El Cortez Hotel & Casino

El Cortez Hotel & Casino is a historic hotel and casino located at 600 East Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas. Opening on November 7, 1941, it is the oldest continuously operating casino in Las Vegas. Built by Marion Hicks and J.C. Grayson for $245,000, the property became so profitable that Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Gus Greenbaum, and Moe Sedway purchased it in 1945 for $600,000. Jackie Gaughan bought El Cortez in 1963 and owned it until his death in 2014. On February 22, 2013, the structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property remains family-owned by the Gaughan family.

The property features 364 rooms including Original 47 vintage rooms preserving 1940s character, Pavilion Rooms added in 1963, and modern Cabana Suites. The casino floor features slots, table games, and sports book in Spanish Colonial Revival style, and the property includes three steakhouses: Siegel's 1941 named for Bugsy Siegel, Flame Steakhouse, and Vic & Anthony's.

🏛️ Signature Experiences

Highlights include Original 47 rooms preserving authentic 1940s charm with vintage décor allowing guests to sleep in the same rooms once frequented by mobsters and Rat Pack members, National Register of Historic Places designation recognizing architectural and cultural significance to Las Vegas history, Bugsy Siegel ownership history from 1945-1946 when organized crime figures operated the property before J. Kell Houssels purchased it back, and best video poker payouts in Las Vegas with 99%+ returns recognized in 2024 Best of Las Vegas awards. The property also features best locals casino recognition with player-friendly slots, table games, and video poker, Siegel's 1941 restaurant honoring the mobster legacy, rooftop pool deck, Jackie Gaughan legacy continuing through family ownership, Fremont East Entertainment District location one block from Fremont Street Experience, and no resort fees making it budget-friendly for locals and tourists.

Located at 600 East Fremont Street in the Fremont East Entertainment District, El Cortez Hotel & Casino stands as the oldest continuously operating casino in Las Vegas with 83+ years of history. The property occupies a unique place in Las Vegas lore as downtown's first major resort that proved gambling could be profitable outside the original cluster of casinos. The Bugsy Siegel connection adds mystique, while Jackie Gaughan's 51 years of ownership established El Cortez as the ultimate locals casino. The property attracts history buffs, vintage Vegas enthusiasts, budget-conscious travelers, and locals seeking best-in-class video poker and slot payouts. The Original 47 rooms offer authentic 1940s accommodations impossible to find elsewhere on the Strip or downtown. El Cortez represents pure Las Vegas history preserved through family ownership rather than corporate consolidation.

Serving downtown Las Vegas and ZIP code 89101, Lake Mead Mobile Notary provides 24-hour mobile notarization at El Cortez Hotel & Casino for hotel guests, locals, and history enthusiasts. Every notarization is performed with professionalism, speed, and complete Nevada legal compliance.