Westgate Las Vegas Review for February 2025

If you were to list the most iconic and historic casino resorts in Las Vegas, I’d wager that Westgate would not feature. It really should. 

In fact, it’s a downright shame that it doesn’t given the role it played in the development and evolution of culture in Sin City. Perhaps it’s because it’s not on The Strip so doesn’t feature in many photos. Perhaps it’s because it has been through a couple of rebrands. Who knows really. 

However, while there is absolutely no denying its importance to Las Vegas history, how does it stand up today as a casino resort? Is it still good enough to compete with the giants it helped inspire? 

There was really only one way to find out, and that was by going along myself to try it. 

When Westgate was built, it was the biggest casino resort in Las Vegas. For a while in the early 1980s, it was the biggest hotel in the world. For most of the 70s, it was the hottest entertainment ticket on the planet due to playing host to more than 600 Elvis Presley shows. Even today, it’s marquee is the tallest free-standing advertising sign in the world. 

Yes, it’s fair to say that the property, through its three different incarnations and near 70-year history, has made its mark.

Then again, it always intended to. In fact, it was so confident that it would, that they deliberately built it away from the Strip because they believed Las Vegas would mould itself around it.  

It didn’t of course. The second Strip that early developers thought the property would inspire never materialised, and there is no question that decision has hurt it over the years. In fact, you would probably argue that had they picked a site on Las Vegas Boulevard (the actual name of The Strip), Westgate’s sheer history would ensure it was one of the city’s undoubted icons.

Instead, as the Strip developed away from it – around half a mile away from it to be precise – Westgate was forced into financial perils. It opened as The International, then became the Las Vegas Hiton, then LVH (Las Vegas Hotel) when Hilton judged it had fallen below its brand standards, and now Westgate.

Most interestingly, though, is that Westgate has a built-in clear sliding doors moment in its history and it goes all the way back to that original decision about location. 

It was previously owned by Park Place Entertainment, the company now known globally as Caesars Entertainment. They bought Caesars Palace in the late 1990s and, due to its great location, sold Westgate (then LVH) to focus their investment on the Strip. 

It’s therefore perhaps the resort with the greatest and purest Las Vegas spirit in that it was developed on the premise of taking an enormous gamble that could have won huge – but it lost and has been struggling to keep up since. 

Location 

Okay, so we have established that a lost gamble on location has definitely cost Westgate over the years. Where actually is it though? 

Well, it’s located on Paradise Road, which is pretty much half a mile from Circus Circus and Fontainebleau, the nearest casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. That’s about a 15–20-minute walk. 

In that sense, the location isn’t as remote as it has been in recent times. That is because Fontainebleau and Resorts World have breathed some new life into the north end of the Strip. 

Unfortunately though, the north end of the Strip is still the least developed and least ‘Vegasy’ bit of it. Casino-goers, then, will be fine. Tourists, on the other hand, might not feel like they’re in amongst the action.

That relative remoteness is offset slightly by the fact Westgate has its own Monorail Station. Jump on that and it will take you all the way down the east side of Las Vegas Strip with stops at casino resorts such as Flamingo, Paris, and MGM Grand. 

Westgate is also right next to the Las Vegas Convention Centre, so it gets a degree of footfall from that. 

By the way, Westgate is in Zone 3 for airport taxis, so it is a flat $29 fare. Just don’t forget to tip your driver too please. It’s expected and considered incredibly rude not to. 

One thing that Westgate casino resort is not lacking is gaming space. In fact, there is nearly 100,000 square feet of it in total. 

It’s not short on glitz either. As I said, the place was probably the leader in reestablishing Las Vegas as a headliner entertainment venue in the 1970s, and the casino still has leanings towards those days with a shiny gold ceiling. 

That kind of look used to be classy, then it became tacky, but now it’s cool again because it’s so brilliantly vintage. 

Another throwback, but not in a good way, is that the casino can feel a little bit cramped in places. It’s not due to a lack of space, but more a determination to fill it with perhaps a degree of over-efficiency. It’s not everywhere on the casino floor, but it can make for a slightly less pleasant gambling experience in my opinion. 

But generally, I have to say, I liked the vibe of the casino.

Table Games Selection

I saw around 40 live tables in Westgate, all of which were in very good condition. 

Many of them were blackjack and variants, such as Wild Aces side bet and Pair Square side bet. It was all 6:5 and nearly all of them multi-deck blackjack, although I did also see some single and double deck games with a higher minimum. 

Roulette was plentiful too, but I didn’t see any single-zero tables. I did see triple zero tables and, frustrating as that is, it’s just the way things are in Las Vegas now. People keep playing them, so casinos keep giving them.

What I did really like about Westgate is how they offer a lot of baccarat tables and still have a dedicated poker room. 

These are things that you used to be able to almost take for granted in Las Vegas casinos, but poker rooms especially are becoming an endangered species. At the time of writing at least, Westgate still has one, and they seem very proud of it so hopefully it’s not going anywhere. 

It’s also quite clever, I think. The out-of-the-way location means Westgate has to offer gamblers stuff they can’t easily find elsewhere, and poker and baccarat are certainly a way of doing that. 

Table games at Westgate include:

• Double Zero Roulette 
• Triple Zero Roulette
• Blackjack
• Poker
• Baccarat
• Craps

Table minimums start at around $10 at non-peak times but creep up to $15 when the casino is busier. Some were as high as $100. 

The reality in Las Vegas now is those minimums are actually among the lowest around. If they are still too high for you, though, electronic table games at Westgate are plentiful and have a much lower minimum bet – usually 50c or $1.

Slots

I am definitely a slots player more than I am anything else in a casino, and there are around 700 slots to choose from at Westgate. 

They are mostly modern video slots with a healthy smattering of older-school three-reel machines too. In that sense, the variety was good. 

I would still only really describe Westgate as solid rather than spectacular when it comes to slots, though. It was good, and I enjoyed it – especially a sweet Ultimate Fire Link run I found myself on – but I did have a few issues along the way too. 

As I mentioned, in places the proximity of slots to one another can make it feel a bit too cramped. Some of the machines and chairs are a little tired as well and in need of replacing. 

It’s nothing major though. These are all just minor issues really that wouldn’t, and didn’t, stop me playing there. 

Some of the games I saw in the casino were: 

• Dragon Link
• Dancing Drums
• Lightning Link
• Huff n More Puff
• Dragon Spin
• Wheel of Fortune
• Double Top Dollar

Bar-Top Gaming

I do enjoy a bit of bar-top gaming, I must admit. To be honest, for me it often depends upon what slots they have available in the terminals, but the majority of bar-top gamers play video poker. 

At Westgate, there are two main places to do it. The Velvet Bar is a great spot located just off the lobby and close to Fortuna and Sid’s. It’s another Vegas throwback kind of place, and they are always welcome. 

The other is the International Bar. It’s a long semi-circular bar and lounge with big screens and it’s got more terminals than Velvet Bar. It also often has live music on there too. 

I didn’t have any problems getting a comped drink while bar-top gaming. As long as you’re wagering, the bartender should look after you. Again, though, don’t forget to tip if you want him to keep on looking after you. 

Westgate Las Vegas Sportsbook

Westgate has one of the biggest and best sportsbooks in the world. It’s a 30,000 square foot space with seating for around 350 people and a 220 x 18 foot 4k video wall. It’s called SuperBook and Westgate claims it’s the biggest sports book in the world. 

I can’t confirm that, but sports action is one area where Westgate really delivers.

One thing I should mention about it is that SuperBook is smoke-free, so if you like to light-up when watching sports, it’s not going to be the place for you. For me personally, though, it’s a massive positive.  

Waitress Service 

I maybe get asked about waitress service more than I do anything else about Las Vegas. First time visitors want to know if it’s true, experienced players want to know which casinos currently do it best. 

The first is the easiest to answer: yes, if you are gambling on the casino floor in Las Vegas, you will most likely be offered complimentary drinks. I am always a little reluctant to call them ‘free’ as you really should be tipping the waitress for them. 

I can’t actually stress that enough to be honest. It doesn’t have to be much. $3-5 is enough, and way less than you’d be charged for the drink at the bar. The waitresses work incredibly hard and deserve tips, rely on the tips, and will look after you better if you tip too. So it’s a win-win for everyone, in other words. 

The second question is much tougher to answer. I have sat in a casino one night and barely seen a waitress, then the next night I’m getting offered drinks faster than I can consume them. In other words, it depends on staff levels, how busy the casino is, and loads of other factors. 

At Westgate, the waitress service was fine. I was looked after by a couple of friendly waitresses, and they knew how to make pina-coladas. If I was there the next night though, who knows?

High Limit Gaming 

There is a high limit table room at Westgate, although you’re probably only going to find it open on nights and weekends. 

I wouldn’t say there is a huge amount special about it either. Often you’ll see a single-zero roulette in there, but that’s not the case here. 

There are a number of high limit slot machines on the casino floor too, although the variety isn’t great. It’s enough, just not great. 

Cash and Payment Options

While cashless gaming is taking off in casinos elsewhere in the world, it’s not being embraced yet in Las Vegas. If you have no cash on the casino floor, you’re not going to be playing. 

Westgate is showing no signs of bucking that trend either. The slots are configured only to accept cash and TITO vouchers (this is a voucher the machine prints out when you cash out) and tables accept cash and chips. 

If you are desperate to do cashless gaming, Resorts World offer it under certain conditions and it’s about a 20-minute walk away. 

One word of caution I always offer is to arrive at the casino with your cash already withdrawn from the bank. There are ATMs, but they were charging a $9.99 withdrawal fee. That’s quite normal in Las Vegas, but it’s scandalous nonetheless. 

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when Westgate Las Vegas, albeit under a different name, was the biggest hotel in the world. Back then it had 3,157 rooms. These days that number is closer to 2,900, but it demonstrates the scale of the place. 

And yes, it maybe isn’t the icon that its history deserves, but it is still a serious casino resort and hugely impressive in many different ways. 

Let’s take a closer look at what it has to offer. 

Westgate Las Vegas Rooms

One thing that I think it great about Westgate Las Vegas is that it feels like there is a lot of room-equality. These days, Las Vegas Casino resorts can be very focused on suites and fancy accommodation for big spenders while the standard rooms are much smaller.

At Westgate, almost all of the rooms are 400 square feet, and even some of the suites are too.

The rooms are nicely modelled with blues and whites and definitely feel high end. They go an extra mile that most of the others don’t by providing a mini refrigerator in every room as well.

The bed was comfortable, the room was pleasant, and the bathroom was big enough. It wasn’t the swankiest rooms I’d stayed in in Las Vegas, granted, but it was more than good enough. 

While the hotel is mostly filled with standard rooms, there are a few special places within Westgate to stay. One such place is the Christmas Suite. Imagine the most garish over the top Christmas decorations you can think of, including multiple Christmas trees, and that’s what you get here – all year round in a 1,500 square foot suite. Some people’s dream, others’ nightmare! 

There are villas too, including three on the very top floors – the Sky Villas. Each are 12,000 square feet and have their own private pool. Although they are not the exact villas Elvis stayed in during his residencies at Westgate, they do occupy the same space. 

Bars

I have already talked about the International Bar and the Velvet Bar in the bar-top gaming section, but it’s worth reiterating how good both are. 

I preferred the International Bar personally as it felt more absorbed into the casino floor but both are excellent. 

My favourite bar in the whole place would definitely be the SuperBook bar. All that really means is drinks served to your seat at the sportsbook whilst you’re sitting back watching the game. That’s the dream though, right? 

They have beers on tap and serve food as well, so you can’t go wrong really. 

Buffets and Restaurants

The first thing I need to say here because it’s getting rarer and rare that you can say it about Las Vegas casino resorts is that, yes, there is a buffet at Westgate! It’s called Fresh Buffet, and it’s only open for breakfast and lunch (7am to 2pm), but it’s a buffet. 

And actually, I have to say that Westgate delivers on food options. You’ve probably guessed by now that I love a sports bar, and Drafts Sports Bar and Grill Express delivers there. 

Edge Steakhouse, Fresco Italiano, Benihana (Japanese cuisine) and Silk Road Asian Bistro offer good higher-end options for every palate. I didn’t have time to try all three, but I very much enjoyed the latter. 

Rikki Tiki Sushi, Loco Bueno Tacos, and Cordovano Joe's Pizza are your best quick eats choices. If you like a good breakfast and don’t want a buffet, Sid’s is a solid option. 

Shows and Entertainment 

There is no two ways about it: If Westgate has one defining legacy, it’s great entertainment. 

The Elvis Presley residencies are the most famous, but Las Vegas royalty like Liberace, and Wayne Newton have been filling the Theatre for decades. 

These days, the mantle falls to Barry Manilow, and he has been putting on shows at Westgate since 2018 with few signs of him slowing down. 

Sadly, Barry holds the fort alone now in terms of attractions. There was previously really cool stuff like The Star Trek Experience there, but that’s long gone now. 

That’s probably a bit disappointing given their history, but they do try to fill the void with guest acts throughout the year. It’s a bit of a hotspot for Elvis tribute acts, as you can probably imagine.

While there maybe isn’t the pulling power from resident shows that there was before at Westgate, there is plenty to do. They have pickleball and tennis courts and there is a golf course on the doorstep. 

Pool 

In Las Vegas, casino resorts have two real choices when it comes to the pool. They either make it lively and cool, or tranquil and relaxing. Given many people come to Westgate to see Barry Manilow, it should probably surprise no one that they have chosen the tranquil route. 

The pool complex is neither one of the bigger ones in town nor small by any means, but it’s a nice place to be. 

Smoking is not permitted except in a designated smoking area close to the entrance, and I really liked that element of it. It is also for hotel guests only, so you don’t have to fear rowdy crowds trampling over your relaxation. 

You can get a drink, you can get some food, you can hire a daybed or cabana. It’s all very standard in truth, but I have to say I enjoyed an afternoon unwinding there. I’d just not recommend it if you’re looking for a party. 

Spa

Westgate offers guest the Serenity Spa for their skincare or relaxation treatments needs. It offers the usual array of Swedish massages, body scrubs, and facials. 

If you’re looking for a family spa day, though, you will have to find somewhere else as Serenity is strictly 18+ only. Under 18s can get nail care at the spa, but only if they are accompanied by an adult. 

There is also a beauty salon attached called Artistry Las Vegas. It provides hair, makeup, and bridal services for the on-site wedding chapel. 

Wow. That’s not an opinion or a recommendation, it’s the name of the rewards programme at Westgate. 

It’s an okay programme, but I didn’t find anything particularly special about Wow Casino rewards. It’s just like all the others really. 

You use your card when you gamble or spend money at the casino rewards and in return you get tier credits and reward points. The exact cost breakdown of that is as follows: 

• $10 Coin-in on Reel & Video Machines = 1 Reward Point = 1 Tier Credit
• $25 Coin-in on Video Poker Machines =1 Reward Point = 1 Tier Credit
• $1 Restaurants, Retail & Hotel = 1 Reward Point = 1 Tier Credit

Your play on table games, sports betting and live poker is judged and evaluated separately. 

For every 100 rewards points you accumulate, you get $1 worth of rewards points. That means you need to spend $100 on food to get $1 back, and have $1000 coin-in on slots. So, on the face of it, it’s not great value. 

To move up their tiers to gain the extra benefits you will need: 

• 0-99 credits: Silver
• 100-999 credits: Gold
• 1,0000-9,999 credits: Platinum
• 10,000+ credits: Diamond

There are no real benefits at all to Silver and the best Gold can give you is birthday multipliers. Even Platinum only really gets you a priority line at the cashier’s cage. 

I’d never say not to join a rewards club as you never know what you’ll get, but I certainly don’t see much worth chasing about this one. It’s less Wow and more ‘Why?’

I’m a real sucker for Las Vegas history, and for that alone I have a huge amount of respect for Westgate. I so dearly wish I had seen it in it’s International and Hilton heyday. 

My absolute favourite documentary – Louis Theroux’s Gambling In Las Vegas – was mostly filmed at Westgate too, so that makes me feel a lot of natural affection towards it.

So, really, although I always try to leave my preconceptions at the door when I am doing these reviews, I have to declare that I really wanted to love Westgate Las Vegas. 

And, sadly, I can’t say that I did love it. I liked it. In fact, there was stuff like the rooms and pool and sportsbook that I really liked about it. I just didn’t love it. But that’s ok. 

What I can say is that my respect for Westgate remains undented, and perhaps even grew a little. Look at it this way: when most people think about Las Vegas, they think about Elvis Presley, and it was Westgate that brought Elvis Presley to Las Vegas. 

In that sense alone, the property’s importance to the culture and legacy of Las Vegas is, in all honesty, perhaps unrivalled. 

I also love the fact it stands as a monument to the Las Vegas spirit itself due to the fact it gambled big, lost, but has never stopped trying. 

So, yes, it’s definitely not a standout casino resort in Las Vegas today. In fact, it’s not even close to being one. It’s a good one, no question, but it missed it’s chance. 

But it’s also one I can’t help but feel an absolute tonne of affection towards.