Don’t get on Sahara owner Alex Meruelo‘s bad side. That seems to be the moral of a saga unfolding on the Las Vegas Strip. VitalVegas author Scott Roeben is being sued for $15,000 in lost business, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees plus a gag order after reporting scuttlebutt that the Sahara was gone to close for good this autumn. Meruelo’s suit alleges malice aforethought, always difficult to prove, asserting that “Mr. Roeben, through Vital Vegas, seemingly takes joy in continuing to make false claims.” Meruelo was also irked at a Roeben report that high-roller perks at the Sahara had been revoked. However, he must think the VitalVegas closure report was well-sourced, since 10 John Does (Sahara employees perhaps?) are cited as codefendants. An investigation into their identities is implied to be ongoing. (Roeben attributes his information to “industry sources familiar with the long-troubled casino.”)
Scott Roeben in said article gave the Sahara a rave review on their remodel, and said he hangs out at one of their lounges. Fifteen grand? Dr. Evil asking for “one million dollars” in Austin Powers comes to my mind, good thing for Roeben the Sahara did not ask for swizzle sticks or Hello Kitty backpacks… Sheldon Adelson knows darn well his luxury resorts will benefit greatly from economic stimulus, the fact that the President is sending his cheapo Chief Of Staff to pretend “negotiate” with the Democrats must annoy Adelson to his core, plus even though he lavishes tens of millions to Senate Republicans, Mitch McConnell is abdicating to the White House… Las Vegas needs help, it needs regular people with money in their wallets, these are amazing times we live in…
As a pretty good amateur Las Vegas casino business observer for over 20 years I think it is fair to say that the Sahara hasn’t been a regularly profitable casino-resort since the mid 1990s, during the latter part of the Paul Lowden era. Although Bill Bennett was as good a casino operator as ever existed in his prime, he died before his vision could be fully implemented. His brother in law Al Hummel, a good operator in his own right, appeared to be placed into a caretaker role until a buyer could be found. The Sam Nazarian/SBE era was a godsend in regards to the mechanical system restoration and modernization but quickly bankrupted.
Alex Meruelo is without doubt a good businessman. But I have to wonder how he can succeed during the greatest economic attack in America over the last 90 years while having the burden of the two of the financial black holes of the 21st Century:
The Arizona Coyotes of the NHL and Sahara Las Vegas?
Ask his employees how they were treated during the pandemic! He chants “family” but ruined people’s lives when it was convenient.