Silver Sevens
A hotel and locals casino near the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Silver Sevens is a hotel and locals-oriented casino located approximately one mile east of the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The property is operated by Affinity Interactive and combines hotel accommodation, casino gaming, sports betting, dining, and other resort-style amenities in a relatively compact Las Vegas property. Its casino occupies approximately 30,225 square feet, while the hotel has 327 rooms. The site has operated under several names and ownership structures. It opened in 1980 as the Hotel Continental and Casino on a roughly 10-acre parcel. The original property had approximately 400 rooms and initially operated with a comparatively small gaming floor. Gaming capacity expanded during the early 1980s after regulators approved an increase from 15 slot machines to more than 250. The Continental later became associated with a casino-skimming investigation involving employees and outside associates. The investigation resulted in criminal convictions and eventually contributed to the property's difficult public history, although the conduct was described as occurring without the owners' knowledge. In 1996, the Continental was sold to Crowne Ventures for $36 million. Crowne Gaming pursued a 1950s-themed repositioning, including the launch of Big Daddy's Diner, but the company entered bankruptcy later that year. The property itself filed for bankruptcy protection in February 1998. Following unsuccessful lease negotiations with American Realty, the Continental closed on March 31, 1999. The closure affected more than 300 employees and occurred amid growing competition from larger Las Vegas resorts. The Herbst family, known for the Terrible Herbst gasoline-station business and a Nevada gaming operation, acquired the closed property in late 1999. They retained the building's exterior shell but undertook a major interior reconstruction. The approximately $65 million acquisition and renovation produced Terrible's Hotel Casino, which opened on December 6, 2000. The renewed property offered hundreds of slot machines, a bingo hall, sportsbook, hotel rooms, and multiple restaurants. It was positioned primarily toward local customers, including people working on the nearby Strip, while also seeking a smaller tourist segment. Further physical changes followed. Some rooms were removed to make space for a parking structure and a hotel tower completed in 2007. The operating company, Herbst Gaming, filed for bankruptcy in 2009 and emerged in 2010 without the Herbst family remaining involved. The company changed its name to Affinity Gaming in 2011 and later became Affinity Interactive. An 18-month renovation concluded in January 2013. The work included improvements to the 327 hotel rooms and sportsbook, alongside the addition of nearly 1,000 slot machines. The property was subsequently renamed Silver Sevens, a name referencing Nevada's identity as the Silver State and the association of the number seven with gambling luck. The Silver Sevens name became official on July 1, 2013. At the time of the rebranding, local residents reportedly represented about 70 percent of the customer base. The former Terrible's cowboy sign was donated to the Neon Museum in Las Vegas. In November 2023, Affinity announced plans to renovate the property and restore the Continental name in 2025. The proposal included a rooftop lounge and a Pink Taco restaurant planned for the porte-cochère area. The proposed renaming was later suspended while Affinity conducted additional market research. Silver Sevens therefore remained the operating identity covered by the available reference material, although the future branding direction was under review.
History
The property now known as Silver Sevens began as the Hotel Continental and Casino in Paradise, Nevada. Construction was underway in 1979, and the casino-hotel opened in 1980 on approximately 10 acres. The original facility contained about 400 rooms and was owned by a group that included Los Angeles landowner Ira Levy. In 1981, Levy and partners Albert Barouh and Louis Litwin obtained approval to expand the gaming operation from 15 slot machines to more than 250. The Continental encountered controversy during the 1980s. Anthony Robone was a minority owner, and his son Nicholas worked at the casino. After the Robone family opened the La Mirage across the street in 1986, a gaming-regulator tip alleged that Nicholas Robone had skimmed money from the Continental. The allegation was ultimately linked to Dennis Thomas, who owed the casino money, and the claimed debt-for-accusation arrangement was not proven. A separate and more serious investigation followed in 1987, when the FBI identified a slot-machine skimming scheme. Assistant slot manager Michael DiBari had arranged false jackpots that were collected by associate Alphonse Cuozzo, with money then routed to the Gambino crime family in New York. DiBari and Cuozzo were convicted, and DiBari was later placed on Nevada's Black Book. In 1996, Crowne Ventures acquired the Continental for $36 million and transferred ownership to Crowne Gaming, which leased the land to Hotel Continental Inc. Crowne Gaming planned a 1950s theme and opened Big Daddy's Diner in 1997 as part of the repositioning. The company entered bankruptcy near the end of 1997 after American Realty Trust foreclosed on it. Hotel Continental Inc. filed for bankruptcy in February 1998. When American Realty and the Continental could not agree on a new lease, the property closed on March 31, 1999. More than 300 workers were affected. Contemporary explanations emphasized competition from newer and substantially larger resorts, including Bellagio, while the Continental operated with only about 500 slot machines. The Herbst family purchased the closed property in late 1999. The family operated the Terrible Herbst gasoline chain and also had a gaming division involved in Nevada slot routes and casinos in Pahrump. The Continental represented the family's opportunity to enter the Las Vegas market with a full hotel-casino. The property was considered too small for the largest locals operators but too substantial for many small slot-route businesses. The Herbsts stripped and rebuilt most of the interior while retaining the exterior structure. The acquisition and renovation were reported at approximately $65 million. The renovated property opened as Terrible's Hotel Casino on December 6, 2000. It contained roughly 750 slot machines, a bingo hall, sportsbook, approximately 370 rooms, and several restaurants, including a buffet. The business model emphasized local customers, particularly workers from the nearby Strip, with tourists expected to form a smaller share of the clientele. A later construction project removed some rooms to create a parking garage and hotel tower, completed in 2007. Herbst Gaming, the casino operating company, filed for bankruptcy in 2009 and emerged in 2010 without the Herbst family remaining in the company. It adopted the name Affinity Gaming in 2011 and later became Affinity Interactive. An 18-month property renovation was completed in January 2013. The work upgraded the hotel rooms and sportsbook and added nearly 1,000 slot machines. On July 1, 2013, the property was formally renamed Silver Sevens. The name invoked Nevada's Silver State nickname and the traditional gambling significance of seven. The former Terrible's cowboy sign was donated to the Neon Museum. At the time of the 2013 rebranding, local customers reportedly made up approximately 70 percent of the clientele. The property had 327 rooms and a 30,225-square-foot casino. In November 2023, Affinity announced plans to renovate the site and bring back the Continental name in 2025, with a rooftop lounge and Pink Taco restaurant among the proposed additions. The proposed renaming was subsequently suspended while the operator undertook further market research. On the available evidence, Silver Sevens remains the current documented operating identity, although its longer-term branding plans are unsettled.
- 2024
Planned renaming suspended
[1]The proposed Continental rebrand was suspended while further market research was conducted.
- 2023
Continental restoration plan announced
[1]Affinity announced plans to renovate the property and restore the Continental name in 2025.
- 2021
Affinity Gaming becomes Affinity Interactive
[1]The operating company later adopted the Affinity Interactive name.
- 2013
Silver Sevens rebrand
[1]After an 18-month renovation, the property adopted the Silver Sevens name on July 1.
- 2011
Operating company becomes Affinity Gaming
[1]Herbst Gaming changed its corporate name to Affinity Gaming.
- 2010
Herbst Gaming emerges from bankruptcy
[1]The company emerged without the Herbst family remaining involved.
- 2009
Herbst Gaming files for bankruptcy
[1]The operating company entered bankruptcy proceedings.
- 2007
Hotel tower and parking project completed
[1]Some rooms were removed to accommodate a parking structure and hotel tower.
- 2000
Terrible's Hotel Casino opens
[1]The Herbst family reopened the extensively reconstructed property under the Terrible's name on December 6.
- 1999
Continental closes
[1]The property closed on March 31 after bankruptcy and unsuccessful lease negotiations.
Products and positioning
A compact Las Vegas-area hotel and locals casino serving residents, Strip employees, and some visitors who want gaming, lodging, dining, and sportsbook facilities outside the main Strip resort complex.
Hospitality · 1980
Hotel accommodation
Silver Sevens operates a 327-room hotel attached to the casino. The rooms were among the areas addressed in the renovation completed in January 2013. The property also developed a hotel tower and parking facilities during its Terrible's era.
Gaming · 1980
Casino
The casino is a locals-oriented gaming venue with approximately 30,225 square feet of gaming space. Its history includes slot-machine operations, a sportsbook, and earlier bingo facilities. The casino was expanded and refreshed during the 2013 renovation, when nearly 1,000 new slot machines were added.
Gaming · 2000
Sportsbook
The sportsbook is part of the property's gaming and entertainment offer. It received upgrades during the renovation completed in January 2013, alongside improvements to the hotel rooms and broader gaming floor.
Food and beverage · 2000
Dining and beverage venues
Dining has been part of the property's successive operating concepts. The Terrible's-era reopening included several restaurants and a buffet. A later proposal for the site included a Pink Taco restaurant and rooftop lounge, but the associated rebranding plan was suspended.
Controversies
1998
Bankruptcy and closure of the Continental
Hotel Continental Inc. filed for bankruptcy in February 1998. After failed lease negotiations with American Realty, the property closed on March 31, 1999. The closure affected more than 300 employees.
1987
Continental slot-machine skimming scheme
The FBI discovered that assistant slot manager Michael DiBari had manipulated slot machines to generate false jackpots. Associate Alphonse Cuozzo collected the purported winnings, and the proceeds were sent to the Gambino crime family. DiBari and Cuozzo were convicted. The available account states that the property owners did not know about the scheme.
Brand decisions
2023
Plan to restore the Continental identityStrategyBackground
Affinity proposed a new renovation and a return to the property's historic Continental name.
Action taken
The company announced a planned 2025 rebrand, including a rooftop lounge and Pink Taco restaurant proposed for the porte-cochère.
Aftermath
The planned name change was later suspended so that Affinity could conduct additional market research.
2013
Renovate and rename the property as Silver SevensGeneration changeBackground
Affinity Gaming completed an 18-month renovation intended to refresh the hotel and gaming operation.
Action taken
The company upgraded 327 rooms and the sportsbook, added nearly 1,000 slot machines, and officially changed the name from Terrible's Hotel Casino to Silver Sevens on July 1.
Aftermath
The new name emphasized Nevada's Silver State identity and the gambling symbolism of seven. Local customers reportedly represented about 70 percent of the clientele at the time.
Renovation cost. $7 million (18-month renovation completed January 2013)
2000
Rebuild and reposition the property as Terrible'sStrategyBackground
The Herbst family sought a Las Vegas property that was larger than a typical slot-route venue but smaller than the major locals casinos.
Action taken
The family acquired the closed Continental, retained the exterior shell, and carried out an extensive interior reconstruction before reopening it as Terrible's Hotel Casino.
Aftermath
The property reopened on December 6, 2000, with hotel rooms, gaming, bingo, a sportsbook, and restaurants aimed primarily at local customers.
Acquisition and renovation cost. $65 million (1999-2000)
Recent events
- 2024
Proposed Continental rebranding suspended for additional market research[1]
Other
Affinity suspended the planned name change approximately one year after announcing it, citing the need for further market research.
- 2023
Silver Sevens property announced for renovation and return to the Continental name[1]
Campaign
Affinity announced plans to renovate the hotel-casino and rebrand it as the Continental in 2025. The proposal included a rooftop lounge and a Pink Taco restaurant associated with the porte-cochère.
- 2013
Silver Sevens name introduced after property renovation[1]
Product launch
Following an 18-month renovation, Affinity Gaming renamed the former Terrible's Hotel Casino as Silver Sevens. The new name referred to Nevada's Silver State identity and the gambling symbolism of seven.
- 2000
Terrible's Hotel Casino reopened after major reconstruction[1]
Product launch
The Herbst family reopened the former Continental as Terrible's Hotel Casino after acquiring and extensively renovating the property.
Sources1 sources
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