Las Vegas is the spiritual home of gambling. There’s nowhere else on earth quite like this iconic desert city, with its glittering neon lights and 24-hour hustle and bustle. People fly in from all corners of the globe to soak in the atmosphere and try their luck.
The history of Las Vegas is long and fascinating, stretching back over several decades. While there are new casinos and hotels popping up all the time – and big players like red 32 slots recreating the experiences online – there are a select few that have remained on the strip as institutions for a number of years. We’ve listed the three oldest and most famous casinos on the Vegas Strip. Check them out below.
Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace is perhaps the most famous casino in Las Vegas. Inspired by the culture and aesthetics of the legendary Roman Empire, a visit to Caesars Palace is like taking a trip back in time to this enchanting ancient civilization. The casino is decorated with statues, pillars and ornate carvings, and even the staff are dressed like ancient Roman dignitaries and legionaries.
Caesars Palace first opened its doors in 1966, making it the third-oldest casino on the Vegas Strip. It quickly garnered international fame and attracted huge stars and celebrities who came both as guests and as performers.
The casino boasts a huge venue, aptly named The Colosseum. This venue has seen some huge names take to its stage over the years, including stars such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elton John and Cher.
Tropicana
Next up on our list is Tropicana Las Vegas, usually shortened simply as Tropicana. One of the most recognizable sights on the Vegas strip, Tropicana offers a 50,000-square-foot gaming floor and a 1,467-room hotel.
The Tropicana is inspired by the Caribbean, with plenty of pools and leisure activities for guests to enjoy when they’re taking a break from the tables. The casino has several restaurants that offer Italian cuisine and steaks.
Opened in 1957, the Tropicana is the second-oldest hotel on the Vegas Strip. It’s had a huge influence on popular culture over the years, with several famous movies filmed on location at the casino. Some of these movies include The Godfather, Viva Las Vegas and Diamonds Are Forever.
Additionally, the Tropicana has a huge exhibition space that is used to host a wide range of different events. In 2005, the space hosted an exhibition dedicated to artifacts recovered from the Titanic, and then an exhibition about the human body the following year. Recently the space has been used to document the history of organised crime in Vegas, with hologram depictions of famous gangsters.
Flamingo
The last entry on our list is the Flamingo, the oldest casino on the Vegas strip. It opened its doors an incredible 76 years ago, back in 1946, and has remained one of the most popular destinations for tourists and visitors ever since. The casino even has its own monorail station, that’s how popular it is.
The casino’s design was inspired by the art-deco movement and, as the name might suggest, the venue features several resident flamingos. As well as these delightful pink birds, the courtyard area of the Flamingo is also home to ducks, turtles and koi fish.
The Flamingo also plays host to superstar performers and headliners. Currently, Paula Abdul holds a residency there, and in the past, the venue has welcomed celebrities such as James Brown, Bobby Darin and The Beach Boys.
Conclusion
If you’re planning a trip to Las Vegas, it can be difficult to know where to go and what to go given the sheer scale of options available to you. However, if you want the true Las Vegas experience, a visit to one of the strip’s oldest casinos, Caesars Palace, Tropicana, or the Flamingo, should be at the very top of your list.
