By LuckyBets Insights Desk
When the neon glow of the Strip dazzles and the fountains of Bellagio serenade, it’s easy to forget that just a block over, a different Las Vegas pulse beats on historic Fremont Street. This week, the city’s oldest continuously operating casino—El Cortez Hotel & Casino—lifted the curtain on a $20 million expansion that marries its Depression-era roots with a fresh, energetic downtown vibe.
“We’re respecting the past while building the future,” says owner Kenny Epstein at the opening ribbon-cutting reviewjournal.com.
What’s New at El Cortez
- 10,000 sq ft of gaming floor added—nearly 200 new slot machines illuminating the classic Spanish-Colonial halls 963kklz.com.
- High-Limit Lounge: An elevated enclave for high rollers, complete with plush seating and VIP service.
- Hot Noods by Chinglish: A modern noodle bar serving bánh mì-inspired broth and spicy street-food flavors.
- Two Distinctive Bars:
- Roulette Bar—designed as a life-sized roulette wheel, it invites spills of laughter and cocktails.
- ShowBar—a stage, LED screen, and rotating live music lineup turn evenings into downtown’s hottest showcase.
- Starbucks Outpost: Because even high-stakes gamblers need a morning pick-me-up.
Downtown vs. The Strip: Two Worlds, One City
The Strip is spectacle—towering resorts, choreographed shows, and crowds that ebb and flow like tides. Downtown is grit and authenticity:
- Walkable on Foot: Neon-lit canopies arc overhead; performers circle the crowds.
- Low Limits, High Spirits: Min. bets often under $5, welcoming both tourists and locals.
- Historic Soul: From Bugsy Siegel’s first deals in 1941 to Jackie Gaughan’s expansions in the 1960s, El Cortez whispers Vegas lore.
El Cortez’s renovation amplifies that character—modern gaming energy wrapped in mid-century glamour en.wikipedia.org.
A Storied Past
- Opened November 7, 1941, for $245,000—when it seemed “too far” from downtown’s heart.
- 1945 Takeover: Bugsy Siegel & Meyer Lansky snapped it up from founder J. Kell Houssels for $600,000.
- Mid-Century Makeovers: Facade modernized in 1952; new Tower added in 1984; Pavilion Rooms in 1963.
- Hall of Fame Guests: Legends from Dean Martin to Liberace have strolled these corridors.
- 2013: Earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places, cementing its legacy.
Where Will Your Lucky Stop Be?
Are you drawn to the Strip’s grandeur, or do you crave the raw, unvarnished charm of Fremont Street? After the expansion, El Cortez offers both:
- Retro‐Chic Gaming: Spin under art-deco neon.
- Culinary Curiosities: Slurp ramen-fusion at Hot Noods.
- Late-Night Entertainment: Sip, spin, and sway at the ShowBar.
Your next LuckyBets pit stop could be right here—where history, thrill, and millions in jackpots converge under one glowing canopy.
El Cortez is independently owned and operated. LuckyBets is not affiliated with any casino. Gambling for entertainment only; always play responsibly.
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