In 1954 Don Laughlin bought the 101 Club in North Las Vegas.

In 1964 he sold the 101 Club and bought the Riverside Bait Shop, a defunct 8 room motel and 6.5 acres of land in the South Point area. Don and his family moved into 4 of the motel rooms. By 1966 the motel and diner reopened as the first version of the Riverside Casino, with 4 motel rooms, 2 table games, 12 slot machines and a .98 buffet.