MGM Mirage (MGM:NYSE)

Nearly 6,400 employees were on duty Nov. 22, 1989, when The Mirage opened. Some 623 were still working for the hotel-casino Sunday when the resort celebrated its 20th anniversary. "Why would I go anywhere else?" said Donald Hampton, who has been dealing cards at The Mirage since opening day. He moved to the casino after 10 years dealing at the Golden Nugget.

Twenty years ago, The Mirage was the CityCenter of its time. Built by Steve Wynn's Golden Nugget Corp. for a then unheard of cost of $620 million, The Mirage was the first new resort added to the Strip's skyline in more than 15 years. But with the city still recovering from the economic doldrums of the early 1980s, many financial experts didn't think The Mirage would succeed.

WHAT: This December, the world will be introduced to CityCenter . The extraordinary urban resort destination will debut a new era of resort experiences with an ambition to refine and redefine Las Vegas. /PRNewswire -- Nov. 20/ SOURCE MGM Mirage.

There was never any doubt Thursday whether Nevada gaming regulators would approve a casino license for the centerpiece resort inside the $8.5 billion CityCenter development.

There was never any doubt today that Nevada gaming regulators wouldn't approve a casino license for the centerpiece resort inside the $8.5 billion CityCenter development.

Affirming its commitment to bring a new level of environmental consciousness to the Las Vegas Strip, CityCenter has earned its fifth and sixth LEED®+ Gold ratings from the U.S. Green Building Council with the certification of Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Veer Towers.

Las Vegas gaming companies will need to look for new markets to expand to because the building boom that took place locally over the past 20 years won't be replicated, Boyd Gaming Corp. Chief Executive Officer Keith Smith said Wednesday.

LAS VEGAS -- After he scored a room at the Excalibur online for $24 a night, Mario Ellis hopped in his car and headed for Sin City. "I had to jump on it," said Ellis, 42, a UPS driver from Los Angeles, a key drive-in market for Vegas. He hasn't eaten in any fancy restaurants since he arrived Sunday.

Las Vegas gaming companies will need to look elsewhere for new markets to expand in because the building boom that took place locally over the past 20 years won't be replicated, Boyd Gaming Corp. Chief Executive Officer Keith Smith said today.