Question of the Day - 30 March 2024

Yes, a few casinos still have coin- and token-operated slots and video poker machines on the floor. El Cortez proudly advertises them. The California downtown has a bunch, as does the Skyline out on Boulder Highway. And, of course, Sigma Derby at the D takes and pays out in quarters only. 

But the latest (retro) development in coin machines is Slots A Fun. 

Slots A Fun on the north Strip is next to (and owned by) Circus Circus and has finally, after many years of threatening to, been modernized with new carpet, $2 blast-from-the-past offerings from the bar, a new table-game pit, and most noticeable of all, 75 vintage coin- and token-operated slots in 25-cent and $1 denominations.

All the old coin machines from Circus Circus were relocated to Slots A Fun and a few dozen more were bought from Vegas vendors to fill out the floor.

As you walk in, either from Circus or the Strip, you’re greeted by the dulcet sounds of coins dropping into hoppers. At the Circus entrance are two back-to-back banks of Magnificent 7s, 20 machines in all. When we were there on a Saturday around noon, all 20 were jammed with players loading them up and noisily cashing out. 

Near the big entrance from the Strip are six more Magnificent 7s near the front door, along with Triple Stars, Triple Strike, Triple Double, Double Gold, and the good old Double Diamond and Red White and Blue machines.

You won't find any coin-operated video poker machines, change booths, or roving change ladies, but you can change your bills into $1 tokens and quarters at two equally vintage machines (in glorious Circus Circus pink). And the old-time change buckets are readily available.

Suffice it to say that if you like the clanging and jangling of coins and tokens dropping into metal slot-machine hoppers, Slots A Fun is the place for you. That soundtrack hasn't been heard around here for a long long time.