Is the Golden Gate the Oldest Casino in Las Vegas?

Always thought the Golden Gate casino on Fremont Street in Las Vegas was the oldest casino in Vegas, but maybe not? I'd like to hear what Question of the Day has to say about it.

We answered this question less than a year ago, but we've received it a time or two since then, perhaps when visitors stumble on the Golden Gate hype.

It's true that the Golden Gate's marketing department likes to claim that it's the oldest casino, having opened in 1906. It's also true that when the Golden Gate issues a hyperbolized (in our humble opinion) press release, the press picks up the claim and runs with it, sometimes to the ends of the Earth.

For example, on January 14, 2021, the Golden Gate issued a release extolling its 115 years of history as a hotel-casino. We duly reported it in Vegas News, though we put the "115" in quotes, signifying that we weren't the ones giving it more than a century in existence.

Here's why not.

The original building opened in 1906 as the Hotel Nevada; in the lobby was a small casino with roulette and poker tables.

In 1931 when gambling was legalized in Nevada, the name of the hotel was changed to the Sal Sagev (Las Vegas spelled backwards).

In 1955, a group of investors from San Francisco bought and renamed the property. Thus, technically, the "Golden Gate" didn't come alive until then, when the building was already nearly 50 years old, had changed hands and names several times, and the casino had opened and closed and opened and closed under different management each time.

To us, it boils down to the name. The Golden Gate didn't open in 1906; if it did, it would've been called the Golden Gate, not the Hotel Nevada. In 1906, no one could have envisioned what downtown Las Vegas would look like, or be named, 50 years later. Even though, yes, it was in the same building, the Golden Gate didn't open until 1955. That's a good long time in Vegas years and we'll be sure to drop by in 2025 for its 70th anniversary, but we still won't consider it the 120th.

All that said, 10 of the hotel rooms have been preserved in their original condition and there's a collection in the lobby of century-old artifacts, both nods to the age of the original hotel.

We should note, as well, that the last time we ran this answer in February 2021, there was some disagreement in the comment boxes, claiming that we were picking nits. Perhaps, but this is our take on it and others, certainly the Golden Gate PR department among them, are free to dispute it.

However, the Sahara was mentioned as an example: "How old are you going to call the Sahara, which certainly went through name changing?"

For the Sahara, we'd have to line up on the opposite side. It was called the Sahara when it opened in 1952 and even though it passed through a few years as the SLS, when the name was changed back to Sahara, the property could, in our opinion, reclaim its history. If it hadn't been changed back, we wouldn't have allowed that the SLS turned 70 this year.

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Comments

Gregory Jun-09-2022

Nuns

One part of the GG history that people tend to gloss over is that the casino and the hotel where run as separate operations until 1974. Also, from 1985 to 1990, it was run by nuns who had it willed to them when the owners at the time died.

Also, I find it "funny" when a current owner takes credit for a casino's legacy. Not so much here, but Caesars is pumping up the Horseshoe brand as though it were their brand all along.

Since 1951 Horseshoe Casinos have been the Home of the Best Odds, Highest Limits & Biggest Jackpots®. At Horseshoe casinos we always “Make it right for the gambler®” which is why we have been Number One Since Day One®

So given that Horseshoe name was striped from Binions and left without a home in LV for almost 20 years, does that mean they can just pick up with the history as though nothing happened?

If that the case, Horseshoe will be older than Golden Gate by 4 years.

Thomas Dikens Jun-09-2022

Continuity

It does make me wonder what Casino, currently operating, has had the same ownership AND name for the longest time.  The way the  Vegas game of Monopoly works it might be Circa or Resorts World! (Smiles)

rokgpsman Jun-09-2022

Caesars Palace not the same

Let's not forget that Harrah's Corporation (with their trailer park management style) bought the legendary first class Caesars Palace in 2005 and proceeded to reduce it to a much lower experience. After the purchase Harrah's renamed itself Caesars Entertainment to try putting a 5 star image on their sh*tty operation. What is called Caesars Entertainment now is just the old Harrah's Corp after bankruptcy and mis-management created legions of disappointed fans of the original Caesars Palace. Harrah's has always been cheap on upkeep and cost of operations, look at the faded Rio as one example. It was once a really popular place, then Harrah's bought it in 1998 and it's rundown year after year after that.

jpfromla Jun-09-2022

Rokgpsman add...

Then CET was taken over Eldiablo 'er Eldoraldo who's management style is Trailer Park with missing teeth and roadkill BBQ.

Kevin Lewis Jun-09-2022

I'd go there if...

...somebody bought it and renamed it the Etag Nedlog.

Roy Furukawa Jun-09-2022

Agree

I agree because it isn't the same. However, just like pro sports franchises who like to take their "legacy" franchises to other cities and then tout their long existence and trophies won in other cities, I am sure this is much the same even though nothing is the same about it.

Hoppy Jun-09-2022

Call it what you will

It's who's around the campfire, tossing the dice, that makes the casino.

AL Jun-09-2022

Wording

So many debates can be avoided if we just word things differently. How about: "The casino that has been operating since 1906 in the building now called the 'Golden Gate' is the oldest casino in Las Vegas."

Dave_Miller_DJTB Jun-09-2022

Sahara

Didn’t the Sahara close temporarily, and NOT merely for remodeling? That would invalidate it.

Teeye Jun-09-2022

El Cortez

Yeah, it's the El Cortez.

Henry Jan-13-2023

"Hotel Sal Sagev" was around until the 70s

I'm late to this, but just a note on the line that says: "In 1955 a group of investors bought and renamed the property."

Golden Gate Casino opened at the hotel in 1955, but they did not buy the hotel until the 1970s. 

Golden Gate bought the hotel, becoming Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, in 1974, according to "Las Vegas, 1905-1965" By Lynn M. Zook. The Sal Sagev signs can still be seen on the hotel in the early 70s.

Question of the Day - 09 June 2022

Comments