What Are the Details of the El Cortez Expansion?

I just got an email that the El Cortez is opening their expanded casino. I believe it said it is happening on March 1. Do you have any details about the expansion?

Last autumn during the Global Gaming Expo, El Cortez CEO Ken Epstein was asked why he was expandng the property. He responded, “It’s simple. To take care of more customers. We’re maxed out on the weekends and we don’t have a place to put more people. We’ve got to expand.”

The El Cortez is surrounded on all four sides by streets. How can it expand without going vertical? Epstein replied, “This is space that wasn’t used. It was an old restaurant, a kitchen that’s not in service anymore. That’s the space we’re using.”

Into this space went 10,000 extra square feet of casino floor, including 200 new slot machines and a high-limit lounge (replacing space formerly occupied by restrooms). Also added were a pair of new bars, one a “roulette bar” designed in the shape of a roulette wheel. The other features a stage for live entertainment. It also contains a 20-foot-by-10-foot screen for viewing sports, music videos, and movies.

The big new draw is a Chinese restaurant, Hot Noods by Chinglish, the brainchild of Hong Kong-born and -bred chef Po Fai Lam, whose career has taken him to kitchens in Beijing, Manila, Toronto, San Francisco, and Summerlin. Hot Noods is his third Vegas restaurant; the other is Kosher Chinglish, located next door to the Summerlin Chinglish, specializing in the same Cantonese cuisine, only prepared and served Glatt kosher. Make reservations far in advance for the El Cortez room.

The revamp of the El Cortez was a committee effort, led by McCarthy Building Cos., along with IKE Gaming, JIVE Architecture, and Kenneth Ussenko Design. YESCO contributed signage to the project.

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Bob Mar-24-2025

Success

Had to Expand... Guess those LVA Coupons are working!

Fumb Duck Mar-24-2025

Sweat Shop

The El Cortez has long been known as a major sweat shop, quick to bar anyone who has even a basic knowledge of advantage play. It isn't called the Sweaty Spaniard for nothing.  

The remodeling and restaurants look very nice, but I would not recommend gambling there.

PaulaNH Mar-24-2025

Thrown out

I used to spend 10-14 hrs a day there playing VP. My husband walked around downtown and then would sit in the albeit, small, book for a few hours watching the games. Last time we were there they threw him out, not so subtly or quietly. Last time I ever set foot in the EL.

Randall Ward Mar-24-2025

El Cortez

in 1993 EC was too smoky and dreary for us, so we stayed at lady Luck, can't believe how it's changed.  Think it's funny they had 10k sq.ft. of available space

Gregory Smith Mar-24-2025

Love El Cortez

The new area is STUNNING.  It now makes El Cortez one of the premier spots downtown.

Jeffrey Small Mar-24-2025

Worth Seeing?

Well, I guess it is worth a look.  However, I understand that they did away with the depressing Keno room.  People buying 1.00 tickets to get the drink coupons. And the  last time I was there the gentleman running it couldn't do basic math and kept messing up tickets.  If you have trouble making change for a $20 bill maybe you should be employed elsewhere!  (Maybe he is the casino manager now.)

Gary Reininger Mar-24-2025

VP

You should know the minimum at both VP bars is 50 cent for a $2.50 pull a hand

Gregory Mar-24-2025

Keno -

Jeffrey, keno has been gone from the El Cortez (like most places) for quit a while.  May of '21 to be exact.

Michael Mar-24-2025

Mixed

Expansion is very nice. I have mixed feelings though. I liked the old "grinder" feel of El Cortez. Low minimums and decent VP is gone.

Michael B Mar-25-2025

Not the same

I remember in the past the mailers for the Cortez boasted how their slots were 40+% "looser" than the other casinos. It became comical how the percentage kept dropping as time went on. Haven't seen mailers like that in quite sometime. Based on my experience my bet is they are right in line with everyone else or even worse now that they have to pay for a nice big expansion. I used to hold my own at the slots there but the past couple years they seem as tight as everyone else.

Nichole Mar-28-2025

Not what it used to be

I played there for years. 20 to be exact. Staying there and playing there. One of the few casinos left in town that will actually give you a ride to the airport when you're leaving. Anyway Last week they refused to honor the Siegel's 1941 coupon.  I asked him to call management. He called security who came and told me either I paid the full check or they would trespass me. I said that's fine. Several months before that security came to my room in the morning and accused me of smoking and charged several hundred dollars under my bill I don't smoke I've never smoked and I told them that. They told me they have some kind of sensor that said otherwise. So I told my credit card company who removed it from my bill. And about 2 years ago I had gone down Fremont Street to eat and coming back to the hotel The security guard wouldn't let me in told me I wasn't dressed properly. What? How ridiculous. I had to go see the bellman Ron who knew meto have him tell the security guard to let me in.

Question of the Day - 24 March 2025

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