Caesars Entertainment recently announced that Cromwell will become Vanderpump in 2026. Cromwell is the smallest Caesars Entertainment property in Las Vegas. It has 34 table games, 780 slots, and 188 hotel rooms. Flamingo has almost as many suites as Cromwell has rooms plus another 3200 standard rooms.
Cromwell’s size has always been a challenge. Its lot is small, making it difficult to expand the property. One idea Caesars had in the mid-2010s was to make Cromwell a value-oriented casino. This aligned it more with the old Barbary Coast, which Caesars, known as Harrah’s then, acquired in 2007. It was renamed Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall, which closed five years later. The renovated casino was renamed Cromwell after drama surrounding the Gansevoort name made that branding fall through.
Great deals and games
Cromwell’s Eatwell offered great deals. Most blackjack games paid 3/2 and started at just $10. The $10 craps tables offered 100 times odds. At $25, Cromwell offered the cheapest single zero roulette table on the Las Vegas Strip.
A bank of video poker machines near the craps tables offered many 99% and better games on quarter machines. The best was 16/10 Deuces Wild (99.73%), often called Not-So-Ugly-Ducks. Other quality options included 9/7 Triple Double Bonus (99.58%), 9/6 Jacks or Better, full-pay Bonus Deuces Wild, 18/7/5 Joker Poker, and more.
Then came the pandemic
On March 17, 2020, Nevada’s governor ordered all casinos to close for the COVID-19 pandemic. Casinos were permitted to reopen on June 5, 2020. Cromwell was the last Las Vegas Strip casino to open when it welcomed guests on October 29, 2020. Its small size made social distancing difficult and the company found better uses for its floor space and labor costs at larger properties.
Many value features were missing from Cromwell when it first reopened. The 99% video poker bank was gone and never returned. While the single zero roulette table remained on the floor, it was moved to the back pit before disappearing. It never opened after COVID.
Table game conditions started to deteriorate
In May 2021, Cromwell dropped its 100 times craps to 3-4-5 times, which matches all other Las Vegas Strip casinos. Around that same time, 3/2 blackjack disappeared from the floor. It all went to 6/5. The salon became the only place on the property to play 3/2 blackjack. Its hours are now limited to only weekends
The high-limit tables briefly moved to the back pit when the salon closed in 2023. That gave Cromwell a stand on soft 17 blackjack game in the pit, the only one of its kind in Las Vegas at the time. The minimum bet was $25 or $50, depending on the time of day. This made Vegas Advantage wonder if more positive changes would happen. Within a year, the salon reopened, and the good table returned there with a typical $100 bet, though you may find it for $50 during slow hours.
Cromwell still has a few things going for it. The poker pit games are often $5. The craps table may be $10 during slow hours. The $1 video poker is reasonable for the Strip. Cromwell offers a few nickel and dime video poker games. Electronic table games have low minimum bets.
What will Vanderpump be?
Little is known about what the new Vanderpump Hotel will be compared to Cromwell today. Presumably, the casino floor and hotel rooms will be remodeled. It feels like a safe bet that the casino games will remain largely the same. However, this seems like a good time to let the special style of the property, like it did as Barbary Coast and Cromwell’s early days. If Caesars takes that approach, this spot may become a place known for value again, helping it stand out against other Las Vegas Strip casinos.
