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Much has been made of the drop in visitation to Las Vegas this year. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, visitor volume for the first seven months of the year was down by 2 million compared with the same period last year.
The decline is most noticeable on the Strip, where hotel occupancy fell 7% in July and 2.7% year to date. Downtown Las Vegas, which attracts a mix of locals and tourists, has held steadier, with occupancy down just 1.9%.
Outside the most tourist-heavy areas, casinos are packed nearly every day of the week. Some visitors are drawn to these properties for better gambling odds, while others choose them for value. Locals are enjoying upgrades and new amenities at the neighborhood casinos.
Off-Strip casinos are having a moment, and many visitors are missing out on the action, fun, and value beyond the Strip’s glitz and glamour. It might be time to explore other parts of Las Vegas to try something new — or find a better deal.
While many Strip operators reported soft revenue in the second quarter, locals-focused Red Rock Resorts posted record financial results with its seven full-service properties, 10 neighborhood casinos and two taverns. Similarly, Boyd Gaming’s locals properties outperformed its downtown casinos that cater mostly to tourists.
Station Casinos is upgrading multiple properties, expanding one, and planning a brand-new full-service resort. Boyd is also renovating properties and replacing another casino — and they’re not alone.
Understandably, many weekend visitors don’t want to spend 40 minutes traveling to explore a new area when they’re only in town for 48 hours. Between round-trip travel and exploring a new casino, that’s at least an hour of Strip time they won’t get back.
Still, plenty of visitors are venturing beyond the Strip. Casino operators across the city are investing in improvements while staying true to their value proposition.
Luxury casinos away from the Strip
One reason many tourists stay on the Strip is the level of service and amenities at its top properties. That’s understandable — off-Strip casinos are often perceived as affordable spots for locals.
That stereotype isn’t entirely wrong, but it doesn’t tell the full story. Step away from the tourist corridor and you’ll find several Nevada casinos that deliver a far more upscale experience than you might expect.
Durango, Green Valley Ranch, J.W. Marriott at Rampart Casino, M Resort, and Red Rock Casino all earned 2024 AAA Four Diamond Awards. They share this honor with Strip icons such as Aria, Bellagio, and Caesars Palace.
M Resort also received a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating, placing it in the same league as the Cosmopolitan, Venetian, and Wynn.
These properties feature resort-style pools, spacious casinos with fair limits and odds, top-tier dining and more. All but Durango also offer full-service spas.
Perhaps best of all: prices are often reasonable compared with Strip resorts, especially during peak demand.
Not every off-Strip property is an award winner, but many have been updated to meet modern expectations for both business and leisure travelers.
Durango expansion and a new casino on the horizon
The gleaming Durango Casino opened on Dec. 5, 2023, and Station Casinos executives were already thinking about expansion. The second phase of construction is underway, adding 25,000 square feet of casino space, a high-limit slot room, a bar and a parking garage with nearly 2,000 spaces
Once that phase is complete, Station Casinos is eyeing a second round of development that could include:
- A movie theater
- Additional gaming space
- A bowling alley
- A music venue
- More convention space
There’s also speculation that a spa could be part of the expansion.
Beyond Durango, the company is weighing a new full-service casino in Henderson, where it owns two parcels of land: 63 acres in the Inspirada area and 123 acres near South Point Casino.
Upgrades at Green Valley Ranch and M Resort
Station Casinos has been steadily improving its properties in recent years. At Green Valley Ranch, new dining options and refreshed casino areas are already open.
The resort’s nearly 500 rooms and suites are scheduled for a full remodel by year’s end, with renovated convention and meeting space debuting in early 2026.
Meanwhile, construction on a new hotel tower at M Resort is ahead of schedule. The expansion will add nearly 400 rooms and more meeting space. Originally slated to open next year, the new tower will now debut Dec. 1.
The property has also unveiled a refreshed casino floor, giving guests a preview of the upgrades to come.
Big value one block from the Strip: Ellis Island
You don’t have to travel far from the Strip to find value. Ellis Island Casino is just a block behind Horseshoe and Paris.
The property has long been known for affordable dining, including $10 steak dinners and numerous overnight graveyard specials. It’s also popular for low-limit gaming, with $5 craps and 3-to-2 blackjack.
Ellis Island recently completed a property-wide renovation, starting with a refreshed exterior. Inside, guests will find a new casino bar, a high-limit gaming area and more. A rooftop bar is scheduled to debut next year.
With its upgrades, affordable food and drinks and player-friendly odds at low minimums, Ellis Island remains one of the best values in Las Vegas — just a short walk east of the Strip.
Renovations at Gold Coast, Orleans and Suncoast
Boyd Gaming is upgrading several of its Las Vegas properties, including its two closest to the Strip — Gold Coast and The Orleans.
All hotel rooms at Gold Coast were fully renovated by the end of 2024. The property will also introduce a new restaurant to replace the longtime TGI Fridays.
The Orleans is next in line for a room refresh, with renovations expected to be completed early next year.
Farther west, Suncoast is in the middle of a multi-year upgrade. The casino floor has been modernized, and recent additions include a new high-limit slots room and a striking sportsbook. Earlier this year, the property debuted a new bingo hall in the former sportsbook space.
Meanwhile, Du-Par’s — famous for its pancakes and French toast — is being remodeled and will reopen alongside a new food court next year.
Boyd is also replacing its Joker’s Wild Casino with a new standalone property, Cadence Crossing. It will open as a neighborhood casino featuring only machine games with the option to add a hotel later if demand warrants.
Poker Palace refresh coming in 2026
Poker Palace in North Las Vegas is a small neighborhood casino about 10 minutes from Circa and the Fremont Street Experience. With no hotel attached, it will be an “in-and-out” property for gamblers looking for a change of pace.
The casino was recently sold to Truckee Gaming, which operates 10 other small casinos across Nevada. The company plans to close Poker Palace and complete a full renovation, with a reopening scheduled for spring 2026.
Details are still emerging, and it’s unclear whether the property will retain its name, sportsbook and table games when it reopens.
New slot machine zones at Palms and Plaza
Aristocrat has introduced dedicated spaces for some of its most popular slot machines at two off-Strip casinos.
At Palms, just three minutes west of Bellagio on Flamingo Road, the casino floor now features the Link Up Lounge with 50 different link games, including Lightning Link, Dragon Link and others.
Downtown at Plaza, there’s now a dedicated space for Buffalo, Mo Mummy, and other titles. The section features 63 slot machines highlighting Aristocrat’s Buffalo franchise and its Spooky family of games.
Social media can lead to big savings
Whatever social platform you use, curate a list for Las Vegas. Deals are everywhere if you know where to look — from businesses and influencers to casual visitors sharing their finds.
You might discover a free wrestling show downtown, a $36 all-you-can-eat taco and margarita special or $5 3-to-2 blackjack.
And deals aren’t limited to off-Strip casinos. On the Strip like, Horseshoe is offering $5 beers, while Station Casinos has rolled out $1.99 frozen margaritas and $3 shots and beers across its properties.
