New Stardust Social Game Allows Glimpse Back at Old Vegas

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Monday, September 16th, 2013 | Written by Shane Larson

Think of Las Vegas today and what comes to mind are probably the new casino resorts such as Wynn and the Bellagio, places that bring forth an image of almost impossible glamour.

But for some, the mind still wanders to the Las Vegas of yesteryear, when casinos like the Sahara, the Flamingo (which is actually still standing and remains operational), the Aladdin, and the El Rancho ruled The Strip. For folks interested in a little trip back in time, there’s now an app for that.

As first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, a new social gaming site themed around the old Stardust is now available to play via Facebook.

Hotel enjoyed long and storied history

The Stardust, which was demolished back in 2007, was once one of the city’s premiere gambling destinations. For anyone who visited the property toward the end of its long life – it first rose up from the Nevada desert in 1958 – it was apparent that the bloom had gone off the proverbial rose. But, if at the end of its life the Stardust seemed a bit worn and tired, this certainly wasn’t always the case.

The Stardust, once the largest casino in all of Las Vegas, also had a rich history of being involved with organized crime, having originally been developed by the mobster Tony Cornero, according to the Review-Journal. Though it was eventually sold to supposedly straight-laced businessmen, it quickly became the subject of a skimming scandal.

Despite its colorful history, the Stardust still lives on in the hearts of many. Now those who wish they could still visit the real Stardust can do the next best thing by playing the Stardust-themed social game. Players can enter the “casino” through a virtual rendering of the Stardust’s lobby.

Social games, not to be confused with real-money online gambling, allow players to use play money or points to play online poker, blackjack, and other forms of casino games. Unlike in real-money Internet betting, players are not able to cash out, though some platforms do reward players with various types of non-monetary prizes.

Does the future hold more historical tie-ins?

As real-money betting begins to ramp up in the United States, we may begin to see more throwback promotions akin to the Stardust game, both in the forms of social games as well as real-money versions. Already we are seeing unique partnerships emerging as companies work to position themselves to best take advantage of not only the nascent United States online gambling market, but also the rapidly increasing popularity of social gaming in general.

By tying in familiar brands and names, companies are cleverly working to tie land-based gaming to online gaming. While some of the social gaming sites are likely to remain play money only for some time to come, others will almost certainly transform into real-money online poker and gambling sites once regulation and licensing permit. Already some type of online gambling has been regulated in three states – those being New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware.

Playing on nostalgia has long proven an effective form of marketing across countless industries, so the fact that the gambling industry is looking to the past to influence the future habits of its customers comes as little surprise.