Golden Knight Makes First Bet at Caesars Sportsbook's Summerlin Debut

Former Golden Knights player Deryk Engelland places ceremonial wager at new location

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Former Golden Knights defenseman Deryk Engelland placed the first bet at the grand opening of Caesars Race & Sportsbook at The Resort at Summerlin in Las Vegas. Engelland, who is not allowed to bet on the NHL due to his role as a special assistant to team owner Bill Foley, wagered $40 on the Raiders to go over 5.5 wins next season.

Why it matters

The new Caesars Sportsbook location in Summerlin marks the first time the brand has opened a sportsbook outside of the Las Vegas Strip, providing a more convenient betting option for residents of the master-planned community. The partnership between Caesars and The Resort at Summerlin is expected to be mutually beneficial, attracting customers from both the Strip and the local Summerlin area.

The details

The 6,000-square-foot sportsbook features a new odds board, video wall, and will add a 360-degree LED wraparound video screen at the expanded sportsbar before football season. There are also 20 new sports betting kiosks in the casino. Caesars made a sizable investment of more than six figures in the renovated space.

  • The grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
  • Deryk Engelland placed the first ceremonial bet at the new sportsbook location.

The players

Deryk Engelland

A former defenseman for the Vegas Golden Knights and current special assistant to team owner Bill Foley, who is not allowed to bet on the NHL.

Eric Hession

President of Caesars Digital, the company behind the new Caesars Sportsbook location.

Michelle McHugh

Vice President and General Manager of The Resort at Summerlin, which partnered with Caesars on the new sportsbook.

Caesars Race & Sportsbook

The new sportsbook location at The Resort at Summerlin, the first Caesars Sportsbook to open outside of the Las Vegas Strip.

The Resort at Summerlin

A master-planned community in Summerlin, Nevada that partnered with Caesars to open the new sportsbook location.

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What they’re saying

“The Caesars brand being in Summerlin, from a sportsbook perspective, is going to be additive to both parties. We know that the customers that we have up in Summerlin that are affiliated with us on the Strip don't always want to come down to the Strip to make wagers or make a deposit. They'll be able to come here now because it's so convenient.”

— Eric Hession, President of Caesars Digital (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

“We've had discussions with books in the past to change branding or launch with a different brand and they've chosen the William Hill brand (owned by Caesars), which is great. Rampart felt when they rebranded to The Resort at Summerlin that switching to the Caesars brand was the way to go.”

— Eric Hession, President of Caesars Digital (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

“You want to keep it local. Not being able to bet on hockey makes it easy to go with the Raiders over. They were supposed to be a .500 team last year. Bringing in a new coach, they're going to want to get out of the gates early. I think it's a good bet.”

— Deryk Engelland, Former Golden Knights Player (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

What’s next

The new Caesars Sportsbook at The Resort at Summerlin is expected to add a 360-degree LED wraparound video screen at the expanded sportsbook bar before the start of the 2026 NFL season.

The takeaway

The opening of the first Caesars Sportsbook location outside of the Las Vegas Strip in the master-planned community of Summerlin represents a strategic move by the gaming giant to expand its reach and provide a more convenient betting option for local residents. The partnership with The Resort at Summerlin is expected to be mutually beneficial, attracting customers from both the Strip and the surrounding area.