There’s a new megaresort in Las Vegas and it’s called the Fontainebleau. As hard as the name is to pronounce, it was even harder to open. This hotel-casino hybrid broke ground in 2007, however, it didn’t open until December 2023 — a whole 16 years later after multiple ownership changes and $3.7 billion poured into the project.
Was the near two-decade wait worth it? We’ve spent some time at the Fontainebleau — mostly the sportsbook, but also on the casino floor and inside a room. Below we’ll be reviewing the experience and giving you an unbridled look at Vegas’s newest and tallest building (it’s actually the the tallest occupiable building in all of Nevada). There is a lot to cover so let’s jump right into it:
277 S. Las Vegas — that’s where Fontainebleau Las Vegas is perched. That’s on the north end of The Strip, which has historically been the “old” side of the Strip. It’s near more aged casinos like Circus Circus and the Stratosphere. But Fontainebleau and also the newer Resorts World Las Vegas are giving that side of the Strip a much-needed facelift.
The Fontainebleau sportsbook can actually be hard to find on the first pass-through. That’s because the owners made the curious decision to place the sportsbook INSIDE a restaurant and bar called The Tavern. Bettors actually have to walk through the dining area to get to the sportsbook. We’re not a fan of the set-up, but it’s not that big of a deal.
Regardless, once there, the newness of the entire facility is plain as day. The LED screens brim throughout the wall and even the ceiling because it’s a reflective roof. Stunning booths and tables align on the floor, albeit a little to close to the screens in our minds. Still, it’s not a bad place to watch a game at.
However, it won’t be cheap to buy a table or booth. Prices will vary depending on the day and time of the year, however, in early January — during the NFL playoffs — a coach was running for $10,000. That’s a gaudy sum, even by Las Vegas standards.
As for betting, the racebook and sportsbook runs on Station Casinos’ STN-branded platform. This is a departure from the big-name operators you’ll find elsewhere on the Strip like BetMGM, Caesars, or even WynnBet. The retail betting side of STN Sports is what you’d expect, however, its online betting app isn’t up to snuff with the aforementioned competitors. We’d recommend Fontainebleau for in-person betting, but less so for online wagering.
Still, you can expect to get the full variety of sports betting odds at the Fontainebleau. NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, fighting — it’s all there for the taking. With each of these sports or leagues, there are many better types available too (moneylines, props, futures, etc.). You’ll be hard pressed to NOT find the bet you’re looking for here.
The Fontainebleau sportsbook and The Tavern at-large is open from 11 am to 11 pm on Monday and Tuesday. However, Wednesdays through Sundays, it stays open until 1 am.
If you’ve ever bet in a sportsbook anywhere else, then you’ll be just fine at Fontainebleau. This is your standard sports-betting experience — no reinvention of the wheel (nor is there a need to). Whether you’re betting in the physical sportsbook or the app, the process is the same — pick your bet, stake what you’re willing to bet/lose, and pray you hit.
We will say the betting lines provided by STN Sports are in line with the other bookmakers. There’s rarely any variance between odds. Across the board, bettors are getting just about the same thing so don’t think you’re saving or losing money by betting at Fontainebleau.
The two big tentpole events inside the Fontainebleau sportsbook are February’s Super Bowl and March Madness. Personally, we were there during the NCAA Tournament and the place was packed. You’ll want to reserve a table in advance, but as we said before, get ready to pay a pretty penny for ‘em.
Outside of betting on sports, there’s A LOT to do elsewhere on the Fontainebleau floor — and we mean A LOT.
For starters, the Fontainebleau casino is the second-largest in Las Vegas behind only Wynn and Encore. That massive space is filled to the brim with gaming options including 1,300 slots and 128 table games. High rollers have six private gaming spaces for high-stakes gambling too.
Restaurants and bar options are plentiful. In fact, there are 36 different spots inside the Fontainebleau to grab grub or drinks. Some of the restaurants were a bit out of our budget range (hey, we’re simple people, ok), but the fine stuff is here if you want it. World-class chefs are easy to find up and down Fontainebleau — Gabriela Cámara (Cantina Contramar), Masa Ito and Kevin Kim (Ito), Alan Yau (Washing Potato and Chyna Club), Evan Funke (Mother Wolf), David Grutman (Papi Steak), and Josh Capon (Capon’s Burgers).
Elsewhere, there’s just a real elegance to Fontainebleau’s design. You see it in the porte-cochère doorways. You see it again in the lobby decked out in marble. The entire property spans 173,000-square-foot and the elegance extends the whole way. And if you go right now, you will still get that “new casino” smell. Go before the smell of cigarettes infiltrates the air too much.
Fontainebleau Rewards is the property’s loyalty program. This program works like you’d expect out of any Vegas-based “comp” system — the more you spend, the more rewards you rack up. Both spending on gaming and the resort at large qualifies for rewards.
Rewards will vary wildly as there are ranking tiers. But on the high end, rewards members can earn 30 percent discounts on their room stay, plus 5 percent cashback.
We said Fontainebleau was the tallest occupied building in the state and we weren’t kidding with its 67 stories. That’s space for a whopping 3,644 rooms that adorn the property.
The main thing you’ll notice about Fontainebleau rooms are the windows. They are everywhere, many going ceiling to floor too. This results in natural light being the norm — a departure from many other Vegas casinos that rely on synthetic lighting.
Just know that prices aren’t cheap. The exact rate will depend on the date, but Fontainebleau is a four-star hotel and it has to recoup its huge construction costs. If you get a room for $300 or so, consider yourself lucky.
