The Golden Nugget has been an integral part of the gambling and entertainment scene in Vegas since it first opened back in 1946. Today, this newly renovated casino is a luxury destination that offers novel attractions, quality casino gaming facilities, and thousands of accommodation options that cater to visitors from all walks of life. Read our Golden Nugget casino review to see why visitors are flocking back to this historic downtown Vegas location.
It’s no secret that Vegas is known for offering peerless excitement and entertainment. There are so many top hotel-casinos packed into the neon-soaked streets, it’s hard to know where to begin to look when you’re planning a trip. Our sharp, honest review will help take some of that stress away as we look at all of the best and worst features of the Golden Nugget, and offer a few recommendations along the way. We’ve also included a neat FAQ section at the end.
Golden Nugget: What to Expect
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Conveniently located in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas, the Golden Nugget affords easy access to many of the city’s most exciting attractions. It overlooks the Fremont Street Experience — a sprawling, 24-hour shopping destination with a huge, LED canopy and live entertainment — and also has a number of quality leisure amenities on-site. Use the content navigation tool above and explore what the venue has to offer.
Golden Nugget Casino Games
The Golden Nugget games catalog is renowned by industry experts and gambling enthusiasts for its volume and variety. In total, there are over 1000 electronic machines on the gaming floor. The range includes reel slots, video slots, progressive jackpot games, and a few games that simulate live dealer action. Coin denominations start from a penny, so you’re welcome to join in the fun and excitement even if your budget is limited.
The selection of live dealer games here is also impressive, with common classics such as poker, blackjack, and roulette all housed here. You’ll find some fun, speciality versions of traditional games, such as Pow Gow Poker, Crazy 4 Poker and mini-baccarat. The venue also has a very well equipped race and sportsbook, but we’ll address this in more detail in the later sections. For now, take a look at the element below for a full overview of the Golden Nugget games selection.
- Classic Reel Slots
- Video Slots
- Progressive Jackpot Slots
- Video Poker
- Blackjack
- Craps
- Roulette
- Mini Baccarat
- Poker
- Three-Card Poker
- Crazy 4 Poker
- Ultimate Texas Hold’em
- Let it Ride
- Pow Gow Poker
- Mississippi Stud
- Race & Sportsbook
In addition to the impressive Golden Nugget games selection, we really like how the venue has gone that extra mile to ensure all players feel welcome, regardless of your experience level. The High Roller Suite is one of the most famous poker rooms in Vegas and has hosted some of the most lucrative and dramatic games ever seen. However, in addition to high-stakes tables, free lessons are available for players wanting to learn the ropes, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy here.
Golden Nugget Mobile App
Unfortunately, the Golden Nugget doesn’t offer online casino gaming services at this time. We are sure they will look to make improvements in this area in the future, especially as so many hotel-casinos in Nevada are making the switch to remote gaming. However, there is a very handy mobile app available on the Google Play and iTunes Stores that can enhance your stay. You won’t be able to play online, but you can get access to exclusive promotions, view upcoming shows and events, and also check the status of your loyalty benefits.
Top Golden Nugget Promotions
This is an area where the Golden Nugget really managed to impress us. In the casino, there are often slots tournaments that offer top prizes and promotional rewards for winners. There are more worthwhile casino incentives that become available once you’ve signed up to the loyalty scheme, but we’ll address this in more detail in the following section. For now, you can take a look at some of the promos on offer at the moment on the promotions page on the official website.
Outside of the casino, you can also find some very good travel package deals that offer considerable savings on hotel rooms, events, and dining. In addition, the venue does a very good job supporting people working in important services; military servicemen and women, and even people working in the education sector are eligible for discounts. Deals are subject to change and availability, so make sure you head over to the travel promotions page on the website to avoid missing out!
Multiple Loyalty Schemes
The Golden Nugget is associated with a couple of loyalty programs, both of which offer a number of worthwhile rewards. The first is known as the 24k Select Club, a tier system that offers top rewards based on your level of play in the casino. The second is called Landry’s Select Club and enables you to collect and redeem points at all of the venues across the nation operated by Landry’s, Inc. Both programs are well worth joining as once you start collecting enough points, the rewards offer a taste of what it’s like to live the good life.
Top Race & Sportsbook
The Golden Nugget sportsbook is among the best in Sin City. The swanky lounge boasts more TV screens per square foot than any other destination in the entire state, so you never have to worry about missing a single minute of the action. Sports fans are invited to relax in the comfortable booths and enjoy top-shelf liquors as numerous events are streamed live, with lots of exciting sports and betting markets available. Alternatively, you can get the entire sportsbook on your mobile or tablet device and bet on sports from anywhere in Nevada.
Novel Attractions & Entertainment
Sin City is famed worldwide for featuring some of the most extravagant, audacious entertainment you’ve ever seen — impossibly tall structures, flowing rivers made of chocolate, and stunning replicas of renowned landmarks are just the tip of the iceberg. Even among the amusement medley, the Golden Nugget stands out from the crowd, with lots of on-site leisure activities, bars, lounges, and a few novel attractions of its own that will force you to pinch yourself.
Luxury Hotel With Affordable Options
We were extremely pleased to learn that the luxury hotel here at the Golden Nugget has plenty of affordable options too. There are a total of 2419 rooms spread across four towers. The Spa and Rush Towers are mostly filled with showcase suites lavished with all the luxurious touches and amenities one would expect to find in a top-end Vegas hotel. The Gold and Carson Towers are home to the venue’s budget-friendly options, which offer sophisticated, low-key luxury.
| Hotel Rooms | 2419 rooms + suites |
|---|---|
| Price per Night: | $47 – $750 |
| Pool: | Outdoor pool and hot tub |
| Room Service: | Available |
| Gym/Fitness Studio: | Fitness center and spa |
| Address: | 129 East Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101 |
The hotel also comes with some impressive leisure facilities, which are included in the resort fee. Among the most striking is the award-winning outdoor pool known as The Tank. This 200,000 gallon aquarium is built on three levels and has waterfalls, slides, secret grottos, and live swimming sharks — it has to be seen to be believed. There are also jacuzzis, hot tubs, and a fitness center and spa.
Golden Nugget Events & Attractions
When you’ve had your fill in the games room, there’s plenty to explore on the resort and in the surrounding area. As we mentioned earlier, the venue overlooks the Freemont Street Experience, which is a world-famous shopping mall and events center that’s known for hosting some of the most impressive light shows in the city. On-site, you can organize a shark tour at the aquarium, check out the largest golden nugget in the world on display in the lobby, catch a show, or dine at one of the specialty restaurants. See more details on the entertainment page on the official website.
General Company Info
The Golden Nugget first opened its doors back in 1946, making it one of the oldest and most trusted hotel-casinos in the city. It earned its first Four Diamond Rating in 1977 while under the ownership of Steve Wynn. Today, it has several more awards and accolades to its name and has expanded into a four-tower, all-purpose casino, hotel, and entertainment complex owned by Landry’s, Inc.
| Owner: | Landry’s, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Phone Number: | +1 702-385-7111 |
| Gaming License Class: | Class III |
| Number of Games: | Over 1000 |
| Hours: | 24/7 |
| Opened: | 1946 |
| Website: | Golden Nugget Las Vegas |
| Social Media: | Facebook, Twitter, Instagram |
The casino holds a full gambling license, meaning visitors can enjoy a fantastic selection of well over 1000 games in stylish, professional surroundings, 24/7. It is one of the most recognizable venues in the city and is well-known in pop culture, having featured in the Night Fever music video by the Bee Gees, Street Fighter II, and the 1971 James Bond movie, Diamonds Are Forever, starring Sean Connery.
One of the Best in Sin City
We would be lying if we said we weren’t expecting big things from the Golden Nugget even before we started writing this review. We are pleased to say that the venue did not disappoint and proved outstanding in virtually all of our tests. The only area where there is room for improvement is the online gaming department. But this aside, the casino facilities are top, there are loads of promotions and loyalty perks to be had, and the hotel has some outstanding features you simply won’t find anywhere else. Head back to the homepage for more reviews of top Nevada casinos!
Frequently Asked Questions
This final section of our Golden Nugget review is committed to tying up all the loose ends and addressing some of the most common questions and queries asked by our readers. By the time you reach the end, we’re confident we will have covered all the bases. If not, feel free to shoot us an email directly using the contact tab.
Which tower is the best to stay in?
As we mentioned earlier, the hotel here is divided into four towers. Which tower is best really depends on your budget; the Spa and Rush towers are filled with luxury suites and rooms that come with big price tags, while the Gold and Carson Towers offer more affordable options. Skip back up the hotel paragraph for more in-depth info.
Are drinks free while you play?
In short, no. However, there are ways you can earn free drinks and discounts at bars and dining facilities around the resort, but you need to be signed up to the loyalty scheme in order to be eligible. Learn about some of the perks that are available in our loyalty benefits paragraph.
Is the Golden Nugget the oldest casino in Vegas?
No. However, hit was established in 1946, so it has long been an important venue for the casino-hotel scene in the city. The Flamingo is the oldest casino on the main strip that is still in operation. For more info about the Golden Nugget, check out the general company info chapter.
Is there a sportsbook at the Golden Nugget?
Yes. Sports betting services can be accessed from inside the plush sports betting lounge, which is complete with simulcast betting services, top-shelf liquors, comfortable booths, and countless TV screens. See more details in our dedicated sports betting paragraph in the main Golden Nugget review.
Is the hotel here expensive?
While there are premium-level rooms that come with high price tags, there are lots of affordable options available here too. If you're still looking for ways to save, there are lots of promotions on travel packages that offer considerable savings. Find out where to find money-saving promotions in our promotions chapter.