The dreamer behind some of the early Las Vegas themed resorts was a motel owner, Jay Sarno who conceived Circus-Circus, also had input in the Sahara. He dreamed of a Roman themed resort where all of a man's fantasies could be realized. He designed the first Caesars logo which featured Caesar being fed a bunch of grapes by Cleopatra

Sarno did not have enough money to buy the land so he built Caesars on 34 acres which was owned by Kirk Kerkorian. This land was on what was to become the Four Corners of the Strip with the Dunes, Flamingo, and Kerkorian's MGM sharing the other three corners. On August 5, 1966, the 14-story, 700 room Caesars Palace opened with each guest being welcomed by the official greeter, a blond 40-20-37 Cleopatra. The opening included the stage production of "Rome Swings" with Andy Williams, and Phil Richards playing the Caesar character. Caesars made money from the beginning and that enabled Sarno and his partners to buy the land from Kerkorian for $5 million.

Always on the lookout for national TV exposure on December 31, 1967, Caesars played host to Evel Knievel's unsuccessful, and near-fatal attempt to make it over Caesars' fountain. On April 14, 1989, Robby Knievel, son of Evel Knievel, successfully made the leap over Caesars' fountains.

In 1981, Frank Sinatra was licensed as Vice President of Entertainment of the resort, after paying $500,000 for his background check.

The Maximus showroom was one of the most famous Vegas style showrooms in town with it's sumptuous vip booths and banquet table layout. The worlds premier entertainers performed in the room. Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Liberace, Cher, Freddie Roman, Shirley MacLaine, Freddie Prinz, Petula Clark, Henny Youngman, Johnny Mathis, Diana Ross, George Burns, Charo, Julio Iglesias, Bette Midler, Tom Jones, Anthony Newley, Wynonna, Buddy Hackett, Ann-Margret, Flip Wilson, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach, Natalie Cole, Harry Belafonte, Peggy Lee, Milton Berle, Woody Allen, David Copperfield, Eddie Fisher, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr. the list is endless.
In September 2000, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme were the last celebrities to entertain at Circus Maximus as it closed to make way for major changes at the resort.

In mid-1996, a new venue known as "Caesars Magical Empire" was created on the property, showcasing major magicians in an intimate "Magic Castle" style setting. The "Empire" was an extravagantly-themed immersive dining and entertainment experience, guests through the "Celestial Court" to the "Chamber of Destiny", which, through elaborate effects, appeared to be a magical elevator which transported them underground to a subterranean catacombs. In reality the guests didn't descend at all; the walls of the room were raised by a large electric winch and the floor of the room shaken by pneumatic actuators, the guests then arrived at the circular, domed, and ornately appointed Sanctorum Secorum a central, 70-ft. high rotunda, from which other areas of the "Empire," such as the mirrored "Infinity Hallway," could be accessed. The guests were next divided and escorted to ten dining chambers, each seating 24 persons (for a total of 240 guests at each seating). In addition to a wait staff which interacted comically with the guests, magic was performed in each dining room by a sorcerer host. After dining, the guests were free to visit one of two lounges, The "Spirit Bar" (flanked by two Seance Rooms) or the "Forbidden Crypt". Additionally, they could see more magic performed in one or another of two incongruously-named-and-designed theatres: the 75-seat Pagoda Theatre, or the 150-seat Great Sultan's Palace.

While the endeavor was popular and profitable, accommodation of several audiences of 240 diners each day at capacity was no match for the potential income from the enormous audiences which could be accommodated in a large concert space. Thus the six-year reign of the "Empire", came to an end on November 30, 2002, after which the structure was razed to make room for a large concert hall created for singer Celine Dion.

Caesars planned to build a new showroom after closing the Circus Maximus and in the summer of 2001, it was announced that the Colosseum will open in March 2003, with a show starring Canadian singer Celine Dion.

In March 2003, "A New Day" starring singer Celine Dion opened in the newly constructed Colosseum. The 4,000 seat showroom cost a reported $95 million to build. During her vacation time, performers including Jerry Seinfeld and Gloria Estefan filled in for Dion. In February 2004, during some of Celine's off time, Elton John performed in the Colosseum for 75 weeks over the next three years.
In order to maintain its star policy Caesars decided that the Coliseum would become home to not one, but two superstars and in 2009, they engaged Cher and Bette Midler to each perform for extend blocks of time in the Coliseum.
Cher Reigning over her new kingdom and a $60 million contract is a woman who's no stranger to the kind of splashy live shows associated with the capital of glitz: Bette Midler, whose two-year contract will keep the multifaceted performer busy five nights a week for approximately 20 weeks a year is also no stranger to Las Vegas glitz.