Question of the Day - 16 September 2020

Didn’t he move out of state recently?

That would certainly reduce the likelihood of any future development. By him anyway. 

In the late 1980's I visited The Western a few times as a curiosity. I'd heard the stories about it's uniqueness as an oddity in Las Vegas history, a casino that never seemed to make enough money to change the burned-out light bulbs or sweep the floor. It had a reputation for having customers that were on the fringe of society, some were street people or the "down and out" with just enough money to play at very low stakes to get a few free watered-down drinks. Many looked like folks that had to struggle thru life to get by. Some mumbled or talked incoherently to no one in particular. It was a show to an outsider like me. The Western tolerated them, many seemed like regulars as they called out to the cocktail server by name or to the other players. It had a seedy sort of look and atmosphere. If you can picture a place at the absolute opposite end of the casino spectrum from somewhere like the Venetian that would be The Western.

Some thirty years ago, I got backed off at the Western for increasing my bets from $1 to...$5. I should have known better. At that joint, betting that much was like plunking a sack of gold on the table.

Back in the late 1980s, I stayed there a few times.  A time when I had to balance my entertainment dollars.  The rooms were clean and comfortable.  It was the first place I realized how much coin-in was needed to increase the progressive by $0.01. Playing a penny a pull, I was the only person on the carousel, it took 47.  Not very scientific, but free drinks and the free show from visitors.  It was easy to visit Downtown and the Strip.  And it wasn't the worst casino I have visited....A story for another day....

OMG,  i would walk from the EL CORTEZ to see the 'SIGHTS' in this 'PLACE' . Yes , a pit , but it made me feel lucky ,when i left and went to the FOUR QUEENS in one piece  !!! Sorry, MR.HSEIH, But the truth beeeezzzz  the truth . A PIT , YES . 

I visited The Western one time.  I had heard and read the stories but had never gotten around to visit until I had read it was closing.  So I decided it was my last opportunity to visit.  It was definitely a s-hole, but I wasn't sure if that was because it was closing.  There were only 2 blackjack tables.  The slot machines weren't packed together like at most togethers.  But the place attracted a clientele different from most casinos.  The place was filthy.  But I do have a $1 chip from The Western for the collection.

 Alan,
That would be interesting to hear about a casino more rundown than The Western. Was it in the USA or some other country? Each time I was at the Western I didn't want to touch anything in the public restroom or drink from their bar glasses, had a "at your own risk" kind of vibe. I was surprised when I learned that The Western was owned for quite a while by Jackie Gaughan, up until the early 2000's. Even though his other casinos were for low-rollers The Western didn't seem like his kind of place to me.

I had never visited the Western I’m Las Vegas. But it sounds a lot like Cal Neva in Reno. That place is a dump!

"Big Loser" entertained us with stories of his high roller treatment at The Western.  Tongue in cheek, of course.  Really miss Big Loser.  

When I was making 3-6 week stays in Vegas from the late '80s to late '90s, I stayed at the Western several times but never had a problem. That said, it wasn't any fun either.

My M.O. in those days was to stay in mid-priced hotel/casinos on the Strip (primarily the Stardust & the Sahara) Sun - Thu. I made weeks of advance reservations using the special deals (~$25) advertised in the Sunday L.A. Times.

Strip rates unavoidably doubled or tripled from the $25 for Fri. and Sat, so I'd go to Downtown. There were a number of small, basic hotels that didn't raise their rates (always $18) on the weekends. Most or all were owned by Jackie Gaughan. The Ogden was one. The Western was another. I forget the others. The Western, like the others, was safe but not enjoyable however they allowed me to live on the Strip for the other 5 days in what I thought was high style.

The Western must have gone downhill after 2000, because I don't remember it as its rep and lore have grown in this century.

This website was so great. It used to rate all the casinos. The food, the entertainment, the rooms. For the Western, they listed the entertainment as "the clientele". Sit down next to some crazy person and have a drink.....

One was in Las Vegas, I believe it was called the Nevada, it was south behind the Golden Gate.  However, the one I mentioned in my comments was in Alabama.  The parking lot was gravel and the casino itself was multiple double-wide mobile homes (I counted 5) stuck together on the edge of swampy land.  There were billboards up advertising it and glossy brochures in the hotel I was staying at.  Spent about $100 and left while it was still daylight!!  The clientele was all local, and I felt their looks...