The El Cortez, a hotel and casino, is a relatively small downtown Las Vegas gaming venue. The official marketing slogan has been “Where locals come to play”. Slots, table games and a race and sports book occupy one floor of the main pavilion.
El Cortez Hotel and Casino is one of the oldest continuously-running casino in Las Vegas. Located off the strip in the historic Downtown area, El Cortez is the authentic Vegas experience.
El Cortez first opened its doors downtown in 1941, and was so successful that it attracted the attention of Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky, who bought the property. In 1963 it went from one ‘family’ to another, when Vegas icon Jackie Gaughan bought El Cortez. The location was originally considered too far from downtown, but it quickly became so profitable. In 2009, Jackie Gaughan sold the El Cortez and its properties to Kenny Epstein. Gaughan continued to live at the casino and still played poker in the poker room until his death on March 12, 2014.
In the 2014 Best of Las Vegas, El Cortez was voted ”Best Locals Hotel”. And who would know better than the locals? Excitement, adventure, and entertainment all come together at El Cortez Hotel & Casino.
The El Cortez has undergone several renovations, with the latest major remodeling completed in 2006. New carpet, marble flooring, gaming machines, refurbished guest rooms and an upgraded kitchen for the restaurant were added. The El Cortez is also well known in the casino industry as the most prominent “break-in house” for new table game dealers to get experience before moving onto bigger properties.
Vegas is known for great shows, great food, and great people, but we all know what the lifeblood of Vegas is… the gaming. El Cortez casino offer a wide selection of slots, table games, and a full race and sports book. BEST OF LAS VEGAS AWARDS: Best Keno – from 2008 to 2015; Best Video Poker – 2014, 2008; Best Blackjack – from 2009 to 2013;Best Slots – 2012.
Club Cortez it’s El Cortez casino customer loyalty program, their way of rewarding players. They have some of the loosest slots in town, and whatever your favorite kind of machine is, they have it. El Cortez features both video slots and traditional reels.
El Cortez Hotel and Casino is an ideal spot from which to discover Las Vegas. Only from the city center, the hotel’s strategic location ensures that guests can quickly and easily reach many local points of interest. For those of you who want to venture out, El Cortez Barber Shop, Western, Fremont Street Experience are just some of the attractions available to visitors.
