In a city known for high rollers and bold dreams, Derek Stevens Stands out – not just for his vision, but for his loyalty. While others rushed to the glitz of the Las Vegas Strip, Stevens made a different kind of bet: downtown.

Today, that bet is paying off.

As the owner and developer behind Circa Resort & Casino, the D Las Vegas, and the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, Stevens has reshaped the skyline of Fremont Street—and redefined what’s possible in a part of town long overlooked by major developers. With Circa, the first ground-up casino built in downtown Las Vegas in 40 years, Stevens didn’t just build a hotel—he built a statement.

And that statement is clear: Downtown is back.

The Heart of the City

Derek Stevens didn’t come to Las Vegas to blend in. Originally from Detroit, he brings a gritty, entrepreneurial energy to everything he touches. After earning degrees in mechanical engineering and business, he entered the gaming and hospitality world not as a lifelong insider—but as a student of Las Vegas culture. He observed. He listened. And then he acted.

“I first came to Las Vegas in 2006, got my gaming license in 2008, and right away, I was struck by how open and entrepreneurial this town is,” Stevens said. “If you’ve got a good idea and are willing to put your equity on the line, there’s no better place in the world to build something.”

In 2008, while most investors were running from risk, Stevens and his brother Greg purchased the Golden Gate—the oldest hotel in Las Vegas. “People don’t always realize we’ve renovated that property four separate times,” Stevens said, referencing expansions including the addition of two-bedroom penthouses and 14 junior suites. “Those remain some of my favorite room designs we’ve ever done.”

Then came the Fitzgerald’s, which the brothers transformed into the D Las Vegas. But it was Circa—opened in late 2020 during the height of the pandemic—that cemented Derek Stevens’ legacy.

“When we built Circa, we knew we had to create compelling reasons for people to visit,” he explained. “Downtown has the energy of Fremont Street, but we wanted to add something you can’t find anywhere else—certainly not at home.”

From its rooftop Stadium Swim amphitheater to the largest sportsbook in the world, Circa wasn’t built as a replica of Strip extravagance. It was built as a love letter to Vegas—past, present, and future.

A Businessman Who Shows Up

Unlike many casino owners who operate behind closed doors, Stevens is famously present. He walks the floor. He chats with guests. He watches games in his own sportsbook, often side by side with the patrons. Most casino owners are ghosts glimpsed only in framed photos. Stevens is a handshake away, from predawn coffee at Saginaw’s Delicatessen to midnight celebrations when a guest hits a six-team parlay.

His accessibility has cultivated a following so loyal that regulars jokingly call themselves the “Stevens Syndicate.” These guests plan annual pilgrimages timed to March Madness or MLB Opening Day, confident they will spot Derek in black slacks and that unmistakable Tigers cap, trading predictions and toasting to victories.

Opening a new resort in October 2020 – while travel corridors worldwide were clamping shut—might have seemed reckless. For Stevens, it was an act of faith. Circa Resort & Casino, the first ground-up build in downtown in four decades, debuted amid face masks and temperature checks. Yet through the challenges, Stadium Swim’s six rooftop pools shimmered like an open invitation to the good times ahead. The massive three-story sportsbook—billed as the largest on Earth—radiated 78 million pixels of possibility, luring sports diehards who hungered for communal roar after months of silence. “I’ll never forget what it felt like to put everything—your career, your net worth—on the line,” he reflected. “But because of that risk, I’m even more grateful for where we are today. Every smile we bring to a guest’s face makes it all worth it.” 

The payoff? A resort where the details dazzle. “Stadium Swim had to be more than just a great pool,” Stevens said. “I wanted to build the best pool in the world.” Add in the Legacy Club—“the best view in Vegas, hands down,” he notes—and a sportsbook designed to be “the biggest and best in the world,” and you get the full Circa experience.

Every inch of Circa bears a hidden Easter egg for Vegas historians: the retro Vegas Vickie neon cowgirl re-illuminated in the lobby, the penny-slot-era font on directional signs, the tactile glam of 1960s carpeting updated for 2025 sensibilities. Even the “21-and-over” policy is a wink to Rat Pack nights when adults behaved badly with style.

Downtown’s Evolutionary Architect

Stevens didn’t just build properties. He helped build momentum.

“Downtown Las Vegas is changing—dramatically, and in a very good way,” he said. “You look out from Legacy Club now, and there are cranes everywhere. That reflects real demand for high-end residential, which downtown hasn’t had in a long time. It’s amazing to see so many people wanting to live here now.”

While others chased the mega-resort model, Stevens invested in community—knowing that the best version of Las Vegas includes both polish and personality.

“Circa feels like a turning point,” says longtime downtown advocate and Vegas Legal contributor, Jason Bailey. “It’s ambitious without being impersonal. Derek understands that Vegas isn’t just about what’s new—it’s about what feels like Vegas.”

That balance, Stevens says, is deliberate: “If you respect the past while giving guests what they need today, you can strike the right balance.”

Every detail in Circa is deliberate. The resort is 21+ only, a nod to Stevens’ belief in offering adults a grown-up playground. The art, music, even the throwback signage reflects a deep love of classic Vegas—and a refusal to lose its soul in the process.

Building Community, One Block at a Time

What sets Stevens apart is not only what he builds, but how he anchors it to its neighborhood. Instead of attempting to import the Strip’s luxury-for-luxury’s-sake blueprint, he double-downed on local entrepreneurs:

Food & Beverage: Circa’s nine restaurants—most formed in partnership with independent restaurateurs—serve up flavors as diverse as Fremont Street itself. From Barry’s Downtown Prime bringing back classic steakhouse swagger to Saginaw’s Delicatessen flying in the kind of rye bread Detroit locals swear by, there’s something unique at every turn. “We wanted our restaurants to reflect the energy of downtown,” he said. “That’s why we partnered with independent restaurateurs. It gives each venue a unique identity.”

Arts & Culture: He commissioned Fremont-themed murals from local graffiti artists and resurrected defunct neon classics like Vegas Vickie. “Bringing her inside was about celebrating our roots,” Stevens explained.

Employee Uplift: Circa launched a tuition-assistance program for hospitality associates in 2023, creating a pipeline of homegrown managers and culinary talent who might otherwise have left downtown for Strip wages.

It paid off. According to city economic reports, the Fremont East Entertainment District experienced a 37 percent increase in tax revenue between 2015 and 2024, and downtown hotel ADR (average daily rate) finally eclipsed the $150 mark—unheard of a decade ago.

Moments That Made the Myth

1,000 Free Flights: In May 2020, weeks before Circa’s debut, Stevens purchased 1,000 commercial airline seats, giving them away to future guests as a symbolic “open-the-doors” gesture when planes were half empty.

The $1 Million Parlay Pay-Out: On Super Bowl Sunday 2024, Circa’s sportsbook paid a record seven-figure ticket to a 32-year-old HVAC tech from Phoenix.

Staff Holiday Bonus: After Circa’s second profitable year, every employee—from pit bosses to parking valets—received a $1,500 holiday bonus.

What’s Next for Derek Stevens?

In true Las Vegas fashion, Stevens plays his cards close—but he’s not standing still.

“We just completed a $21 million expansion inside Circa,” he noted, referencing the build-out of four previously empty floors. And then there’s Symphony Park, where his company recently leased land to assist with the Cello Towers project. “It’s still too early to say what the long-term project will be,” he said, “but we’re excited about the future of that site.”

As for acquisitions? “We’re always looking for ways to grow,” Stevens said. “If the right opportunity comes along, we’ll be ready.”

And what do the Vegas visitors of the future want?

“They want what they can’t get at home—world-class entertainment, unforgettable dining, exciting gaming. Some call it an ‘adult Disneyland.’ The only difference? This is way better than Disneyland.”

Why Derek Stevens Matters in 2025

At a time when Las Vegas is undergoing yet another transformation—welcoming tech conferences, major league sports, Formula 1 races, and global entertainment brands—Derek Stevens remains grounded in the city’s original promise: that anything is possible, and everything should be fun.

As we mark the 10-year anniversary of Vegas Legal Magazine, it’s fitting that we feature someone who embodies that same spirit. Visionary. Risk-taker. Community builder. Stevens isn’t just a businessman. He’s a reminder that Las Vegas still belongs to the bold.

And that the heart of Vegas still beats loudest downtown.