Golden Nugget Las Vegas Reviewed for 2025

Golden Nugget is one of the oldest casinos in Las Vegas with a storied history and a rich heritage. From its mobster beginnings, it has grown and developed into a classic Vegas casino resort that is highly popular even today.

Located Downtown on Fremont Street, Golden Nugget opened back in 1946 and has been operating for nearly 80 years as a casino and for almost 50 years as a hotel.

Featuring in numerous movies and TV programs, Golden Nugget is recognized the world over for its shimmering neon signage and vintage Vegas style. It is a Sin City icon that has had close ties with Vegas royalty such as Frank Sinatra and Steve Wynn throughout its history.

However, Golden Nugget is much more than a nostalgic nod to old-school Vegas. It has constantly developed and modernized in both appearance and amenities to stay in touch with changing customer demands while also keeping its retro charm.

So just what is it about Golden Nugget that makes it so popular with modern-day gamblers? I went along to find out.

Golden Nugget opened August 30 1946, just four months before Flamingo opened on the Las Vegas Strip.

It was the dream casino of Guy McAfee, a well-known Vegas character who was considered a bit of a bigshot when it came to questionable activities. McAfee had made his money, firstly, by being a crooked cop in Los Angeles during prohibition, before turning to crime full time as part of a syndicate as it was more lucrative.

After owning a smaller casino and a couple of bars, McAfee made enough money to invest just over $1M to build what was originally called the Golden Nugget Saloon. 

The interior of the original Golden Nugget bar in San Francisco’s Barbary Coast was the inspiration and McAfee imported Victorian carved wood, marble from Italy and insisted that all fixtures had to be 50 years or older. 

In 1949 Golden Nugget unveiled the exterior neon sign over Fremont Street, topped with a shiny neon nugget and boasted that they had the largest and brightest sign in the world.

Although Golden Nugget had various owners and investors throughout its history, two of its two most prominent lead men were Jackie Gaughan and Steve Wynn. Gaughan was a serial investor in Vegas casinos and had stakes in Flamingo, Golden Nugget and El Cortez to name a few. Meanwhile Steve Wynn bought a stake in Golden Nugget and went on to become the major shareholder in 1973 making him the youngest casino owner in Las Vegas. 

Under the mentoring of Gaughan, Wynn transformed Golden Nugget opening the three hotel towers over a 12-year period and enticing Frank Sinatra to perform headline shows there. Wynn ran operations at the downtown casino resort until 1989 when he moved on to develop Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio and Wynn on the Strip. 

Golden Nugget was briefly owned by Poster Financial Group led by Timothy Poster and Thomas Breitling whose ownership was documented by Fox in their TV series ‘The Casino. These days the resort is owned by Landry’s, Inc and it is one of six Golden Nugget properties that they own. 

Although retro glamour is still a key part of Golden Nugget’s charm, the style of the resort is actually quite contemporary now. Modern furnishings and a stylish finish can be found both in the rooms as well as the casino. 

However, you will still find the famous ‘Hand of Faith’ gold nugget on display which has been on site since 1981. And resort guests can still swim through the shark tank aquarium which has been there since 2007. 

Location 

Golden Nugget is located in the downtown area of Las Vegas within the famous Fremont Street Experience.

It is situated between Golden Gate and Four Queens casino resorts and opposite Binions, all of which are icons of downtown Las Vegas. Above it is the world’s largest LED canopy video screen suspended 90 feet in the air. 

Due to the downtown area being compact, you can easily walk between Golden Nugget and 11 other casino resorts around it. Plus, other downtown attractions such as the Mob Museum and Container Park are within a ten-minute walk. 

However, if you want to travel from Golden Nugget to the Las Vegas Strip then you’ll need to take a car, taxi, rideshare or bus. The Deuce bus is the cheapest option, and you can catch it from Fremont Street travelling the full length of the Strip to the very south resorts. 

The bus is a cheap way to travel but it has many stops, so it can take a while. The upside of that is that you can buy a one day pass and get on and off as often as you like stopping off at almost all of the Strip casino resorts.  

If you are travelling from Harry Reid International Airport, to Golden Nugget then, unfortunately, the fixed rate taxi fee doesn’t apply to downtown properties, so you can expect to pay up to $30 - $40 for the journey. The LASxpress transportation service does offer a fixed rate fee of $20 per round trip if you book directly through them or at the hotel reception.

For hotel guests arriving by car, complimentary self-parking is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis at the garage located on 1st Street and Bridger. Or valet parking is available 24/7 at the daily rate of $20 per day, per vehicle.

Golden Nugget has a casino floor of around 38,000 square feet, which is much smaller than most Strip casinos but a good size for downtown. For the size of the floor, it has a huge amount of games though, with around 1,000 slots and 50 table games.

That means that space is quite tight in Golden Nugget casino. Slots, in particular, are crammed back-to-back and side-by-side in some areas of the casino, making for a slightly cosy gaming experience.

The casino has low ceilings and the usual colored patterned carpets, but it doesn’t feel like a dark casino due to the amount of lighting and other contemporary features around. There are several bars adding extra light around the casino, featured lighting above and even the pillars have lights too. 

The casino is an odd shape, with lots of nooks where you’ll find more slots. The table games are located in multiple areas too, so it pays to have a good walk around the casino to get familiar with what is available before you decide what to play. 

Table Games Selection

There are a couple of different table game areas and lots of varied games on offer at Golden Nugget. I would say the variety of table games is probably the best you will find downtown.

Taking a walk around, I could see all of the classics including blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat plus a few poker pit game variations too.

I found some 3:2 blackjack plus some different blackjack variations with mandatory side bets. I couldn’t find any single zero roulette unfortunately, just double zero. 

Quite a few of the table games had $5 minimums which isn’t easy to find these days. As you would expect, these were extremely busy. 

The general standard of the table games and seating was good, some of the tables looked completely new, while others looked past their best showing some wear and tear. The atmosphere around the table games was loud and exuberant. Almost all of the tables had at least one player, and the craps tables were packed. 

Classic table games:

• Blackjack
• Roulette
• Craps
• Baccarat

Variants: 

• Mini Baccarat
• Three Card Poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em 
• Free Bet Blackjack
• Bonus Spin Blackjack
• Lucky Cat Blackjack
• Caribbean Stud Poker

Golden Nugget has a good selection of electronic table games, for those who prefer to play that way. I found multiplayer and single player machines for both craps and roulette with bets as low as 50 cent. 

If you’re a poker player, then you’re in luck as Golden Nugget has the last poker room in downtown Las Vegas. And it’s not just any poker room, it’s a pretty famous one too. Many televised poker tournaments have taken place here including High Stakes Poker and NBC’s Face the Ace and Poker After Dark.

The ‘Nugget’ Poker Room has 13 tables and offers daily cash games as well as regular tournaments. The No Limit Texas Hold’em is very popular with uncapped stacks. Players can check out the current games and add their name to the waiting list by using the Bravo Poker Live App.

Slots

Golden Nugget has a good mix of old and new slots, so there’s something for everyone. I prefer the more modern video slots myself and all the favorites are here including some newly released games too. But if you’re more of a classic slots player then you won’t be disappointed with the selection.

Due to the casino layout, some of the slots are well spaced, but many are in rows which can feel a little enclosed and crowded when busy. Generally, though, the Golden Nugget casino is a lively and fun place to play.

Some of the most popular games you can find at Golden Nugget casino include:

• Quick Hits
• Buffalo Gold
• Dragon Link
• Dancing Drums
• Wheel of Fortune
• Lock It Link

I played Mo Mummy on my visit and had some luck, hitting the bonus, which made my visit even better!

Bar-Top Gaming

Bar-top games are available at a few bars within Golden Nugget including Claude’s Bar, the main casino bar and the Sportsbook Bar.

Multi-game terminals are positioned on the bar so players can play video poker and a select other few games while relaxing and socializing with a drink.

Complimentary drinks are served to players playing bar-top games as long as you’re spending enough money. This is determined either by the bartenders or a light system, and the drinks will keep coming as long as you’re playing. Just remember to tip!

Sportsbook

Golden Nugget has its own independent sportsbook open daily for watching and betting on sports close to the Rush Tower. 

The sportsbook has a video wall as well as several other TV screens and a variety of seating including booths. ‘The Grille’ snack bar is just outside and you can also get cocktail service to your seat too, which is rare in downtown sportsbooks. 

You can watch all major sporting events here while betting on professional football, basketball, soccer, hockey, golf, baseball, tennis, golf, MMA, UFC and NASCAR. You can also bet on college football, basketball, and baseball.

There are limitations to the Golden Nugget sportsbook though. Firstly, it’s small and seating is limited. It gets extremely busy on weekends so it can feel a little uncomfortable. 

Secondly, it’s fairly dated in appearance and lastly, because it’s quite a small operation, betting markets are more limited than, say for example, Circa, which is opposite.

However, there is a great atmosphere at Golden Nugget sportsbook and punters love the Ultimate Football Challenge where you can bet on both professional and college football together.

Waitress Service 

Golden Nugget has waitress service throughout the casino for slots and table game players. Anyone gambling can access complimentary drinks from the passing waitresses while playing in the casino.

The choice of drinks available changes in each casino, but generally you can request beer, spirits, cocktails, wine and soda, just ask your waitress if you’re unsure. Although the drinks are technically free, it is customary to tip the waitress. The more you tip, the quicker they’ll come back so it pays to be generous.

On my visit this time my waitress was excellent, and I got offered three drinks while playing for around 30 mins. I usually tip between $2 - $5 per drink depending on what I order.

High Limit Gaming at Golden Nugget Casino  

There is a high limit slots area and a high limit table salon at Golden Nugget. Both areas are in the center of the casino but are cordoned off to separate them from the regular games.

The high limit salon has six or seven tables offering mostly blackjack and roulette while the slots area has a varied range of modern and classic slots for higher stakes bettors.

High limit areas are usually more exclusive in terms of their appearance, style and service. Although Golden Nugget has these areas, they aren’t particularly different from the rest of the casino, certainly in appearance anyway. 

However, if you are a high stakes table games player, you will get a more personal service when playing.

Cash and Payment Options 

In all downtown Las Vegas casinos, cash is king on the casino floor. When you play at the slots, you insert cash into the game and when you play at the tables you hand cash over to your dealer. No card payments are allowed for gambling.

There are ATM machines in Golden Nugget if you need to get cash out, but keep in mind that they do tend to charge inflated withdrawal fees on the casino floor.

Although you insert cash into slot machines, when it pays out, it will not give you cash. Instead, when you cash out, a voucher known as a TITO (Ticket In, Ticket Out) will be distributed. This works as casino currency and substitutes for cash while in that casino. 

If you want to move to another slot to continue paying, you just insert the voucher in lieu of cash. If you want to cash out altogether, then take the voucher to one of the redemption machines located throughout the casino.

Table game players work with chips, of course, so when it’s time to cash out, swap your chips for cash at the cashier’s desk. 

Golden Nugget is much bigger and more diverse than many other casino resorts both downtown and on the Strip. Although the casino floor is only 38,000 square feet, the property has a large pool complex, several restaurants and bars, shops, plus a spa and conference centre too.

There are four hotel towers – The Carson Tower, the Spa Tower, the Gold Tower and the Rush Tower. The Carson and Spa Towers were built first, followed by the Gold Tower with The Rush Tower following in 2009.

With 2419 rooms in total, it has a bigger capacity than all other downtown properties and quite a few high-profile Strip properties too. That is one of the key reasons why Golden Nugget casino is always so busy.

Design wise, Golden Nugget is a little like a maze. There are lots of corners and walkways that lead you out to different areas with the spectacular pool complex right in the centre. The general theme is ‘Gold Rush’ so you’ll find lots of gold, browns and orange décor throughout the property. 

Despite its long history, it has continually modernized and it has features such as chandelier lighting, light up pillars, marble floors, and two aquariums. The main lobby is just opposite the pool area, which means it benefits from natural light making it bright and welcoming. 

Golden Nugget Rooms

There are several different room types at Golden Nugget, which vary in price depending on which tower you stay in. The Deluxe and Grand Rooms tend to be more value accommodation and are situated in the Carson Tower.

You can also book Luxury Rooms, Refreshed Rooms, Tranquility Rooms, Premier Rooms and Suites in the other three towers.

I stayed in a Premier King Room in the Gold Tower which was around 380 square feet. It didn’t look or feel that size though, as it was designed so well, it felt much bigger. 

On entering the room, there was an open foyer area before the bed and on the opposite side there was a large leather corner sofa. Both of these gave the room the appearance of a small suite rather than a room, which I thought was really impressive. 

The general décor was neutral, with browns and creams, and there was a large TV, an additional leather chair and table, a desk area and a double wardrobe with mirrors. 

Unfortunately, the spacious feel of the room comes at the expense of the bathroom though, which was tiny. It had a bath/shower combination with complementary shampoo and body wash and a very small sink and toilet. The general upkeep was ok but there were a few areas that required some maintenance.

The room had all the usual amenities including hair dryer, iron/ironing board and a safe plus some additional ones too, namely a personal fridge and a coffee maker. 

I enjoyed my stay at Golden Nugget more than I thought I would, the bed was really comfortable and although I was worried about noise from Fremont Street, it wasn’t loud enough to disturb my sleep. I would definitely stay here again.

Bars 

There are several bars at Golden Nugget scattered throughout the property.

The main casino bar gets extremely busy as it’s right in the thick of the action and has bar-top gaming too. Around the casino you will also find the classic Claude’s Bar, the Sportsbook bar and Bar 46 which has outdoor patio seating on Fremont Street.

Ice Bar is close to the hotel lobby and overlooks the pool and shark tank, while the Rush Lounge is a modern intimate bar with specialty cocktails and live entertainment most nights. 

Troy Liquor is a nightclub located upstairs with a balcony giving fantastic views of the Fremont Street Experience. Only open Thursday to Saturday, it has live DJ sets and attracts a younger party crowd.

Finally, Stage Bar is positioned outside of Golden Nugget directly on Fremont Street. You can enjoy slushy cocktails while people watch and take in all the live music and Viva Vision shows on Fremont Street.

Buffets and Restaurants 

When it comes to food, Golden Nugget has a really good selection to choose from. The most famous restaurant is Vic and Anthony’s Steakhouse which offers a classic, sophisticated dining experience. I have eaten here before and it was one of the best steaks I have ever had.

Chart House is one of the newest restaurants, offering seafood in beautiful surroundings with a large aquarium beside it, while Red Asian Cuisine offers a fusion of Chinese and Japanese flavors.

Other food options include Saltgrass Steakhouse overlooking the pool and Grotto Italian Ristorante for all your Italian favorites. Cadillac Mexican Kitchen has over 70 boutique tequilas on their menu and seemed to be really popular on my visit plus CJ has all the hearty home cooked food you just love to eat. 

If you want something a little more casual, then The Grille snack bar is right in the centre of the casino beside the sports book and there’s also a Chick-fil-A and two Starbucks on site too. 

There isn’t a buffet at Golden Nugget, the only downtown buffet is at Main Street Station's Garden Food Court.

Shows and Entertainment

There are two ways to catch some live entertainment at Golden Nugget. 

The showroom has ticketed events featuring retro rock bands and soloists such as Don McLean and Sweet as well resident impressionist comedian Gordie Brown on Thursdays and Saturdays. Rush Lounge also has nightly live entertainment.

Although more of an attraction than entertainment, you can’t visit Golden Nugget without checking out the Hand of Faith golden nugget in the hotel foyer. The worlds biggest golden nugget on display is 18 inches long and weighs 875 troy ounces which is around 60lb.

The main entertainment for all casino resorts downtown is the Fremont Street Experience itself. You can see nightly half hour Viva Vision shows on the huge LED canopy featuring different themes and headline acts as well as three stages with live bands on all night too. 

There’s also the Slotzilla zip line that runs the full length of Fremont Street which is an absolute must-do. I loved it. Plus, all the fun street entertainers, shops, and bars along the street. 

Other close-by attractions include the Mob Museum and Container Park which are less than ten minutes’ walk away. 

Golden Nugget not only has one of the most unique pools you will find anywhere in the world, but it also has a spa too. 

Pool 

Is there anything more Vegas than sliding down a huge aqua slide right in the middle of a shark tank? I don’t think so. Well, you can do exactly that at Golden Nugget.

The Golden Nugget ‘Tank Pool’ features a 200,000-gallon shark tank aquarium with a three-story enclosed see-through slide that runs straight through it. The sharks are fully grown and the spectacle is something you have to see.

Even if you don’t want to ride the slide, you can still swim alongside sharks in the pool and you can even see them from the hotel lobby. 

The full pool complex is a $30 million three-story spectacle with hidden grottos, swim-up bars and Jacuzzis and also incorporates an over 21’s area called the Hideout. 

The atmosphere is usually pretty special here and the queues get big. There isn’t a lot of space for bathing so loungers tend to be tightly packed together. Around the pool there are also table games such as blackjack and three card poker to enjoy. 

Spa

The spa and salon at Golden Nugget offers a variety of treatments to help you feel your best inside and out. That includes massages, facials and body treatments as well as hair, make-up and nail care. There is also a fitness center offering a range of cardio and strength equipment for those who like to workout even on their vacations.

The rewards club at Golden Nugget is the 24K Select Club. Anyone 21 or over can join by going along to the rewards desk, as long as you have government issued photo ID with you.

Once signed up, use your 24K Select club card whenever to gamble in any Golden Nugget property and you will earn three types of points. Tier Credits allow you to rise up the status tiers; Comp Points can be redeemed against hotel spend; and Slot Points can be used for slot freeplay.

There are four Tiers on the program and the benefits increase as you rise through them as follows:

4 Karat (0 – 3,999 Tier Credits) – Entry to members events and promotions, birthday slot multiplier, discounted hotel stays, 5% shopping discount, early event ticket sales

Premier (4,000 – 23,999 Tier Credits) – All of the above plus earn Slot Points 10% faster, 10% shopping discount, and complimentary parking

Chairman (24,000 – 99,999 Tier Credits) – All of the above plus earn Slot Points 50% faster, priority check-in, access to VIP Lounge, 15% shopping discount, free valet parking, annual VIP celebration party.

Elite (100,000 Plus Tier Credits) – All of the above plus earn Slot Points 100% faster, complementary pool access, priority seating and reservations, check-in, 20% shopping discount, plus annual retreat to any Golden Nugget casino.

Insert your card into the machine when playing slots or video poker and hand it to your dealer when playing at the tables. Every $3 on slots and $10 on video poker earns you one Tier Credit. With regard to table games it depends on the game and the stakes your using, but the pit boss will rate you accordingly. 

The rate of Slot Points varies depending on what tier level you are on, but on the most basic 4 Karat Tier its $4 on slots and $10 on video poker earns you one Slot Point. Every 100 Slot Points can be converted into $1 freeplay.

Another positive of the 24K Select Club is that it runs across all Golden Nugget casino resorts and Landry’s, Inc restaurants so the benefits can travel with you.

Golden Nugget is a highly impressive casino resort located in downtown Las Vegas. It has all the history and character that you want from a classic Vegas casino, but all the amenities and style needed in a modern day property.

The casino is small, but it’s jam packed with slots, table games, bar-top games, bars and restaurants so everything is under one roof. Add that to the spectacular pool, spa and comfort of the rooms and you really can’t go wrong.

The location of Golden Nugget is ideal to explore downtown and enjoy all the delights of Fremont Street too. If you’re looking for a downtown property that can tick every box, then look no further than Golden Nugget.