What was the First Casino in Las Vegas?

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Las Vegas shines as a global hub for gambling, drawing crowds with its bright lights and lively gaming floors. People often wonder about the roots of this famous city. What establishment kicked off the casino craze that turned a dusty desert town into a world-renowned destination? History points to the Hotel Nevada, which opened in 1906, as the answer. Read on!

The Birth of a Landmark

John F. Miller, a visionary entrepreneur, launched the Hotel Nevada at 1 Fremont Street in 1906, just one year after Las Vegas came into existence. Located in Downtown Las Vegas, the two-story building stood out as the city’s first hotel.

More importantly, it housed a casino, offering games like faro and roulette to travelers passing through the fledgling railroad stop. Rooms measured a cozy 10 feet by 10 feet, yet guests paid a dollar a day for lodging that included electric lights and steam heat, rare comforts back then.

Miller saw potential in the tiny settlement, blending hospitality with gambling in a way that would later define Las Vegas. On the other hand, people today play at online casinos, including casinos without Swedish license that usually have international licenses.

The difference is that online casinos have more versatile and diverse games than land-based casinos in Las Vegas. So, this makes platforms the top online casinos. Anyways, we are talking about the first casino in Las Vegas.

A Short-Lived Gambling Era

Gaming at the Hotel Nevada thrived for a brief period. Nevada allowed gambling when the hotel opened, so players flocked to its tables. In 1909, however, the state banned the practice, forcing the casino to shut down.

The hotel kept running as a place to stay, weathering the years when gambling went underground in speakeasies across town. Evidence suggests that illegal betting persisted in Las Vegas during that ban, but the Hotel Nevada stayed above board and adapted to the law.

Gambling Returns with a Bang

Nevada reversed its stance in 1931, legalizing gambling once more. By then, the Hotel Nevada had become the Sal Sagev, a name spelling “Las Vegas” backward. The timing proved perfect as workers building the nearby Hoover Dam poured into the area, eager for entertainment.

Casino operations resumed at the Sal Sagev, sparking a new chapter for the property and the city. Downtown Las Vegas began to buzz, laying the groundwork for the gambling boom that followed.

From Sal Sagev to Golden Gate

The property evolved over time. In 1955, the casino took on the name Golden Gate Casino, while the hotel kept the Sal Sagev title until 1974. That year, the entire site united under the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino banner.

Renovations kept pace with the growing city, including a 2012 upgrade that added luxury suites and refreshed the gaming area. Old touches, like artifacts from 1906, remain on display, linking the modern site to its pioneering past.

Final Words about Las Vegas’s First Casino

The Hotel Nevada holds a special place in Las Vegas history as the first casino. Its debut in 1906 planted the seed for an industry that now drives the city’s economy and fame. Surviving a gambling ban, name changes, and a century of shifts, the Golden Gate stands as the oldest casino still operating in Las Vegas.

Visitors today can step into its lobby, where the past meets the present, and imagine the early days when a small hotel dared to offer a game of chance in the desert.