According to the annual Las Vegas Visitor Profile, which was completed by GLS Research for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the average visitor to the Strip in 2021 was younger and spent more time in the casino than in recent years. The annual profile, which was on hiatus last year due to COVID, reports that the average visitor spent 3 hours a day gambling in 2021 (up from 2.7 hours in 2019), and was 43.2 years old (down from 46.2 years old in 2019).
When Circa Resort & Casino opened its doors on Fremont Street in late 2020, they had a rule that was believed to have never happened before in Las Vegas. No children were allowed. In fact, the entire resort is 21+.
People thought Circa would fail miserably with a rule like that, but it’s still going strong. So much so, apparently, that another hotel and casino plans to follow in its footsteps.
El Cortez and Casino is a storied casino hotel on East Fremont Street in Las Vegas originally opened in 1941. It’s gone through several hands over the decades, making several changes, including a guest tower in 1980 and cabana suites in 2009.
El Cortez is at the tail end of a $25 million remodeling that includes a refresh of the 200-room Premium Tower and the redesigned casino floor and high-limit room. A renovation of the original 47 “vintage” rooms (the ones built in 1941, in the original building), are currently underway.
However another new change to the El Cortez will go into effect on April 1st (and nope, it’s not an April Fool’s Day trick). The hotel will switch to becoming Las Vegas’ second adults-only property on that day.
The 21+ policy will be done in two phases.
- Effective April 1, all hotel guests must be 21 years of age or older, as per their valid state-issued identification.
- By the end of the year, identification checks will be done at every entrance to the property. That will ensure that the entire resort, including food and beverage locations, are limited to those age 21 and over.
Adam Wiesberg, El Cortez Hotel & Casino general manager, said: “This transition comes after careful consideration and decades of trying to accommodate minors in a property that is focused primarily on gaming and popular casino bars,” “El Cortez offers an action-packed casino floor with 700 slot machines and 25 table games, all with great odds for our adult players to enjoy in a historic, one-of-a-kind setting.
“While Las Vegas has grown and adapted to cater to all demographics, El Cortez remains a traditional gambling house with great gaming odds and an indescribable feeling of stepping back in time,” Wiesberg continued. “El Cortez is the spot where adults have gathered to enjoy a cocktail or two and try their luck in the casino for over 80 years.”
Feature Photo (cropped): Johnwayne Stroud
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