms.
Sources
- San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority — confirms current Palms ownership and SMGHA’s relationship to Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Red Rock Resorts 8-K — confirms completion of the December 2021 sale for $650 million.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Red Rock Resorts 2016 Form 10-K — confirms the 2016 Station Casinos acquisition and reported acquisition cost.
- Palms Casino Resort reopening announcement — confirms the 2022 reopening, resort features, ownership, location, and historic Tribal-ownership milestone.
- Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation — confirms the Tribe’s 2025 reclamation of its ancestral name.