With nine casinos on Fremont Street, and another three on nearby, surrounding streets within easy walking distance, there are 12 casinos in downtown Las Vegas.

These twelve downtown casinos range from small, old school joints, to large, modern casinos rivaling the nicest casinos found on the Strip.

The nice thing about downtown Las Vegas casinos compared to Strip casinos is that downtown is more player friendly. By that I mean the minimums are lower, the drinks flow more freely, and the games have better odds. You’ll find blackjack here, even at the lowest limits.

Map of Casinos in Downtown Las Vegas

(Each of the black dice represent one of the casinos in downtown Las Vegas)

Below is a list of the casinos you’ll find in downtown Las Vegas. Please note that this list contains only downtown casinos in safe, tourist-friendly areas on, or very nearby Fremont Street.

El Cortez

A frequent winner of the “Best Locals Casino,” award, as voted on by readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the El Cortez draws a sizable locals crowed.

Built in , the El Cortez is located on Fremont Street in the trendy new Fremont East District.

Among its selection of slot machines are two hundred of the old school coin-in, coin-out machines.

The very player-friendly casino has $3 minimum bet single deck blackjack (paying ).

Roulette has $1 minimum bets total, but allows you to place individual fifty cent bets (so long as you bet a total of $2 on the board). Their $3 minimum craps table gives players the option of betting 10x odds.

And in keeping with this old casino’s old school vibe, Keno is available in the restaurants and in the Keno lounge. It often gets voted as the “Best Keno” by readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Although its former owner, Jackie Gaughan, used to play low limit poker there almost daily, the El Cortez no longer has a poker room. The casino does have a modest sports book.

(Go here to get the exact Fremont Street light show times.)

The D Las Vegas

The D Las Vegas Casino has $5 minimum craps (with 10x odds) and blackjack. Great games, so long as you’re not distracted by the casino’s pulse-pounding music or bevy of sexy “dancing dealers.”

There’s also live Keno here. Upstairs, on the second floor of the D, are old-school slot machines and the fun, (and highly addictive), Sigma Derby pretend horse racing game.

Four Queens

This icon in the heart of Fremont Street has roughly 1, slot machines, and 27 table games. These include: blackjack (single deck that pays ), Blackjack switch, roulette, craps, Let-it-Ride, Mississippi Stud, 3 card poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker.

The Four Queens Casino does not have a poker room, but does have a Keno lounge with a William Hill sports book.

Main Street Station

This Victorian-era themed casino resort has 28, square feet of gambling space. It’s just a block or so north of the western end of Fremont Street.

Main Street Station has slot machines and video poker machines, including MegaBucks of course, along with plenty of nickel slots. There are 25 table games here with the usual suspects, (BJ, Pai Gow, etc.). There is neither a sports book, nor poker room here.

California Hotel and Casino

Situated across the street, the California shares ownership with the Main Street Station. The two casinos are connected by an overhead pedestrian walkway.

The California has over 1, video and reel slot and video poker machines, and 28 table games. The 36, square foot casino has a modest sports book and Keno lounge too.

Yet it is craps that has made this place famous.

Any craps player worth his weight owes it to himself to shoot some dice here. That’s because the California was the site of the greatest craps roll in the history of the game, when Stanley Fujitake rolled the dice for just over 3 hours without crapping out, early in the morning hours of May 28,

Downtown Grand

A relatively new kid on the block, the Downtown Grand, (which opened in October ), boasts 30, square feet of gaming space on a casino floor dubbed “industrial chic.”

It’s situated just north of the Fremont Street Experience, across from the Mob Museum. The Downtown Grand has over of the newest slots, and thirty table games.

These include blackjack tables (paying 3 to 2), as $5 craps tables with 10x odds.

The casino also has a William Hill Sports Book. It does not have a poker room.

Golden Nugget

With over 50, square feet of gaming floor space, the Golden Nugget is the largest casino in Downtown Las Vegas.

Besides having over 1, slots and video poker machines, the Golden Nugget has over 50 table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, Let-it-ride, Pai Gow, 3 card poker, and the fun Mini-Baccarat. There’s also a sports book.

The Nugget’s beautiful poker room is downtown’s plushest, with 13 tables and TVs to keep you entertained between folding bad hands.

In addition to tournaments, Golden Nugget’s poker room has fun high-hand promotions and a bad beat jackpot.

Binion’s

“Good whiskey. Good Food. Good Gamble.” Binion’s founder Benny Binion’s motto has been adapted by the current ownership.

It’s a casual, friendly casino. Its website boasts of 90, square feet of casino floor, but much of that is empty space in the back, so we’re not counting it as the biggest casino downtown. It does have your usual slots and table games, and even offers single deck blackjack.

The casino’s craps game has 5X odds, but as with the other table games here, you’ll be able to enjoy $5 minimums.

Binion’s was also the site of poker history, when Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker, ushering in the poker boom. Binion’s poker legacy continues today, with a historic, if modest, ten table poker room that spreads games as low as $2/4 limit.

Binion’s also has a small, William Hill Sports book.

Fremont Hotel and Casino

A non-descript casino in the heart of the action on Fremont Street, the Fremont Hotel and Casino has 32, square feet of casino space with all of the typical slots and table games.

You may recognize this place as the spot where Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau played small stakes blackjack after going bust at a fancier Strip casino in the cult classic, “Swingers.”

Up until recently, The Fremont Casino offers some of the lowest table limits in Las Vegas, with $3 blackjack and $3 craps, all day, seven days a week. However I’m not sure that is still in effect.

They also have live Keno and decent sized race and sports book.

Golden Gate Hotel and Casino

A fun little small casino on the west end of Fremont Street, across from the Plaza, the Golden Gate buzzes with rocking music and dancing girls.

(Related: Hotels in Downtown Las Vegas)

Having recently had a multi-million dollar face-lift and expansion, the casino now has a high-limit area and sportsbook.

The table games ( blackjack and 10x odds on craps) and slots are pretty standard for downtown Las Vegas, but the decor and vibe here make it more fun that your run-of-the-mill downtown casino.

The Golden Gate was the site of the largest single roulette bet in the history of Las Vegas (and maybe the world), when the guys from MTV’s “The Buried Life” placed a bet of $, on one spin of the wheel. (They lost, but were given a $3 off buffet coupon as a comp.)

The Plaza Hotel and Casino

Situated at the far west end of Fremont Street, The Plaza has slots and video poker machines. They even host slot tournaments three days a week.

Their selection of table games includes blackjack, craps, roulette, 3-card poker, progressive pai-gow and mini-baccarat, which offers some of the best odds for table games in town.

The Plaza has the only bingo parlor in downtown Las Vegas, along with a William Hill sports book.

Downtown Las Vegas casinos are fun, and affordable, and worth a visit on your next trip to Sin City.

Circa Resort & Casino

Opened in October of , this glitzy, million square foot property has become the largest casino/resort in downtown Las Vegas.

Circa’s two story casino boasts 1, slot machines and 55 table games. There are additional bartop video poker machines, along with 55 games in Circa’s high limit room.

If you’re the type to prefer electronic versions of craps and blackjack over the live version, you’ll find 18 of these electronic games.

In addition to being the biggest resort in downtown Las Vegas, Circa lays claim to the largest sportsbook in all of Las Vegas, with a mammoth three-level sportsbook that boasts a capacity of 1, bettors.

Recently closed

(Below are the original write-ups of downtown Las Vegas casinos that have recently closed)

La Bayou

Tucked away on Fremont Street is the smallest casino in downtown Las Vegas, La Bayou.

This fun, friendly little dive casino doesn’t have a poker room, sports book, or even table games. The Louisiana-themed casino just has coin-operated slots. They also have fast drink service, and are known for the two lovely ladies out front who hand beads to passing guests.

Mermaids

Similar to La Bayou, Mermaids only has coin-operated slot machines and video poker machines (around total between the two).

At the back of the casino, you can get your snack on, with tasty treats such as fried Twinkies and fried Oreos. There is also a large daiquiri bar, serving very strong drinks.

Las Vegas Club

Sort of a fading star, (if it ever were a star), on Fremont Street, the Las Vegas Club has slot machines and video poker machines – of which are progressive.

The table game selection includes roulette and Pai Gow, and very player-friendly blackjack rules. In fact, for years the marquee out front read, “Most liberal 21 in Vegas.”

They share a player’s card promotion (Royal Rewards) with the Plaza Hotel and Casino across the street, so you can use your card at either place for comp points.

(By Steve Beauregard. Photos courtesy of matze_ott, and Anthony G. Reyes, Jared and Alex Liivet via Flickr, and Boyd Gaming, and VisitLasVegas).

Frequently asked questions

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November )

Center of Fremont Street in May

"Downtown Las Vegas Area" is the name assigned by the Nevada Gaming Control Board NGCB which includes the Downtown Las Vegas area casinos and the Stratosphere Tower which is located 2 miles (&#;km) from Fremont Street.^[1] The city of Las Vegas uses the term Downtown Gaming for the casinos near the Fremont Street Experience.^[2] The land is part of the acres (45&#;ha) that were auctioned on May 15, when the city was founded.

Downtown competition[edit]

In fiscal year the ratio of revenue for the Strip compared to downtown was less than In FY the ratio is over However, downtown rode the massive increase in tourist spending from through that swelled the non-gaming revenue of the area. Non gaming revenue and income hit an all-time high in FY

The population of the city of Las Vegas has increased from , in to over , in In the interim three major hotels have been constructed inside the city limits (Stratosphere Las Vegas, Suncoast Hotel and Casino and Rampart Casino). The downtown casino district with over employees has remained important to the city. Since the majority of the casinos remain outside the city limit many people have been promoting the idea of a Consolidated city–county government as a more equitable way to share revenue.^[3]

Casinos in the Downtown Nevada Gaming Area[edit]

This table includes large casinos inside the area limits. The table, game, and slot count is valid on December 31, The category of over $1 million and under $12 million are re-evaluated every fiscal year. FSE means Fremont Street Experience. Games refers to table games. License numbers are issued by city of Las Vegas.^[4]

Monthly executive summary[edit]

A monthly report of gaming revenue is released about five weeks after the end of the month. These statistics are posted in several locations on the Internet. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) posts an executive summary for forty one categories.^[5] The number that gets the most attention is the percentage change of gaming revenue from the same month the previous year.

Historical data is released in various formats. The LVCVA maintains year to date and year end tables with on their site back to calendar year ^[6] Data presented in graphic form covering several years is easier to visualize.^[7]

Nevada Gaming Control Board publications[edit]

The NGCB maintains a list of publications.^[8] Cumulative data is reported in fiscal years (FY) (July 1 to June 30) instead of calendar years.

Downtown Las Vegas currently has 16 nonrestricted gaming locations that earn more than $1 million per year in gaming revenue. Since fiscal year when the Mirage opened on the Las Vegas Strip gaming revenue downtown has been flat. Non-gaming revenue has increased, but income also remains relatively flat. Some of the smaller casinos have since closed, and one major casinos hotel, (The Stratosphere) has opened. On average, the casinos that have less than $12 million per year in gaming revenue have a negative income.

• Based on numbers of hotel rooms, slot machines, and table games the three largest operations are (not in order of revenue) the Golden Nugget, the Stratosphere Las Vegas and Boyd Gamingdowntown division which consists of the Main Street Casino, the California Hotel and Casino, and the Fremont Casino.
• In one of the 11 casinos in the over $12 million category was the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, but revenue is now under $12 million. The Stratosphere has taken its place.
• Of the 5 current license holders in the under $12 million category, 3 of them currently offer slot machines only (no table games, poker, racing or sports), and only 2 of them have small attached hotels ( rooms apiece).

For Downtown Las Vegas, the total revenue dropped after September 11 attacks in as it did in most resort areas including the Strip. Total revenue includes all sources of revenue for the property (food, drinks, attractions, etc.). Unlike the strip, income remained slightly positive, but revenue did not recover for three years. Profitability was restored during this period solely through cost-cutting measures. An analysis of the data could reveal how much of the cost cutting was payroll, cost of goods (food and beverage), and number of employees.

Beginning with December , all of the properties changed ownership, at least once, with the exception of the 3 properties in the Boyd Gaming downtown division. Most ownership changes are accompanied by attempts to upgrade the properties with new restaurants, clubs, renovations, and games.

Tom Breitling and Tim Poster were the highest profile successful entrepreneurs who profited in the downtown market during the last crisis. As recounted in Tom Breitling's book, Double or Nothing, the partners agreed to buy the Golden Nugget and had an agreement to sell the property after operating it for only one year.^[10] The partners made $ million in profit called the highest rate of return in such a short time in the gaming industry.^[11]

By FY total revenue for downtown exceeded that of FY by $ million. Margins (income over revenue), income, and revenue all reach record highs for downtown. Margins even surpass the Strip according to NGCB Data. Although the sale of the Golden Nugget is completed after six months needed to earn gaming license, no casino purchases are negotiated this fiscal year. Heartened by the improving economic conditions, the Lady Luck is closed for complete renovations.

On February 21, corporate raider Carl Icahn sold his four Southern Nevada casinos, comprising American Casino & Entertainment Properties anchored by the Stratosphere Las Vegas and realized a gain of $1 billion after a decade of investing in the market.^[12] The price for the properties was agreed on the previous April, and was based on an appraised value of $ million for the land. Although revenue drop has been comparatively benign in the recession, the interest on the long term notes for this land speculation has made the company unprofitable.

Revenue since July 1, [edit]

Fiscal year (July 1, through June 30, ) set all time records for downtown Las Vegas in terms of total revenue gaming and non-gaming. Revenue in FY and FY dropped. But like the rest of Nevada FY was the most severe fiscal year since downtown gaming peaked in the early s.

• Boyd Gaming reported their year end revenue on February 26, ^[13] The downtown properties are one of the relatively brightest properties in their portfolio. The total revenue for the calendar year was $ million vs $ million for the year and $ million for Collectively the Boyd Downtown Division is the currently the largest operation inside the downtown region.

Future prospects[edit]

The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute is currently finished construction.^[14] The Smith Center for the Performing Arts was completed in

At the site of the former Holy Cow casino and brewery which closed in May (across the street from the Stratosphere and The SLS), a developer received preliminary approval to build a foot (30&#;m)-tall video screen and a new casino. Aspen Highlands Holdings hope that the eye-catching attraction at the entrance to the city of Las Vegas will attract gamblers to the casino without an attached hotel.^[15]

Profitability has the potential to increase after March 28, when the ACE bus rapid transit project comes on line. The ACE rapid transit system will have the appearance and feel of a light rail transit network. Traffic lights will be controlled by a system similar to the one that emergency vehicles use. This modern transit system made travel from Fremont Street to the Convention Center virtually the same as the Las Vegas Monorail transit time from in front of the MGM Grand.

Some downtown casinos may come on the market in the near future, as an investor will be eager to try to repeat the success of Breitling, Poster and Icahn. In an article by journalist Ben Spillman, he describes a report that looks at historical costs and provides accurate estimates of revenues of the individual downtown casinos.^[16]

References[edit]

Frequently asked questions

With nine casinos on Fremont Street, and another three on nearby, surrounding streets within easy walking distance, there are 12 casinos in downtown Las Vegas.

These twelve downtown casinos range from small, old school joints, to large, modern casinos rivaling the nicest casinos found on the Strip.

The nice thing about downtown Las Vegas casinos compared to Strip casinos is that downtown is more player friendly. By that I mean the minimums are lower, the drinks flow more freely, and the games have better odds. You’ll find blackjack here, even at the lowest limits.

Map of Casinos in Downtown Las Vegas

(Each of the black dice represent one of the casinos in downtown Las Vegas)

Below is a list of the casinos you’ll find in downtown Las Vegas. Please note that this list contains only downtown casinos in safe, tourist-friendly areas on, or very nearby Fremont Street.

El Cortez

A frequent winner of the “Best Locals Casino,” award, as voted on by readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the El Cortez draws a sizable locals crowed.

Built in , the El Cortez is located on Fremont Street in the trendy new Fremont East District.

Among its selection of slot machines are two hundred of the old school coin-in, coin-out machines.

The very player-friendly casino has $3 minimum bet single deck blackjack (paying ).

Roulette has $1 minimum bets total, but allows you to place individual fifty cent bets (so long as you bet a total of $2 on the board). Their $3 minimum craps table gives players the option of betting 10x odds.

And in keeping with this old casino’s old school vibe, Keno is available in the restaurants and in the Keno lounge. It often gets voted as the “Best Keno” by readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Although its former owner, Jackie Gaughan, used to play low limit poker there almost daily, the El Cortez no longer has a poker room. The casino does have a modest sports book.

(Go here to get the exact Fremont Street light show times.)

The D Las Vegas

The D Las Vegas Casino has $5 minimum craps (with 10x odds) and blackjack. Great games, so long as you’re not distracted by the casino’s pulse-pounding music or bevy of sexy “dancing dealers.”

There’s also live Keno here. Upstairs, on the second floor of the D, are old-school slot machines and the fun, (and highly addictive), Sigma Derby pretend horse racing game.

Four Queens

This icon in the heart of Fremont Street has roughly 1, slot machines, and 27 table games. These include: blackjack (single deck that pays ), Blackjack switch, roulette, craps, Let-it-Ride, Mississippi Stud, 3 card poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker.

The Four Queens Casino does not have a poker room, but does have a Keno lounge with a William Hill sports book.

Main Street Station

This Victorian-era themed casino resort has 28, square feet of gambling space. It’s just a block or so north of the western end of Fremont Street.

Main Street Station has slot machines and video poker machines, including MegaBucks of course, along with plenty of nickel slots. There are 25 table games here with the usual suspects, (BJ, Pai Gow, etc.). There is neither a sports book, nor poker room here.

California Hotel and Casino

Situated across the street, the California shares ownership with the Main Street Station. The two casinos are connected by an overhead pedestrian walkway.

The California has over 1, video and reel slot and video poker machines, and 28 table games. The 36, square foot casino has a modest sports book and Keno lounge too.

Yet it is craps that has made this place famous.

Any craps player worth his weight owes it to himself to shoot some dice here. That’s because the California was the site of the greatest craps roll in the history of the game, when Stanley Fujitake rolled the dice for just over 3 hours without crapping out, early in the morning hours of May 28,

Downtown Grand

A relatively new kid on the block, the Downtown Grand, (which opened in October ), boasts 30, square feet of gaming space on a casino floor dubbed “industrial chic.”

It’s situated just north of the Fremont Street Experience, across from the Mob Museum. The Downtown Grand has over of the newest slots, and thirty table games.

These include blackjack tables (paying 3 to 2), as $5 craps tables with 10x odds.

The casino also has a William Hill Sports Book. It does not have a poker room.

Golden Nugget

With over 50, square feet of gaming floor space, the Golden Nugget is the largest casino in Downtown Las Vegas.

Besides having over 1, slots and video poker machines, the Golden Nugget has over 50 table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, Let-it-ride, Pai Gow, 3 card poker, and the fun Mini-Baccarat. There’s also a sports book.

The Nugget’s beautiful poker room is downtown’s plushest, with 13 tables and TVs to keep you entertained between folding bad hands.

In addition to tournaments, Golden Nugget’s poker room has fun high-hand promotions and a bad beat jackpot.

Binion’s

“Good whiskey. Good Food. Good Gamble.” Binion’s founder Benny Binion’s motto has been adapted by the current ownership.

It’s a casual, friendly casino. Its website boasts of 90, square feet of casino floor, but much of that is empty space in the back, so we’re not counting it as the biggest casino downtown. It does have your usual slots and table games, and even offers single deck blackjack.

The casino’s craps game has 5X odds, but as with the other table games here, you’ll be able to enjoy $5 minimums.

Binion’s was also the site of poker history, when Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker, ushering in the poker boom. Binion’s poker legacy continues today, with a historic, if modest, ten table poker room that spreads games as low as $2/4 limit.

Binion’s also has a small, William Hill Sports book.

Fremont Hotel and Casino

A non-descript casino in the heart of the action on Fremont Street, the Fremont Hotel and Casino has 32, square feet of casino space with all of the typical slots and table games.

You may recognize this place as the spot where Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau played small stakes blackjack after going bust at a fancier Strip casino in the cult classic, “Swingers.”

Up until recently, The Fremont Casino offers some of the lowest table limits in Las Vegas, with $3 blackjack and $3 craps, all day, seven days a week. However I’m not sure that is still in effect.

They also have live Keno and decent sized race and sports book.

Golden Gate Hotel and Casino

A fun little small casino on the west end of Fremont Street, across from the Plaza, the Golden Gate buzzes with rocking music and dancing girls.

(Related: Hotels in Downtown Las Vegas)

Having recently had a multi-million dollar face-lift and expansion, the casino now has a high-limit area and sportsbook.

The table games ( blackjack and 10x odds on craps) and slots are pretty standard for downtown Las Vegas, but the decor and vibe here make it more fun that your run-of-the-mill downtown casino.

The Golden Gate was the site of the largest single roulette bet in the history of Las Vegas (and maybe the world), when the guys from MTV’s “The Buried Life” placed a bet of $, on one spin of the wheel. (They lost, but were given a $3 off buffet coupon as a comp.)

The Plaza Hotel and Casino

Situated at the far west end of Fremont Street, The Plaza has slots and video poker machines. They even host slot tournaments three days a week.

Their selection of table games includes blackjack, craps, roulette, 3-card poker, progressive pai-gow and mini-baccarat, which offers some of the best odds for table games in town.

The Plaza has the only bingo parlor in downtown Las Vegas, along with a William Hill sports book.

Downtown Las Vegas casinos are fun, and affordable, and worth a visit on your next trip to Sin City.

Circa Resort & Casino

Opened in October of , this glitzy, million square foot property has become the largest casino/resort in downtown Las Vegas.

Circa’s two story casino boasts 1, slot machines and 55 table games. There are additional bartop video poker machines, along with 55 games in Circa’s high limit room.

If you’re the type to prefer electronic versions of craps and blackjack over the live version, you’ll find 18 of these electronic games.

In addition to being the biggest resort in downtown Las Vegas, Circa lays claim to the largest sportsbook in all of Las Vegas, with a mammoth three-level sportsbook that boasts a capacity of 1, bettors.

Recently closed

(Below are the original write-ups of downtown Las Vegas casinos that have recently closed)

La Bayou

Tucked away on Fremont Street is the smallest casino in downtown Las Vegas, La Bayou.

This fun, friendly little dive casino doesn’t have a poker room, sports book, or even table games. The Louisiana-themed casino just has coin-operated slots. They also have fast drink service, and are known for the two lovely ladies out front who hand beads to passing guests.

Mermaids

Similar to La Bayou, Mermaids only has coin-operated slot machines and video poker machines (around total between the two).

At the back of the casino, you can get your snack on, with tasty treats such as fried Twinkies and fried Oreos. There is also a large daiquiri bar, serving very strong drinks.

Las Vegas Club

Sort of a fading star, (if it ever were a star), on Fremont Street, the Las Vegas Club has slot machines and video poker machines – of which are progressive.

The table game selection includes roulette and Pai Gow, and very player-friendly blackjack rules. In fact, for years the marquee out front read, “Most liberal 21 in Vegas.”

They share a player’s card promotion (Royal Rewards) with the Plaza Hotel and Casino across the street, so you can use your card at either place for comp points.

(By Steve Beauregard. Photos courtesy of matze_ott, and Anthony G. Reyes, Jared and Alex Liivet via Flickr, and Boyd Gaming, and VisitLasVegas).

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November )

Center of Fremont Street in May

"Downtown Las Vegas Area" is the name assigned by the Nevada Gaming Control Board NGCB which includes the Downtown Las Vegas area casinos and the Stratosphere Tower which is located 2 miles (&#;km) from Fremont Street.^[1] The city of Las Vegas uses the term Downtown Gaming for the casinos near the Fremont Street Experience.^[2] The land is part of the acres (45&#;ha) that were auctioned on May 15, when the city was founded.

Downtown competition[edit]

In fiscal year the ratio of revenue for the Strip compared to downtown was less than In FY the ratio is over However, downtown rode the massive increase in tourist spending from through that swelled the non-gaming revenue of the area. Non gaming revenue and income hit an all-time high in FY

The population of the city of Las Vegas has increased from , in to over , in In the interim three major hotels have been constructed inside the city limits (Stratosphere Las Vegas, Suncoast Hotel and Casino and Rampart Casino). The downtown casino district with over employees has remained important to the city. Since the majority of the casinos remain outside the city limit many people have been promoting the idea of a Consolidated city–county government as a more equitable way to share revenue.^[3]

Casinos in the Downtown Nevada Gaming Area[edit]

This table includes large casinos inside the area limits. The table, game, and slot count is valid on December 31, The category of over $1 million and under $12 million are re-evaluated every fiscal year. FSE means Fremont Street Experience. Games refers to table games. License numbers are issued by city of Las Vegas.^[4]

Monthly executive summary[edit]

A monthly report of gaming revenue is released about five weeks after the end of the month. These statistics are posted in several locations on the Internet. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) posts an executive summary for forty one categories.^[5] The number that gets the most attention is the percentage change of gaming revenue from the same month the previous year.

Historical data is released in various formats. The LVCVA maintains year to date and year end tables with on their site back to calendar year ^[6] Data presented in graphic form covering several years is easier to visualize.^[7]

Nevada Gaming Control Board publications[edit]

The NGCB maintains a list of publications.^[8] Cumulative data is reported in fiscal years (FY) (July 1 to June 30) instead of calendar years.

Downtown Las Vegas currently has 16 nonrestricted gaming locations that earn more than $1 million per year in gaming revenue. Since fiscal year when the Mirage opened on the Las Vegas Strip gaming revenue downtown has been flat. Non-gaming revenue has increased, but income also remains relatively flat. Some of the smaller casinos have since closed, and one major casinos hotel, (The Stratosphere) has opened. On average, the casinos that have less than $12 million per year in gaming revenue have a negative income.

• Based on numbers of hotel rooms, slot machines, and table games the three largest operations are (not in order of revenue) the Golden Nugget, the Stratosphere Las Vegas and Boyd Gamingdowntown division which consists of the Main Street Casino, the California Hotel and Casino, and the Fremont Casino.
• In one of the 11 casinos in the over $12 million category was the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, but revenue is now under $12 million. The Stratosphere has taken its place.
• Of the 5 current license holders in the under $12 million category, 3 of them currently offer slot machines only (no table games, poker, racing or sports), and only 2 of them have small attached hotels ( rooms apiece).

For Downtown Las Vegas, the total revenue dropped after September 11 attacks in as it did in most resort areas including the Strip. Total revenue includes all sources of revenue for the property (food, drinks, attractions, etc.). Unlike the strip, income remained slightly positive, but revenue did not recover for three years. Profitability was restored during this period solely through cost-cutting measures. An analysis of the data could reveal how much of the cost cutting was payroll, cost of goods (food and beverage), and number of employees.

Beginning with December , all of the properties changed ownership, at least once, with the exception of the 3 properties in the Boyd Gaming downtown division. Most ownership changes are accompanied by attempts to upgrade the properties with new restaurants, clubs, renovations, and games.

Tom Breitling and Tim Poster were the highest profile successful entrepreneurs who profited in the downtown market during the last crisis. As recounted in Tom Breitling's book, Double or Nothing, the partners agreed to buy the Golden Nugget and had an agreement to sell the property after operating it for only one year.^[10] The partners made $ million in profit called the highest rate of return in such a short time in the gaming industry.^[11]

By FY total revenue for downtown exceeded that of FY by $ million. Margins (income over revenue), income, and revenue all reach record highs for downtown. Margins even surpass the Strip according to NGCB Data. Although the sale of the Golden Nugget is completed after six months needed to earn gaming license, no casino purchases are negotiated this fiscal year. Heartened by the improving economic conditions, the Lady Luck is closed for complete renovations.

On February 21, corporate raider Carl Icahn sold his four Southern Nevada casinos, comprising American Casino & Entertainment Properties anchored by the Stratosphere Las Vegas and realized a gain of $1 billion after a decade of investing in the market.^[12] The price for the properties was agreed on the previous April, and was based on an appraised value of $ million for the land. Although revenue drop has been comparatively benign in the recession, the interest on the long term notes for this land speculation has made the company unprofitable.

Revenue since July 1, [edit]

Fiscal year (July 1, through June 30, ) set all time records for downtown Las Vegas in terms of total revenue gaming and non-gaming. Revenue in FY and FY dropped. But like the rest of Nevada FY was the most severe fiscal year since downtown gaming peaked in the early s.

• Boyd Gaming reported their year end revenue on February 26, ^[13] The downtown properties are one of the relatively brightest properties in their portfolio. The total revenue for the calendar year was $ million vs $ million for the year and $ million for Collectively the Boyd Downtown Division is the currently the largest operation inside the downtown region.

Future prospects[edit]

The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute is currently finished construction.^[14] The Smith Center for the Performing Arts was completed in

At the site of the former Holy Cow casino and brewery which closed in May (across the street from the Stratosphere and The SLS), a developer received preliminary approval to build a foot (30&#;m)-tall video screen and a new casino. Aspen Highlands Holdings hope that the eye-catching attraction at the entrance to the city of Las Vegas will attract gamblers to the casino without an attached hotel.^[15]

Profitability has the potential to increase after March 28, when the ACE bus rapid transit project comes on line. The ACE rapid transit system will have the appearance and feel of a light rail transit network. Traffic lights will be controlled by a system similar to the one that emergency vehicles use. This modern transit system made travel from Fremont Street to the Convention Center virtually the same as the Las Vegas Monorail transit time from in front of the MGM Grand.

Some downtown casinos may come on the market in the near future, as an investor will be eager to try to repeat the success of Breitling, Poster and Icahn. In an article by journalist Ben Spillman, he describes a report that looks at historical costs and provides accurate estimates of revenues of the individual downtown casinos.^[16]

References[edit]

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November )

Center of Fremont Street in May

"Downtown Las Vegas Area" is the name assigned by the Nevada Gaming Control Board NGCB which includes the Downtown Las Vegas area casinos and the Stratosphere Tower which is located 2 miles (&#;km) from Fremont Street.^[1] The city of Las Vegas uses the term Downtown Gaming for the casinos near the Fremont Street Experience.^[2] The land is part of the acres (45&#;ha) that were auctioned on May 15, when the city was founded.

Downtown competition[edit]

In fiscal year the ratio of revenue for the Strip compared to downtown was less than In FY the ratio is over However, downtown rode the massive increase in tourist spending from through that swelled the non-gaming revenue of the area. Non gaming revenue and income hit an all-time high in FY

The population of the city of Las Vegas has increased fromin to downtown las vegas casinosin In the interim three major hotels have been constructed inside the city limits (Stratosphere Las Vegas, Suncoast Hotel and Casino and Rampart Casino), downtown las vegas casinos. The downtown casino district with over employees has remained important to the city. Since the majority of the casinos remain outside the city limit many people have been promoting the idea of a Consolidated city–county government as a more equitable way to share revenue.^[3]

Casinos in the Downtown Nevada Gaming Area[edit]

This table includes large casinos inside the area limits. The table, game, and downtown las vegas casinos count is valid on December 31, The category of over $1 million and under $12 million are re-evaluated every fiscal year. FSE means Fremont Street Experience. Games refers to table games. License numbers are issued by city of Las Vegas.^[4]

Monthly executive summary[edit]

A monthly report of gaming revenue is released about five weeks after the end of the month. These statistics are downtown las vegas casinos in several locations on the Internet. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) posts an executive summary for forty one categories.^[5] The number that gets the most attention is the percentage change of gaming revenue from the same month the previous year, downtown las vegas casinos.

Historical data is released in various formats. The LVCVA maintains year to date and year end tables with on their Red Hot Wilds Slots Machine back to calendar year ^[6] Data presented in graphic form covering several years is easier to visualize.^[7]

Nevada Gaming Control Board publications[edit]

The NGCB maintains a list of publications.^[8] Cumulative data is reported in fiscal years (FY) (July 1 to June 30) instead of calendar years.

Downtown Las Vegas currently has 16 nonrestricted gaming locations that earn more than $1 million per year in gaming revenue. Since fiscal year when the Mirage opened on the Las Vegas Strip gaming revenue downtown has been flat. Non-gaming revenue has increased, but income also remains relatively flat. Some of the smaller casinos have since closed, and one major downtown las vegas casinos hotel, (The Stratosphere) has opened. On average, the casinos that have less than $12 million downtown las vegas casinos year in gaming revenue have a negative income.

• Based on numbers of hotel rooms, downtown las vegas casinos, slot machines, and table games the three largest operations are (not in order of revenue) the Golden Nugget, the Stratosphere Las Vegas and Boyd Gamingdowntown division which consists of the Main Street Casino, the California Hotel and Casino, and the Fremont Casino.
• In one of the 11 casinos in the over $12 million category was the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, downtown las vegas casinos revenue is now under $12 million. The Stratosphere has taken its place.
• Of the 5 current license holders in the under $12 million category, 3 of them currently offer slot machines only (no table games, downtown las vegas casinos, poker, downtown las vegas casinos or sports), and only 2 of them have small attached downtown las vegas casinos ( rooms apiece).

For Downtown Las Vegas, the total revenue dropped after September 11 attacks in as it did in most resort areas including the Strip. Total revenue includes all sources of revenue for the property (food, drinks, attractions, etc.). Unlike the strip, income remained slightly positive, but revenue did not recover for three years. Profitability was restored during this period solely through cost-cutting measures. An analysis of the data could reveal how much of the cost cutting was payroll, cost of goods (food and beverage), and number of employees, downtown las vegas casinos.

Beginning with Cashzuma Slots Machineall of the properties changed ownership, at least once, downtown las vegas casinos, with the exception of the 3 properties in the Boyd Gaming downtown division. Most ownership changes are accompanied by attempts to upgrade the properties with new restaurants, clubs, renovations, and games.

Tom Breitling and Tim Poster were the highest profile successful entrepreneurs who profited in the downtown market during the downtown las vegas casinos crisis. As recounted in Tom Breitling's book, Double or Nothing, the partners agreed to buy the Golden Nugget and had an agreement to sell the property after operating it for only one year.^[10] The partners made $ million in profit called the highest rate of return in such a short time in the gaming industry.^[11]

By FY total revenue for downtown exceeded that of FY by $ million. Margins (income over revenue), income, and revenue all reach record highs for downtown, downtown las vegas casinos. Margins even surpass the Strip according to NGCB Data. Although the sale of the Golden Nugget is completed after six months needed to earn gaming license, no casino purchases are negotiated this fiscal year. Heartened by the improving economic conditions, the Lady Luck is closed for complete renovations.

On February 21, corporate raider Carl Icahn sold his four Southern Nevada casinos, comprising American Casino & Entertainment Properties anchored by the Stratosphere Las Vegas and realized a gain of $1 billion after a decade of investing in the market.^[12] The price for the properties was agreed on the previous April, and was based on an appraised value of $ million for the land. Although revenue downtown las vegas casinos has been downtown las vegas casinos benign in the recession, the interest on the long term notes for this land speculation has made the company unprofitable, downtown las vegas casinos.

Revenue since July 1, [edit]

Fiscal year (July 1, downtown las vegas casinos June 30, ) set all time records for downtown Las Vegas in terms of total revenue gaming and non-gaming. Revenue in FY and FY dropped. But like the downtown las vegas casinos of Nevada FY was the casino en ligne france severe fiscal year since downtown gaming peaked in the early s.

• Boyd Gaming reported their year end revenue on February 26, ^[13] The downtown properties are one of the relatively brightest properties in their portfolio. The total revenue for the calendar year was $ million vs $ million for the year and $ million for Collectively the Boyd Downtown Division is the currently the largest operation inside the downtown region.

Future prospects[edit]

The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute is currently finished construction.^[14] The Smith Center for the Performing Arts was completed in

At the site of the former Holy Cow casino and brewery which closed in May (across the street from the Stratosphere and The SLS), a developer received preliminary approval to build a foot (30&#;m)-tall video screen and a new casino. Aspen Highlands Holdings hope that the eye-catching attraction at the entrance to the city of Las Vegas will attract gamblers to the casino without an attached hotel.^[15]

Profitability has the potential to increase after March 28, when the ACE bus rapid transit project comes on line. The ACE rapid transit system will have the appearance and feel of a light rail transit network. Traffic lights will be controlled by a system similar to the one that emergency vehicles use. This modern transit system made travel from Fremont Street to the Convention Center virtually the same as the Las Vegas Monorail transit time from in front of the MGM Grand.

Some downtown casinos may come on the market in the near future, as an investor will be eager to try to repeat the success of Breitling, Poster and Icahn. In an article by journalist Ben Spillman, he describes a report that looks at historical costs and provides accurate estimates of revenues of the individual downtown casinos.^[16]

References[edit]

With nine casinos on Fremont Street, and another three on nearby, surrounding streets within easy walking distance, there are 12 casinos in downtown Las Vegas.

These twelve downtown casinos range from small, old school joints, to large, modern casinos rivaling the nicest casinos found on the Strip.

The nice thing about downtown Las Vegas casinos compared to Strip casinos is that downtown is more player friendly. By that I mean the minimums are lower, the drinks flow more freely, and the games have better odds. You’ll find blackjack Heros De Hockey Machine A Sous Examen, even at the lowest limits.

Map of Casinos in Downtown Las Vegas

(Each of the black dice represent one of the casinos in downtown Las Vegas)

Below is a list of the casinos you’ll find in downtown Las Vegas. Please note that this list contains only downtown casinos in safe, tourist-friendly areas on, or very nearby Fremont Street.

El Cortez

A frequent winner of the “Best Locals Casino,” award, as voted on by readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, downtown las vegas casinos, the El Cortez draws a sizable locals crowed.

Built inthe El Cortez is located on Fremont Street in the trendy new Fremont East District.

Among its selection of slot machines are two hundred of the old school coin-in, coin-out machines.

The very player-friendly casino has $3 minimum bet single deck blackjack (paying ).

Roulette has $1 minimum bets total, but allows you to place individual fifty cent bets (so long as you bet a total of $2 on the board). Their $3 minimum craps table gives players the option of betting 10x odds.

And in keeping with this old casino’s old school vibe, Keno is available in the restaurants and in the Keno lounge. It often gets voted as the “Best Keno” by readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Although its former owner, Jackie Gaughan, used to play low limit poker there almost daily, the El Cortez no longer has a poker room. The casino does have a modest sports book.

(Go here to get the exact Fremont Street light show times.)

The D Las Vegas

The D Las Vegas Casino has $5 minimum craps (with 10x odds) and blackjack. Great games, so long as you’re not distracted by the casino’s pulse-pounding music or bevy of sexy “dancing dealers.”

There’s also live Keno here. Upstairs, on the second floor of the D, downtown las vegas casinos, are old-school slot machines and the fun, (and highly addictive), Sigma Derby pretend horse racing game.

Four Queens

This icon in the heart of Fremont Street has roughly 1, slot machines, and 27 table games. These include: blackjack (single deck that pays ), Blackjack switch, roulette, craps, Let-it-Ride, Mississippi Stud, 3 card poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker.

The Four Queens Casino does not have a poker room, but does have a Keno lounge with a William Hill sports book.

Main Street Station

This Victorian-era themed casino resort has 28, square feet of gambling space. It’s just a block or so north of the western end of Fremont Street.

Main Street Station has slot machines and video poker machines, including MegaBucks of course, along with plenty of nickel downtown las vegas casinos. There are 25 table games here with the usual suspects, (BJ, Pai Gow, etc.). There is neither a sports book, nor poker room here.

California Hotel and Casino

Situated across the street, the California shares ownership with the Main Street Station. The two casinos are connected by an overhead pedestrian walkway.

The California has over 1, video and reel slot and video poker machines, and 28 table games. The 36, square foot casino has a modest sports book and Keno lounge too.

Yet it is craps that has made this place famous.

Any craps player downtown las vegas casinos his weight owes it to himself to shoot some dice here. That’s because the California was the site of the greatest craps roll in the history of the game, when Stanley Fujitake rolled the dice for just over 3 hours without crapping out, early in the morning hours of May 28,

Downtown Grand

A relatively new kid on the block, the Downtown Grand, (which opened in October ), boasts 30, square feet of gaming space on a casino floor dubbed “industrial chic.”

It’s situated just north of the Fremont Street Experience, across from the Mob Museum. The Downtown Grand has over of the newest slots, and thirty table games.

These include blackjack tables (paying 3 to 2), as $5 craps tables with 10x odds.

The casino also has a William Hill Sports Book. It does not have a poker room.

Golden Nugget

With over 50, square feet of gaming floor space, the Golden Nugget is the largest casino in Downtown Las Vegas.

Besides having over 1, slots and video poker machines, the Golden Nugget has over 50 table games, including blackjack, craps, downtown las vegas casinos, roulette, Let-it-ride, Pai Gow, 3 card poker, and the fun Mini-Baccarat. There’s also a sports book.

The Nugget’s beautiful poker room is downtown’s plushest, downtown las vegas casinos, with 13 tables and TVs to keep you entertained between folding bad hands.

In addition to tournaments, Golden Nugget’s poker room has fun high-hand promotions and a bad beat jackpot.

Binion’s

“Good whiskey. Good Food. Good Gamble.” Binion’s founder Benny Binion’s motto has been adapted by the current ownership.

It’s a casual, friendly casino. Its website boasts of 90, square feet of casino floor, but much of that is empty space in the back, so we’re not counting it as the biggest casino downtown. It does have your usual slots and table games, and even offers single deck blackjack.

The casino’s craps game has 5X odds, but as with the other table games here, you’ll be able downtown las vegas casinos enjoy $5 minimums.

Binion’s was also the site of poker history, when Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker, downtown las vegas casinos, ushering in the poker boom. Binion’s poker legacy continues today, with a historic, if modest, ten table poker room that spreads games as low as $2/4 limit.

Binion’s also has a small, downtown las vegas casinos, William Downtown las vegas casinos Sports book.

Fremont Hotel and Casino

A non-descript casino in the heart of the action on Fremont Street, the Fremont Hotel and Casino has 32, square feet of casino space with all of the typical slots and table games.

You may recognize this place as the spot where Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau played small stakes blackjack after going bust at a fancier Strip casino in the cult classic, “Swingers.”

Up until recently, The Fremont Casino offers some of the lowest table limits in Las Vegas, with $3 blackjack and $3 craps, all day, seven days a week. However I’m not sure that is still in effect.

They also have live Keno and decent sized race and sports book.

Golden Gate Hotel and Casino

A fun little small casino on the west end of Fremont Street, across from the Plaza, the Golden Roulette online gratis buzzes with rocking music and dancing girls.

(Related: Hotels in Downtown Las Vegas)

Having recently had a multi-million dollar face-lift and expansion, the casino now has a high-limit area downtown las vegas casinos sportsbook.

The table games ( blackjack and 10x odds on craps) and slots are pretty standard for downtown Las Vegas, but the decor and vibe here make it more fun that your run-of-the-mill downtown casino.

The Golden Gate was the site of the largest single roulette bet in the history of Las Vegas (and maybe the world), when the guys from MTV’s “The Buried Life” placed a bet of $, on one spin of the wheel. (They lost, but were given a $3 off buffet coupon as a comp.)

The Plaza Hotel and Casino

Situated at the far west end of Fremont Street, The Plaza has slots and video poker machines. They even host slot tournaments three days a week.

Their selection of table games includes blackjack, craps, roulette, 3-card poker, progressive pai-gow and mini-baccarat, which offers some of the best odds for table games in town.

The Plaza has the only bingo Deep Jungle Slot Machine Review in downtown Las Vegas, along with a William Hill sports book.

Downtown Las Vegas casinos are fun, and affordable, and worth a visit on your next trip to Sin City.

Circa Resort & Casino

Opened in October ofthis glitzy, million square foot property has become the largest casino/resort in downtown Las Vegas.

Circa’s two story casino boasts 1, slot machines and 55 table games. There are additional bartop video poker machines, along with 55 games in Circa’s high limit room.

If you’re the type to prefer electronic versions of craps and blackjack over the live version, you’ll find 18 of these electronic games.

In addition to being the biggest resort in downtown Las Vegas, downtown las vegas casinos, Circa lays claim to the largest sportsbook in all of Las Vegas, with a mammoth three-level sportsbook that boasts a capacity of 1, bettors.

Recently closed

(Below are the original write-ups of downtown Las Vegas casinos that have recently closed)

La Bayou

Tucked away on Fremont Street is the smallest casino in downtown Las Vegas, La Bayou.

This fun, friendly little dive casino doesn’t have a poker room, sports book, or even table games. The Louisiana-themed casino just has coin-operated slots. They also have fast drink service, and are known for the two lovely ladies out front who hand beads to passing guests.

Mermaids

Similar to La Bayou, Mermaids only has coin-operated slot machines and video poker machines (around total between the two).

At the back of the casino, you can downtown las vegas casinos your snack on, with tasty treats such as fried Twinkies and fried Oreos. There is also a large daiquiri bar, serving very strong drinks.

Las Vegas Club

Sort of a fading star, (if it ever were a star), on Fremont Street, the Las Vegas Club has slot machines and video poker machines – of which are progressive.

The table game selection includes roulette and Pai Gow, and very player-friendly blackjack rules. In fact, for years the marquee out front read, “Most liberal 21 in Vegas.”

They share a player’s card promotion (Royal Rewards) with the Plaza Hotel and Casino across the street, so you can use your card at either place for comp points.

(By Steve Beauregard. Photos courtesy of matze_ott, and Anthony G. Reyes, Jared and Alex Liivet via Flickr, and Boyd Gaming, and VisitLasVegas).

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