Anybody make the rounds to little dive casinos recently? Jerry's nugget, Skyline, Jokers Wild, etc...?
I usually make a point of visiting a few of these every trip but I don't even know if they are open now. I would think they are considering their customers are mostly locals...but then again that's also true of closed places like Fiesta rancho.
The only locals' dive I visited back in September was Emerald Island. I went there in the afternoon and it was surprisingly busy--to the point where I turned around and walked back out, given the close quarters in there. I came back at 11 pm and things were quieter, but the place was by no means deserted.
The J-Nug is right smack dab in the middle of the neighborhoods that have been hit hardest by the coronavirus. Skyline and Joker's are a bit more isolated. I don't know if that has made a difference in how they've handled reopening. Joker's is a Boyd casino, and Boyd staggered their reopenings, on the premise that they didn't want to cannibalize their own business.
Fiesta Ratso is a case in point. It's right across the street from, and directly competes with, Texas Station. I imagine that Stations calculated that there wasn't enough business to keep them both alive. Plus, with its cheap food, small, inexpensive hotel, and good, low-limit gambling, it wasn't exactly in the Bellagio category as far as revenue was concerned. (Of course, neither is the Bellagio right now.)
I heard Long Horn no longer has table games......I suspect the same is true for Big Horn. Too bad. The coupons were great and I made a habbit of visiting one or both every trip. If this remains the case, I won't bother any more.
Jerry's Nugget was hopping when I stopped in a couple weeks ago. Table games, slots, restaurant were all busy...
Was just telling someone today about Ellis Island; love that place, really hoping they can weather the storm long enough to stay afloat!
Originally posted by: David
Was just telling someone today about Ellis Island; love that place, really hoping they can weather the storm long enough to stay afloat!
I hope so, too. They have quite a strong following. The gambling there has turned to crap (used to be a great VP joint), but it's a terrific place to eat. I go there, I'm always conflicted as to whether to have the steak special or dive into some BBQ.
jphelan, you are correct. The table games at the Longhorn are a COVID casualty. Can't do much with only three players per table.
