Bearing the slogan, a place in the sun, “The Sands” opened on the 15th December, 1952 as the 7th resort on the strip just nine months and four days after construction began. Opening night entertainment was provided by Danny Thomas (who as a tradition returned to the casino every January without fail) Jimmy McHugh, Judy Collins, Chuck Nelson and the Copa Girls, billed as the most beautiful girls in the world.

The rooms were housed in five two-storey buildings, each named after a famous thoroughbred racetrack, arranged in a semi circle around a half moon shaped swimming pool each featuring a unique “vermiculite” tile roof which was used extensively in the tropics to provide cooler temperatures.

The rooms in "The Sands", like many other casinos had no televisions, as it was thought that a tv set would distract patrons from the casinos, however, the rooms were amongst very few that had mini bars in the rooms. The main building was a rectangular hall with the reception desk in one corner, slot machines along one wall, and a bar and cocktail lounge complete with a Latin trio along the opposite wall, with stairs leading down into the casino.

The grand “Sands” roadside sign, was made of sheet metal and neon lights and stood at 56feet tall making it larger than the rest, with the “S” alone standing at 35feet integrated into the main buildings architecture.

In 1953 "The Sands" celebrated its first year by burying a capsule to mark the occasion. The items contained in the capsule included; a Tullulah Bankhead studio photo, Bing Crosby’s pipe, Ray Bolgers dancing shoes, Sugar Ray Robinsons boxing gloves and a wax impression of Jimmy Durante’s nose.

In October 1959 “The Sands” completed a $100,000 remodelling of the lobby area and embarked on a $1million project to add an addition 53 suites to the hotel, and in 1962, a U shaped three storey aqueduct wing was added to the hotel making it one of the most luxurious hotels on the strip.

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