Boyd Gaming is about to do something it hasn't done since George W. Bush was in his first term: open a brand new casino. Cadence Crossing in Henderson is set for a late March opening, and the company just told investors it's actually ahead of schedule.

The Quick Hit

• What happened: Boyd Gaming's Cadence Crossing casino opens in Henderson in late March
• The damage: 50,000 sq ft facility, 10,000 sq ft casino floor, 450 slot machines
• Why you should care: First new casino development from Boyd in over 20 years
• The move: If you live in Henderson's Cadence community, your commute to gamble just got a lot shorter

Out With the Old, In With the New

Cadence Crossing replaces Boyd's old Jokers Wild property on Boulder Highway, which was basically a relic from a different era of Vegas gaming. The Jokers Wild closing isn't exactly going to make anyone cry—it was time—but what's going up in its place tells you a lot about where the Vegas locals casino market is heading.

The new spot sits in Henderson's Cadence community, which sold over 1,200 homes in 2025 alone. That's a whole neighborhood of potential degenerates who currently have to drive 20 minutes to find a slot machine. Boyd saw the opportunity and pounced.

At 50,000 square feet with a 10,000-square-foot casino floor and 450 slots, it's not a mega-resort—it's a locals joint built for the people who actually live here. Multiple dining outlets are planned, though Boyd hasn't dropped specifics on the restaurants yet. If they follow the pattern of their other locals properties like the recently expanded Durango, expect solid food options aimed at people who want a steak and some slot time without fighting through tourist traffic on the Strip.

Why This Matters

Boyd hasn't built a new casino from scratch in more than two decades. That's not because they're lazy—it's because the economics haven't justified it. The fact that they're pulling the trigger now tells you that the Henderson market is booming and the demand is real.

While the Strip continues to see revenue declines and tourist numbers dropping, the locals market is thriving. People who live in Vegas gamble consistently, don't need hotel rooms, and aren't affected by airline pricing or convention schedules. Boyd's entire business model is built around these players, and Cadence Crossing is a bet that Henderson's growth isn't slowing down.

What's Next

Boyd said a hotel could eventually be added to the property, though there's no timeline for that expansion. For now, it's a casino-and-dining operation focused on capturing the Cadence community's gambling spend before anyone else does.

The late March opening is actually accelerated from the original mid-2026 target, which means construction went smoothly and Boyd is eager to start printing money. Can't blame them. When you've got 1,200 new homes going up next door, every day without open slot machines is a day of lost revenue.

The Bottom Line

Vegas is a city that never stops building, but a major operator breaking ground on a brand-new casino is a different kind of statement. Boyd's betting big on Henderson's growth, and given how the locals market has outperformed the Strip in recent months, it looks like a sharp play. If you're a Henderson degen, mark your calendar for late March. Your new home base is almost ready.