3801 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV | Tropicana Las Vegas
Tropicana closed on April 2, 2024, after 67 years in business. The property struggled in its later years due to the poor condition of the property and the inability to compete with neighboring casinos. A Major League Baseball stadium is proposed for the property. However, stadium backers and the Oakland A’s have yet to make any major movements that make observers believe it will happen. As of April 2024, there were still no serious renderings or business plans.
Tropicana Las Vegas History
Tropicana was near the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. It bordered Harry Reid International Airport. Tropicana was in a great location for those who flew into Las Vegas and did not want to worry about traffic on the way to the airport when leaving. The other casinos at this intersection are Excalibur, MGM Grand, and New York-New York.
Tropicana was operated by Bally’s. It was the only casino in that section of the Las Vegas Strip that MGM Resorts did not operate. Tropicana offered a better value than its nearby competitors. It was smaller than its neighbors on Las Vegas Blvd.
Tropicana had two showrooms. One was a comedy club. The other was a traditional theater. The hotel had around 1400 rooms. There were a few restaurants and a casino bar.
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Tropicana casino
The casino floor was about 50,000 square feet. There were about 600 slot machines and 10 table games. There were some electronic table games in front of the pit.
Tropicana Won Worst Casino Vibe Award
If there was such a thing as a casino in hospice, it was Tropicana. Its end was near, even if the A’s relocation never happened. Tropicana closed half its pit months before the casino closed. The salon never reopened after the COVID closure. The Tropicana casino floor was usually deserted and quiet when we visited. So, it won the 2023 Vegas DisAdvantage Award for Casino Vibe.
Most of the casino floor is slots. There are a few video poker machines and electronic table games. The bar had some of the best $1 video poker on the Strip. However, it did not open until 5pm most days. Access was prohibited when the bar is closed. However, this game wins Tropicana the 2023 Vegas Best Advantage Award for Low-Limit Strip Video Poker.
There was a William Hill ticket counter at Tropicana. The former viewing area was converted into a restaurant several years ago.
Table games
Tropicana dealt baccarat, blackjack, craps, roulette, Heads Up Hold’em, roulette, and Three Card Poker. It was one of the few Las Vegas casinos with Heads Up Hold’em. Fortune Pai Gow Poker was removed in 2023 when half the pit was converted into electronic tables.
The casino floor had a 3/2 blackjack game. Another was in the high-limit room, but we had not seen it open since 2020. Craps was up to 3-4-5 times maximum odds.
Tropicana Table Limits
When Tropicana was open, it had eight different table game options. The best game was the last $25 double-deck blackjack game south of Treasure Island on the Strip. It allowed double down before and after splitting. There was $10 6/5 blackjack. These games hit soft 17.
Craps was usually $10 or $15. It paid double on a field 12 and offered 3-4-5 times max odds. Double zero roulette, Heads Up Hold’em, and Three Card Poker were usually $10. The poker pit games dropped to $5 when it was slow.
The high-limit table game area did not reopen after March 2020. It may have opened upon request. There were $100 six-deck blackjack and baccarat tables there. The six-deck blackjack tables stood on soft 17 and allowed surrender and re-split aces.
Worst High Limit Video Poker
One odd feature Tropicana had was the worst high-limit video poker in Las Vegas. Options included 6/5 Jacks or Better (95%), 7/3 Double Bonus (93.1%), and 6/5 Double Double Bonus (94.7%). This was the worst of its kind in Las Vegas. Expected losses at the $25 denomination were as high as $8.63 per hand.
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Poker room
Maverick Gaming announced that it would reopen the Tropicana poker room in November 2023. The timing seemed odd based on the unknown A’s stadium status. The Tropicana last had a poker room in 2012. That one had the bad luck of opening on April 15, 2011, online poker’s so-called “Black Friday,” a day that essentially destroyed the thriving US online poker market and sent poker into a decline.
A few days before the Tropicana poker room was to open, Maverick Gaming announced that it was not happening. It appears the plans to have a poker room at Tropicana fell through. The closest poker room is at MGM Grand.
Tropicana Memories
Tropicana had little going for it during its last decade. We saw a few of our friends perform at the Laugh Factory. In 2013, we convinced Tropicana to install a video Ultimate Texas Hold’em machine. This game has a low house edge. In that era, electronic table games did not rate players properly, so we enjoyed many free meals.
The Cantor Gaming sportsbook was one of the best on the Strip a decade ago. Tropicana eventually closed it and used the space for Robert Irvine’s Public House. Near the end, the best use of Tropicana was its free parking lot. The video poker outside of the bar, which was not open often, had terrible paytables. There was nothing special about the table games. There was simply nothing special about the place at all. That is why the Tropicana closure felt different from the Riviera one.
Entertainment at Tropicana
There were multiple shows at Tropicana. Two tribute shows took place in the Tropicana Theater while The Laugh Factory hosted comedy and magic shows. None have found new locations.
Tropicana Theater
MJ Live: Michael Jackson Tribute Concert highlighted one of the greatest entertainers of all time. A rotating cast of impersonators showcases the energy, excitement, spectacle, and pure joy of Michael Jackson. Backed by an onstage band and an entourage of dancers, MJ Live is a family-friendly show. Dark on Tuesdays, the show starts at 7:30pm Wednesday through Monday.
Prince fans could still party like it was 1999 at Purple Reign, THE Prince Tribute Show. The show features Jason Tenner or Donelvan Thigpen impersonating Prince. *The Prince estate is not affiliated, associated, or connected with “Purple Reign The Prince Tribute Show!” or Tropicana Hotel, nor has it endorsed or sponsored “Purple Reign The Prince Tribute Show!” or Tropicana Hotel. Guests must be at least 16 years of age. The show starts at 9:30pm Wednesday through Saturday. It is dark on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.
The Laugh Factory
A rotating roster of established comedians and new rising stars of comedy took the stage daily at the Laugh Factory. Shows were at 8:30pm and 10:30pm. All guests must be at least 18 years of age. Headliners were listed when purchasing tickets. Select shows start at 7pm.
Murray The Magician was a semifinalist on the NBC hit show “America’s Got Talent.” During the show he performed two of his signature illusions in the middle of the audience, giving them an intrusive 360-degree view of him and his tricks while leaving no hiding space. The family-friendly show was at 4pm Sunday through Wednesday. It was dark Thursday through Saturday.
Rich Little was a regular on “Hollywood Squares,” “The Judy Garland Show,” and even was a guest host on “The Tonight Show” a dozen times. In his one-man show, Little brought to life many of the actors, singers, and politicians he has known throughout his career. Guests must be at least 12 years of age. The show started at 6:30pm Sunday through Wednesday. It was dark Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Dining and drinks at Tropicana
There was a small selection of restaurants at Tropicana Las Vegas. Options included casual dining, quick bites, and an upscale steakhouse.
- Oakville Tuscan Grille – Business casual. Steak, seafood, and pasta.
- Robert Irvine’s Public House – American pub.
- Red Lotus Asian Kitchen – Asian-inspired cuisine.
- Starbucks – Coffee and quick bites.
Hotel accommodations
Check-in: 3pm | Check-out: 11am | Resort Fee: $37 per night
Property amenities included Tropicana Pool, Glow Spa and Salon, and a fitness center. The resort fee included room high-speed wireless Internet, access to the fitness center, two complimentary bottles of water in-room per stay, seasonal use of the pools and whirlpool spas, and free printing of boarding passes.
At Tropicana Las Vegas, rooms ranged from 375 to 475 square feet. All rooms featured LED HDTVs, in-room safes, and oversized workspaces. The 906-square-foot Club and Paradise Suites featured one king and a Strip or city view. The 1,006-square-foot Club Spa Suite featured a whirlpool tub, a king bed, and a Strip or city view. Premium suites featured additional space and room amenities.
Tropicana Casino FAQ
When did Tropicana close?
Tropicana closed on April 2, 2024.
Why did Tropicana close?
Tropicana was a dilapidated property. It lost money and lost much of its loyalty among players. Its management appeared to stop trying. There are better uses for the property than an aging hotel and casino.
What will happen with the Tropicana property?
The Tropicana property is proposed to become a baseball stadium for the Oakland A’s. Nevada legislation requires the site to be used for the $380 million in stadium subsidies. However, as of April 2024, no serious renderings or proposals have surfaced.
Did blackjack pay 3/2 at Tropicana?
The Tropicana table game pit had a mix of 6/5 and 3/2 blackjack games.
What were the craps odds at Tropicana Las Vegas?
The maximum craps odds at Tropicana were 3-4-5 times. The field paid double on 12.
Was there a poker room at Tropicana Las Vegas?
There was no poker room.
What types of roulette was dealt at Tropicana?
Double zero was the only kind of roulette at Tropicana.
Which Las Vegas Strip casino might become the A’s stadium?
Tropicana appears to be the favored property for a Las Vegas baseball future stadium. That process is in the early stages.
Was there a sportsbook at Tropicana Las Vegas?
There was a William Hill sportsbook counter near the exit to the MGM Grand bridge.
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Last Updated on April 3, 2024 by John Mehaffey