Golden Nugget Casino Intros New Vegas Players
When Landry’s Restaurants of Texas dining joined Golden Nugget of Vegas gaming, who took the bigger gamble?
Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino has been a gold standard of Downtown Las Vegas casino gaming long before it changed hands to Landry’s, a super name in restaurants but perhaps less so in casinos. It swings both ways, and the Houston-based new owners tackled no lesser odds when it acquired in 2005 its first Las Vegas casino hotel.
Gauging the changes made to Golden Nugget Casino ever since Landry’s joined in, the mutual gamble is paying off. A major upgrade to casino amenities, locations and capacities, and services is gaining points not only for the hotel casino but also for all gaming in Fremont Street and Downtown.
Golden Nugget Las Vegas received a total of 29 awards in the Strictly Slots ‘Best of…’ 2006, and 14 of these were to its casino gaming, including Best Overall Hotel Casino and Best Overall Casino in the downtown categories. Out of 28 awards from the Casino Players ‘Best of…’ 2006, 16 were on casino gaming, including Best Overall Hotel Casino and Luckiest Casino in the downtown categories.
Casino. The 38000 sqft Golden Nugget Casino is treated to an elegant makeover this year. Retiring the gilded latticework that had dominated the ceilings, the renovated and updated casino floor is now garbed in rich woods and lush carpeting that makes for a classier ambience. With the enhanced overall layout, players need not have to pass through a maize of over 60 gaming tables and other gaming areas to find the spot they want.
Slots & Video Poker. In addition to over 1,300 slot machines and video poker machines using Ticket-In/Ticket-Out technology, Golden Nugget slots gains a second high-limit slot salon featuring $25, $100, up to to $500 slot machines, as well as $5 slots with payouts starting at $20,000. The new high-limit slot area features a plush lounge, private cashier, VIP service, and luxurious décor down to exquisite custom-made light fixtures and wall covering.
Poker. Handing over the old card room to a new ultra lounge, the new Golden Nugget poker room has relocated from the casino floor to a newly remodeled, semi-enclosed room. It boasts 10 smoke-free poker tables with 24/7 private service and plush seating, with poker lessons daily at 10 am.
Race & Sports Book. Formerly offering 100 seats, 28 TV sets, and a big screen, the Golden Nugget race & sports book has relocated to a more convenient and private area beside the slot floor. It sports an updated country-club-style design and layout, with better room to watch and wager.
Keno. The downtown hotel casino had done away with its keno room two years back, although it continued to offer keno games to be played from hotel rooms and dining spaces. The Golden Nugget keno room is back and newly restored this year, giving players their own numbers lounge once again.
Golden Nugget Las Vegas opened in 1946 as the largest casino in world, designed to replicate the original structure of the same name on San Francisco’s Barbary Coast. It had then carved its place in Las Vegas casino gambling history by being the first to introduce the center deal. Until 1950, poker players dealt their own cards, but with the center deal, the task went to casino dealers.
