Operator News
US – Downtown El Cortez to celebrate 80 years
By Phil - 8 October 2021
El Cortez Hotel and Casino , the Downtown Las Vegas casino, will commemorate its 80th anniversary with the opening of a $25m renovation and a fireworks display on November 6.
Built in 1941, the property is the only casino listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was downtown Las Vegas’ first major resort with 59 rooms designed in a Spanish Ranch theme.
Having previously and officially been owned by the Mob, El Cortez was bought by Las Vegas icon, Jackie Gaughan in 1963.
The casino said: “Gaughan’s residence at the hotel is a time-capsule, with much of the suite preserved as it was since the 1980s. With its pale pink-and-gold interior, dramatic lighting, statement furniture pieces, and more, the Jackie Gaughan Suite transports guests into a different era reminiscent of Vegas in the 1980s.”
In 2008, Gaughan offloaded the casino to long-time acquaintance, partner and gaming pioneer, Kenny Epstein.
In February this year, El Cortez Hotel & Casino opened its first-ever high-limit room as part of its $25m remodel. The room has two high-limit blackjack tables and three high-limit slot machines, including Aristocrat’s Dragon Cash and two Ainsworth Super Charged 7s, with the maximum limit in the high-limit room being $2,000.
General Manager Adam Wiesberg said: “We’re excited about it. We just spent $25m remodeling the El Cortez. The carpet, ceilings, hallways, and entire tower of 200 rooms have been completely renovated. We have the most beautiful rooms in town now and we’re going to start on the hotel lobby, with a whole new floor and ceiling. When the idea of the high-limit room came up, it materialized quickly. It’s a focal point of our casino next to the cage and all this beautiful design.”
