Lucky Dragon appeals to Vegas Asian Gamblers.

There are no gamblers quite like Asian gamblers, and Las Vegas is about to open a new gaming resort designed around its Chinese visitors.  The Lucky Dragon Hotel and Casino is scheduled to open December 3. The property, funded in large part by Chinese investors will celebrate the opening with a traditional dragon dance and will offer bilingual staff and signage.  Owners have left no Asian superstition unturned. The front entrance is designed in a dragon motif.  A feng shui master blessed the kitchens. The main bar is eight sided for good luck. The number 4 is missing from the property - absent from room numbers and phone directories. Naturally the hotel has no 4th floor. Care was taken not to make the mistake the short-lived Quad made when replacing the old Imperial Palace. 

Resorts such as the Venetian, MGM, and Wynn already cater to China's high rollers.  The Lucky Dragon hopes to attract middle class Asians and Asian-Americans. On December 2 Hainan Airlines will fly the first direct flights from China to Las Vegas's McCarran Airport.  Already 206,743 visitors traveled to the city last year according to media sources. Lucky Dragon hopes to attract a large part of that demographic. Meanwhile ground was recently broken on another Asian themed resort even bigger than the Lucky Dragon. Resorts World is spending $4 billion for a 3200 room property on the north strip that will feature Chinese architecture such as the Great Wall.

The Lucky Dragon will offer authentic Chinese food in its 5 Asian restaurants.  No General Tso's or egg rolls here they say. In addition to live seafood flown in from all over the world, the property will offer the usual staples like congee, wonton noodles, and dim sum.  Restaurants will feature a luxury tea bar and food that might be found in Shanghi restaurants. The hope is that Asian visitors staying in other Strip hotels will choose to dine at the Lucky Dragon.  The emphasis on food Lucky Dragon owners can eschew other things not particularly important to Chinese tourists  such as whisky bars, nightclubs, and pools.

Funding for the Lucky Dragon was largely drawn from mainland Chinese investors through the EB-5 Visa program according to Los Angeles newspapers. The visa allows foreigners and their immediate family to gain permanent US residency in exchange for investment of $500,000 that also creates American jobs.

So many fun places to visit in Vegas. So many beautiful things to see and exciting things to do  -- and now there's more.  Enjoy this video of the construction of the signature dragon in the new Lucky Dragon Casino.  (Sorry for the YouTube ad.)