The demise of Fiesta Rancho and Texas Station left two active unrestricted gaming licenses in the far north and west parts of the Las Vegas casino market. Those properties are Aliante Casino and Santa Fe Station.
Aliante opened as a Station Casinos property. It is now a Boyd Gaming casino. Santa Fe Station is operated by Station Casinos.
Both casinos are large for the locals market. Aliante is too big for its location and customer base. Santa Fe Station grew into its large space when it became the closest casino for most former patrons of Fiesta Rancho and Texas Station.
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Table game similarities between Aliante and Santa Fe Station
There are many similarities between Aliante and Santa Fe Station. Both offer quality table game rules, for the most part. The maximum craps odds are 10 times at each. Aliante pays triple on a field 12. Santa Fe Station only pays double.
Six-deck blackjack pays 3/2 and is $10 at both, though Santa Fe Station has surrender and Aliante does not. Double-deck blackjack with a 3/2 payout is available at Aliante and Santa Fe Station. It starts at $10 at Aliante and $15 at Santa Fe Station.
Roulette is all double zero at both casinos. Each starts at a $10 minimum bet. Ultimate Texas Hold’em is $5 at Santa Fe Station and $10 at Aliante. Face Up Pai Gow Poker is $10 at Santa Fe Station and $15 at Aliante.
Games offered by one but not the other
Crazy 4 Poker, I Luv Suits, and Three Card Poker are dealt at Santa Fe Station. These games all have a $5 minimum bet. Santa Fe Station also has 6/5 single-deck blackjack. It wasn’t open. It was $10 during our last visit. Aliante offers none of these games.
Aliante has Wild Five. That game is exclusive to Boyd Gaming casinos in Las Vegas. Aliante deals High Card Flush instead of I Luv Suits. These games are $10 at Aliante as there are no $5 pit games there.
Small selection of electronic table games
Neither property offers stadium gaming, however, both have electronic craps and 00 roulette. Aliante has two multiplayer options. Shoot to Win craps has a $1 minimum. Ministar 00 roulette is $0.25 and offers a Touchdown Roulette side bet.
At Santa Fe Station, heads-up craps pays triple on a field 12. It has a $1 minimum and a Lucky Shooter side bet. A single upright machine near the cage has 00 roulette with $0.25, $0.50, and $1 denominations. There is also a multiplayer dual-wheel machine with a $0.50 minimum bet.
Live poker room at Santa Fe Station
Santa Fe Station has the only poker room in the north or northwest parts of the Las Vegas Valley. The room has grown over the years to the point a new one is under construction by the bowling alley.
Aliante hasn’t dealt live poker in over 10 years. It tried an electronic poker room for a year in 2016. The owner of the machines sold the company to a group that declined to get a Nevada gaming license.
Amenities at Aliante and Santa Fe Station
The amenity situation is mixed. Both have a movie theater and hotel. Santa Fe Station has a bowling alley. Aliante offers a spa.
The restaurants are a tie. Both casinos have a food court. There are dining options from a cafe up to finer dining at Aliante and Santa Fe Station. Otherwise, both are mainly casino operations. Santa Fe Station opens a Stoney’s Rockin’ Country bar later in the summer.
Location
Aliante Casino struggled for much of its existence due to its poor location. It is on the far north end of North Las Vegas. The development has yet to make it that far. The casino was ahead of its time, and likely part of the reason the old Station Casinos company let it go in its bankruptcy.
Santa Fe Station is surrounded by development. It’s had a monopoly in the area since Fiesta and Texas Station closed. Its US 95 exit in the northwest is convenient for most residents in that part of town.
