El Cortez is one of the oldest Las Vegas casinos. It opened in 1941. The casino was once owned by Jackie Gaughan, who lived in its penthouse until he passed in 2016. The poker room was kept open just for him. It closed shortly after he was no longer able to play.
The casino has 26 live tables and around 700 slot and video poker machines. It also has a sportsbook, which is operated by Station Casinos. It does not have a bingo room. Additionally, live keno is no longer available. There are two restaurants, two bars, and a lounge. All guests inside the hotel and casino must be at least 21 years old.
Overnight guests will find a wide range of accommodations available. The Original 47 rooms are located just above the casino floor and by special request, guests may also choose the Jackie Gaughan Suite. Each El Cortez hotel room has a $26 per night resort fee. It includes a complimentary drink with an entree purchase, two in-room water bottles, fitness center access, boarding pass printing, and self-parking. Hotel guests also receive discounts on select services at the NV Spa. Other property amenities include the Speakeasy Barbershop and Terry Rae Beauty Salon.
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Casino floor inside El Cortez
Twenty-six tables deal eight different table games at El Cortez. Players can find double-deck and six-deck blackjack, baccarat, craps, double zero roulette, Three Card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. There are also several electronic table games. All are located next to the pit. Additional information about minimum bets and information about video poker and electronic tables is available in our Vegas Advantage Newsletter.
El Cortez blackjack rules
There are two different blackjack games. The most popular is double-deck. There is also a six-deck game. The dealer hits soft 17 at all blackjack tables. Blackjack pays 3/2.
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El Cortez was best known for its single-deck blackjack game. It was the only one in Las Vegas that paid 3/2 on a blackjack. The house edge for this game with perfect play was about 0.3%. However, in April 2024, the casino removed this game from its floor. This game previously won El Cortez the 2023 Vegas Best Advantage Award for Low-Limit Blackjack.
However, for 2024, the overall award was given to Poker Palace. Downtown Grand won best low-limit blackjack in downtown Las Vegas.
Coin video poker and slots
El Cortez is the king of coin video poker and slot machines in Las Vegas. It has about 50 of these devices. That is about half of the ones left in the entire Las Vegas market. All the best video poker games at El Cortez are coin games.
Dining and drinks at El Cortez
There are two dining options. Siegal’s 1941 is open 24 hours. It has a $19.95 prime rib special. There are other entrees available, like chicken and seafood. Appetizers, soups, and salads are also offered. Hot Noods serves Asian cuisine. Nearby restaurants include Eureka! and Sushi Ichiban.
Near the table game pit, drinks are served at the new Roulette Bar. Other bars include Showbar and The Parlour Bar. The Parlour Bar hosts happy hour daily from 5pm until 7pm.
Vegas Advantage memories of poker and more
We moved to Las Vegas to help a company build poker websites. That required John playing in all 50+ poker rooms. El Cortez was a special treat. Jackie Gaughan, who lived in a penthouse at the top of El Cortez’s hotel, played in a 2-6 spread limit hold’em game daily. He would have a seat reserved and arrive around lunchtime. He played for several hours before security would remind him it was dinnertime.
Jackie Gaughan would tell stories about old Las Vegas. He knew it well. He was part of that history. John had the pleasure of sitting to the right of Jackie Gaughan for a session. Las Vegas Club came up a few times and it was clear that was one of Gaughan’s favorite casinos he once owned. Sadly, his health deteriorated and he could no longer play poker. The poker room closed in December 2013, and not long after that, the Las Vegas legend passed away at 93 years old in 2014.
In 2018, John hit a $4700 royal flush on a Joker Poker coin game. It was one of two royal flushes he hit that day. That was the second and last time he made two royal flushes in the same day.
More recently, the casino was our eleventh stop on our 21st-anniversary world record run. With Circa as our finish line, it was the last downtown casino we walked to.
El Cortez Casino FAQ
Can minors stay in the El Cortez hotel?
No. The minimum age to stay at the hotel or enter the casino is 21.
Are there any 24-hour restaurants at El Cortez?
Yes. Siegal’s 1941 is open 24 hours a day.
Does El Cortez have coin slots and video poker games?
Yes. There are about 50 coin machines. These are mostly in the back room.
Does El Cortez still have 3/2 single-deck blackjack?
No. El Cortez removed its 3/2 single-deck blackjack tables in April 2024. The game no longer exists in Las Vegas.
Does El Cortez have a poker room?
No. The poker room closed in December 2013.
Does El Cortez have a sportsbook?
Yes. it is operated by Station Casinos. Transactions related to the STN Sportsbook app are processed here.
What table games are dealt at El Cortez?
Double-deck blackjack, six-deck blackjack, double zero roulette, craps, baccarat, Three Card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em are dealt.
What are the craps odds at El Cortez?
Live craps permits up to 10 times odds.
Where is El Cortez Casino?
The casino is in downtown Las Vegas at 600 E Fremont Street.
This page is sourced from a combination of Vegas Advantage visits and El Cortez’s website.
Last Updated on March 8, 2025 by Kristina Mehaffey