Casino City’s Friday Five: Memorial Day in Las Vegas edition

Memorial Day Weekend is sneaking up on us and Las Vegas has plenty to offer visitors this year. Before we get into that, we have a healthy poker jackpot from Sin City, a beach club opening in Atlantic City, a construction milestone for a $1.7 billion casino in Chicago, and a Florida poker tournament winner.

Let’s begin with a major win:

5. Six-figure poker win hits at Horseshoe Las Vegas

Early Sunday morning, a guest from British Columbia hit the major progressive jackpot while playing Mississippi Stud Poker and won $134,449 while at Horseshoe Las Vegas.

The Major Progressive hit at Horseshoe for $134,449 on Mississippi Stud Poker! Congrats to our #HeartoftheStrip winner! ?? ??

21+ to gamble. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700 pic.twitter.com/Dj0zMWLsH5

— Horseshoe Las Vegas (@HorseshoeVegas) May 5, 2026

4. Caesars Atlantic City to open Caesars beach club
Caesars Atlantic City is set to open Caesars Beach Club, a new beachfront destination.

Opening this summer, Caesars Beach Club will offer an open-air escape with views of the Atlantic Ocean. The space will feature a mix of designed settings, from lounge-style dining to laid-back loungers and elevated VIP cabanas.

It will feature a full-service bar, live DJ entertainment and a rooftop deck complete with a DJ booth and VIP section. Menu highlights range from Jersey dayboat scallops and lobster rolls to tuna steak sandwiches, grilled margherita pizza and caprese skewers.

Caesars Atlantic City is bringing a new level of sophistication to the beach with Caesars Beach Club, an all-new beachfront destination designed to set the tone for the season.

Opening this summer, Caesars Beach Club will offer a lively, open-air escape with sweeping views of… pic.twitter.com/DB99EG7eqS

— Caesars Entertainment (@CaesarsEnt) May 6, 2026

3. WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown crowns winner
The WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship concluded on 30 April and it was Ian Cohen who claimed the title. Cohen secured the lion’s share of the $4.5 million prize pool, earning $656,200 for first place. In addition to the cash prize, Cohen joins the WPT Champions Club, adding his name to the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup and earns a $10,400 seat in the season ending WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas.

The $3,500 buy-in WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship, held at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, attracted a field of 1,417 entrants. The event surpassed the $3 million guarantee, generating a total prize pool of $4,534,000 with the top 178 players earning a minimum payout of $6,400.

NFL Hall of Famer Richard Seymour finished runner up, earning $430,000. Michael Amato finished third taking home $320,000. Rounding out the final table were Frank Funaro (4th place - $240,000), Johnny Bromberg (5th place - $181,000), and Raj Vohra (6th place - $138,000).

2. Bally’s Chicago tops off permanent casino
Last week, Bally's Chicago Casino Resort marked a major construction milestone at its permanent casino site with a topping-off ceremony celebrating the placement of the final structural beam. Once complete, the $1.7 billion development is expected to create approximately 3,000 permanent jobs for the local community and is slated to open in spring 2027.

The project is part of a 30-acre redevelopment of the former Chicago Tribune Freedom Center site, which will be transformed into a riverfront destination reconnecting River West and the Near West Side to the Chicago River.

Once complete, Bally's Chicago will feature:

- 3,400 slot machines
- 173 table games
- 10 food and beverage venues
- 500-room hotel tower with rooftop bar
- 3,000-seat entertainment theater and event center
- 3,300 parking spaces

1. Memorial Day Weekend 2026 in Sin City
Las Vegas is gearing up for an eventful Memorial Day Weekend, bringing together a lineup of events, exclusive offers and premier nightlife.

Below is just a taste of what Las Vegas will have to offer in two weeks:

Gatsby’s Cocktail Lounge at Resorts World Las Vegas will host a special K-pop night on 22 May, featuring Korean American R&B singer-songwriter Justin Park at 10 p.m.

OMNIA Nightclub at Caesars Palace presents Zedd on 22 May; Steve Aoki on 23 May; and Pauly D on 24 May.

Sebastian Maniscalco will perform at Encore Theater inside Encore Resort on 23 May and 24 May.

The Las Vegas Aces will host the Los Angeles Sparks on 23 May at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. A pregame ceremony will raise the 2025 WNBA Championship banner, and the first 7,500 fans will receive a replica banner.