In the past, it wasn’t uncommon for defunct casinos to stage public auctions of their fixtures and fittings. For example, when Sheldon Adelson took over the Sands in 1996, before he demolished it to make way for the Venetian, a two-day public auction was held by Butterfield & Butterfield and Rabin Bros., two San Francisco auction houses. Thousands of pieces of gambling equipment, furniture, and memorabilia came under the hammer, including everything from shampoo to chandeliers, 1,100 slot machines, and 715 hotel rooms full of furniture. Buyers ranged from casino representatives interested in the gaming equipment to members of the public keen on owning a little piece of Vegas nostalgia. Similarly, before the original Aladdin was imploded in ’98, the property was opened up to a 60-day public sale in which everything from the blackjack tables to a $12,500 grand piano was up for grabs.
These days, such public offerings seem less common. If a casino closes due to financial trouble, the contents are more likely to be privately disposed of by the liquidators in one job lot, while if it’s sold as a going concern, the contents of the casino may well be kept and reconditioned, rather than disposed. Still, that’s not to say that there won’t be future auctions in a city where nothing stands still for long: Since its takeover by Harrah’s, Bally’s has been rumored to be destined for a facelift, or even implosion, so there may be some opportunities in the pipeline.
As far as learning about possible future sales is concerned, if a casino is in danger of bankruptcy or is being eyed by developers with a new incarnation in mind, it doesn’t tend to happen overnight and there are usually plenty of rumors and warning signs in the local media. The Las Vegas Review Journal and Las Vegas Sun, the city’s principal news organs, are both available online, and track such developments in their business and news sections.
Another place to check is Nick Christenson’s Las Vegas Casino Death Watch, a locally run Web site that affectionately monitors the fate of the city’s less-robust properties and is "designed to help folks appreciate historic Las Vegas locations before they're gone."
If you’re interested in authentic casino memorabilia, you could also investigate the city’s growing number of antique stores, mainly concentrated in a corridor along E. Charleston Blvd. and the downtown Arts District, where you can sometimes pick up the odd gem. For specific details about purchasing used slot machines and table layouts, check out previous QoDs in the Archives (May 7 and June 15, 2005).
