The El Cortez Hotel and Casino

When most people think about Vegas, they think about the Vegas Strip. However, there is a lot to be said for many of the off-strip casinos. One of my personal favorites is the El Cortez Hotel and Casino. This is located in the downtown area of Las Vegas on Fremont Street. This is a small, old-school casino without a lot of the flash that you would normally see on the Las Vegas strip.

This casino is mostly frequented by "locals". It is super dark, super smoky, and super dated but somehow I still go there a lot. It has more of a down-home feel. You do not have to get all snazzy to walk into the place and you don't have to spend $30 just to get a good burger (Cafe Cortez actually has a $5 burger and beer special). One particularly off-putting thing is that some of the patrons (and I use this word loosely) wander in from the streets every now and then. They have no reason to be there and it is clear that they use the casino as a refuge from the heat or just a place to "be". Last week I walked into the restroom and it smelled really horrible as if someone was living in one of the stalls and had never washed. If that seems harsh, please do not misunderstand. I have been going to the El Cortez for months and I have never smelled the bathroom like that. Although you do not want to alienate people you must know that this is a business and certain things that go on at the El Cortez are bad for business.

Although the decor is dated and it has a mostly older crowd, it has some cool comps that would blow the Vegas Strip out of the water! Your player's card is upgraded pretty quickly and you get lots of stuff like 2-for-1's or $10 off per person at Cafe Cortez or even $25 off per person at their famous Flame Steakhouse! Just try getting comps like that at casinos on the Vegas strip without spending 10-30x as much as you would here.

El Cortez has several dining options including the Subway (if you are on a super budget) Cafe Cortez (if you are on a budget), and Flame Steakhouse (if you are NOT on a budget, want great food and atmosphere without the hustle and bustle of the Vegas Strip, and are willing to spend a bit more. The average entree here is about $25 pp).

The El Cortez has some really old broken-down slots that should probably be put out of their misery. However, they also have lots of modern games as well. They are equipped with the standard table games including Pai Gow poker, Black Jack, Craps, Roulette, and more! One of my favorite things to do there is play Roulette. Where else can you play Roulette for a .25 buy-in? Yes, I said 25 cents! On certain days, you can get hot dogs and beer for $1 each and there are really cool tournaments that do not require a buy-in.

For you serious betters out there, they also have sports betting and Keno. There is truly something for everyone at the El Cortez and if you are willing to venture off of the Vegas Strip for a while and check out this casino and the trendy downtown area you might be surprised!

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