Clear as Glass

The Palms has always been a special property, and its new general manager, Kevin Glass, knows that intimately. He began his career at the Palms when it was owned by the Maloof family 23 years ago.

“I actually started with the property back in 2001 when the property opened,” says Glass. “I was hired as the reservations, revenue and leisure sales manager. I was here for about four years, then left to go advance my career.”

He returned four years ago as vice president of hospitality when the San Manuel Nation purchased the Palms from its second owner, Station Casinos. In September 2024, he was appointed general manager. Prior to returning to the Palms, Glass was general manager of the Downtown Grand.

Glass has vast experience on the hospitality side of the business, but he also helped design a table games strategy that’s disrupted the Las Vegas gaming space, offering only 3/2 blackjack with guaranteed $5 games in both blackjack and craps.

 “Our goal is to provide a great customer experience and value for our customers,” Glass explains. “You read all the articles about the Strip 6/5 blackjack and overcharging for everything. That’s really not our business model. We have free parking, so we don’t charge customers before they even get in the building. If they want to play $5 3/2 blackjack, we’ve got it. We also have a great progressive pai gow game, crapless craps—we try to have something for everybody.”

In the Maloof days, the Palms had strong locals play during the day, while the nightlife attracted younger locals as well as visitors. Glass recognizes the power of that strategy, but he says things have changed under San Manuel Nation ownership.

“We’re predominantly a locals gaming company,” he says. “At night, we have concerts at Pearl and, of course, the dining and gaming experience. We’re not in the nightlife industry anymore. We don’t have a nightclub. But the Ghost Bar is still up and running and is more of an ultra-lounge.”

With the San Manuel Nation owning what is arguably the most successful casino in California, Yaamava’, the Palms has a pipeline from Southern California to complement its local customer base.

“We share the Club Serrano loyalty system, so players who spend time at Yaamava’ can come to the Palms and use their comp dollars. And it works the other way around, too. Our players can go to Yaamava’ and use their comps there.”

Glass believes the culture at the Palms is among the best in the business.

“The Palms as a brand in general is very nostalgic. There are team members on the floor today that I remember seeing 23 years ago. It’s great to see that camaraderie and see folks that you’ve known for all that time. We ended up having over 60 day-one employees who came back after the property was closed for two years due to Covid. It’s a very special place. We take great, great care of the employees, and that’s why they want to come work for us.”

Glass says the corporate culture at the Palms is enhanced by its tribal connections.

“Carla Rodriguez, one of our tribal elders who’s also on our gaming hospitality board, comes out quarterly and does fireside chats for the employees,” he explains. “It’s not about corporate America, but about having that family feeling. It’s very powerful when she explains the history of the tribe, from where it started to where they are now.

“That history is very impressive and gives the employees a sense of who they’re really working for in Las Vegas.”