I'm shooting a short film and need a run-down looking casino, preferably dated looking and not crowded really.

Could be in Vegas or outskirts, or even between state-line and Vegas off I-15 (coming from Barstow).

That could describe a lot of casinos potentially but if you can think of one that is visually interesting looking (or not)
or even just your favorite one "with character" please suggest!

thanks

This oughta be good...(grabs popcorn)

Primm. All of them.

El Cortez downtown

The ones at the state line in Jean (?). I actually stayed there one night when I couldn't find a room in Vegas many years ago. The place was a dump. The guy next door called his wife on the phone, I could hear every word like he was standing next to me, and I told him so through the paper thin wall.

Palace Station. Half the steps in the casino creak when you walk over them. That was 15 years ago and I don't think it's been remodeled since.

Agree if you want run down, El Cortez. If you want a little more character but not as run down try Main Street Station. Those two are close enough you can check out both easily.

There are many others you can look at. Binions or pretty much any of the ones on Fremont. Even on the Strip the older smaller ones may suit your needs. Then as others have mentioned there will be a slew outside of Vegas that are dated and many of these rundown.

Your best bet is make the drive and find the one that suits you. You also need to discuss mgmt about using their casino as your location. Anything more than walking around with you cellphone discretely videoing will garner attention you don’t want. Even were you to get away filming as soon as you tried to show it problems likely to arise.

The Cooler was filmed up in Reno. It was supposed to be an old-school casino. Might consider that too.

Never been out to Pahrump, but I imagine they qualify.

For Vegas, downtown or NLV? Palace Station was a good suggestion too. Maybe the regulars places on Boulder Highway?

Haven't been in Tropicana in years, that used to be old and tired.

Good luck, let us know how it works out and how we can see it when ready.

pahrump and mesquite

in vegas go to the silver nugget in N Las vegas. It can be super sketchy there late night

these are great suggestions so far, thanks so much!

Don't be lazy. How long would it take you to scout locations yourself, you know. Try driving down the Strip or walk down Fremont Street. Try Palace Station on Sahara or the Westgate on Paradise.

Are you looking for exteriors and/or interiors ?

Contact the State or Clark County for recommendations for filming ?

Do you want REALLY run down ? Try rural towns or Reno.

In Clark County, try,

Exteriors ?

Westgate
Silver Sevens
Circus Circus
Excalibur

Consider stock footage of now-closed joints for a really dated, rundown look. Your viewers won't know the difference.

El Cortez might be a good choice. The vlogger "Slot Lady" worked out of there on some videos, so they might be accommodating.

I'm sure everyone remembers the movie Swingers was filmed in the Fremont casino.

I had thought it was at the Stardust.

Fwiw, the Imdb lists the Fremont, but gives the address as that of the Stardust,

whereas a locations list on another site says the exterior was the Stardust, but the casino interior was the Fremont ......

http://movie-locations.com/movies/s/Swingers-1996.php

the latter seems right, but, as the Stardust (or "The Tangiers") along with the Sands, Desert Inn and The Wild Wild West, ha ve all been relegated to the ash heap of showbiz history (Ocean's 11, Casino, Showgirls, Rush Hour, The Hangover, Las Vegas, Vegas w/Dan Tanna ?) does it matter.....?

I just remember the purple blackjack tables and the booth they sat in at the restaurant was the Fremont buffet. So maybe at least part of it was inside the Fremont.

Yes, interior was the Fremont......

Palace Station has since been remodeled in recent years, and lost all of it's original charm.

If OP wants a real dive, I'd suggest Jokers Wild, Club Fortune, or the Skyline for ultimate low-ball action and ambiance. JW and CF both have a $1 craps table, which is a source of endless fun.

Silver 7s

this is the correct answer for what OP posted in the Las Vegas Valley. Plus I wouldn't expect you to be bothered by any security which could be a problem at a bigger casino.

Go to the corner of Boulder Highway & Warm Springs Road and you'll come to Joker's Wild. Work your way north up Boulder Highway and you will come across other older dumpy casinos that aren't terribly crowded. Biggest problem is there are definitely some sketchy people hanging around these areas.

Slots O’ Fun..

/thread

Jerry's Nugget

http://www.jerrysnugget.com

Was there pre-pandemic and sports book was still handwriting the odds and putting up on a board.
Feels like a place straight out of the 1970's.

El Cortez as others have mentioned isprobably a good option too.

Pretty much all of them these days

Longhorn Casino, right across, Eastside Cannery on Boulder Highway is the lowest possible lowest of the nut lows.

Downtown, you've got Binion's and the Plaza.

Strip, try the Tropicana. It's still got the 1960s look, especially the casino floor.

Are there actual casinos in Pahrump, beyond just holes in the wall that were dumps when they first opened? A cathouse with a slot machine shouldn't qualify.

yes I have played blackjack extensively up there

This may be way too far out, but . . .

About 4 hours north of LV along highway 93, in the town of Ely, is a casino in a historic building (actually listed as such, I think) called the Hotel Nevada.

Primm and the Boulder strip were low-roller joints when they were new a few decades ago.

The Hotel Nevada was once a major attraction that hosted major political figures and movie stars, it has its own Hollywood-style "walk of fame."

I stayed there several years ago. The fixtures in my room seemed to be original, circa 1940's or 50's maybe? Maintenance was kept up, it's not a dump, but definitely more authentically "dated" than anything in Clark County.

The locals tend to be a lot more interesting and personable than Vegas lowlifes, too.

Joker's Wild got rid of all their live dealt table games during the covid shutdown, maybe before.