Before Jay Sarno came to Las Vegas in the early 1960s, the casino resorts there at the time—the Sands, Sahara, Dunes, Riviera, Tropicana and others—were quite formulaic. They started out as glorified motels and added small towers as they grew, with the casino becoming the focus of the property. Sarno, who had developed motor hotels under the Cabana brand, had a different idea for Las Vegas.
He got funding with a loan from the Teamsters and Jimmy Hoffa, land from legendary developer Kirk Kerkorian, and added the concept of Roman decadence. Caesars Palace opened in 1966 and today is still one of the highlights of Las Vegas. Sarno then went on to open Circus Circus, and the themed casino trend was born. Steve Wynn, a devoted Sarno acolyte, perfected the theme at The Mirage.
What followed changed Las Vegas forever. Themed casino resorts like MGM Grand, the Excalibur, Monte Carlo, Paris, Venetian and others welcomed visitors from around the world. The luxury that was Caesars saw the bar raised at the Bellagio, Wynn and Encore, and most recently, Resorts World Las Vegas and the Fontainebleau.
Sadly, Sarno’s own vision for the Grandissimo never came to fruition and he passed away in 1984 of a heart attack at the age of 62. But his vision lives on.
Respect & Recognition
In 2003, GGB Magazine created the Sarno Awards to recognize Sarno’s contribution to the gaming industry. The awards recognized excellence in casino architecture, design and construction, and were connected to the Casino Design conference. Jay Sarno’s family helped kick off the awards.
When Casino Design was sold to another company, the Sarno Awards went away. But excellence in casino design has not. So we’re reviving the Sarno Awards in 2026. Details on the categories and the criteria will be announced following the establishment of an advisory board composed of the leaders in the field.
The highlight of the Sarno Awards is the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes an exemplary architect, designer or casino executive who has elevated the casino design industry through creativity, vision and business acumen. A nomination process for that award will be announced shortly.
GGB Magazine once again wishes to acknowledge the contributions of the casino design sector of the gaming industry. In these times, when gamblers can enjoy their recreation anywhere in the world via their ever-present screens, the importance of the design sector plays a vital role in creating not just pleasant surroundings but an experience that makes players and guests return again and again.
Any company that designs casino resorts, renovates existing casinos, creates new design concepts or participates in any way in the design and construction process should be aware of this opportunity to be recognized as one of the innovative companies that should be considered as a partner in this process.
For more information on the Sarno Awards, contact Robin Harrison at Robin.Harrison-Millan@clariongaming.com.
