El Cortez

Standing proudly on Fremont Street since the earliest days of downtown Las Vegas, El Cortez is the city's longest continuously operating casino and a living museum of old school gambling charm. Anyone drafting an El Cortez review quickly falls for its vintage neon marquee, its loyal community of regulars, and a casino floor recently refreshed with new bars and an expanded high limit area while keeping its classic soul intact. Longtime owner Kenny Epstein has carried forward the legacy first built by legendary Vegas figure Jackie Gaughan, preserving a property that feels worlds away from the corporate polish of the Strip. For travelers curious about the best casinos in Las Vegas with genuine history, El Cortez remains an essential, unpretentious stop in the heart of downtown.