El Cortez at 85 Evolves From Mob Roots to Content Creator Hotspot

^{El Cortez has changed a lot over its 85 years, from a mob-run grind joint to a haven for gambling content creators. (Photo: W. G. Murray / Alamy)}

El Cortez, the longest continuously operating hotel-casino in Las Vegas, recently celebrated its 85th anniversary. It’s also the only Las Vegas casino listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley and Kenny Epstein, El Cortez’s chairman and CEO, used the occasion to honor nine employees who have been with the casino for 28 to 55 years.

“Not only is it a legacy and landmark, it is a wonderful place here in Las Vegas,” Berkley said. “El Cortez is spectacular. And in the end, it is all about the employees and how they make people feel when they come through the front door.”

These longtime employees keep the historic El Cortez connected to its roots, even as it has evolved over the years. Golden Gate Casino is older at 120 years because of its hotel, but El Cortez has operated as a hotel-casino longer than any other in Las Vegas.

Early Mob Influence Gives Way to Modern Changes

Many know El Cortez for its mob-friendly past. The casino opened in 1941 and was purchased by Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky and other well-known mobsters in 1945.

Even though they sold it back to the original owner in 1946, their names still draw fans of mafia lore.

Fast forward to 1980, when El Cortez added a new hotel tower with 200 more rooms to go along with the original 47.

The property has gone through many reinventions while keeping to its roots. The Epstein family has invested more than $120 million in property improvements over the past 20 years while preserving its historic character.

This marks the beginning of the El Cortez many know today. At the time, the extra rooms put it on par with the larger casino hotels in downtown Las Vegas.

The Grind Joint Takes Over to Keep Downtown Hip

Downtown Las Vegas wasn’t in great shape at the turn of the century. The area hadn’t improved much, if at all, since the new tower at El Cortez opened 20 years earlier.

That was a turnoff to some but charming to others. The El Cortez I first knew in the early 2000s had $3 blackjack, cigarette burns in the felt and beer served in dented cans.

At the time, cocktail waitresses would walk by asking, “Can the El Cortez buy you a drink?” The answer was always yes. Sadly, this bit of charm has been gone for years.

Even through the changes, you can still stay in the original 47 hotel rooms. Thankfully, they were updated in 2022. The larger hotel tower was last renovated in 2018, and the hipper cabana suites opened across the street in 2009.

Positive Change Attracts Younger Crowd, Content Creators

The history of El Cortez keeps older guests coming back. Some feel comfort seeing longtime employees, while others like the low-roller grind joint feel.

El Cortez has evolved from a place for older guests to one embraced by younger visitors and locals. Millennials found the casino a perfect fit around 15 years ago.

The area just outside the Fremont Street Experience canopy was designated “Fremont East” in 2007, but it didn’t really take shape until 2012, when Downtown Project burst on the scene.

This brought life and younger, tech-centric people to the bars and restaurants in the area. Downtown Project was also behind the construction of the Downtown Container Park retail, entertainment and dining complex another block east.

Downtown Project wasn’t a casino venture, but it attracted many younger guests to El Cortez, which sits in the middle of the action. Downtown Project founder Tony Hsieh died in November 2020, and his estate continues to sell off his real estate holdings in the area.

More recently, El Cortez started attracting Gen Z guests. The casino finished a 10,000-square-foot expansion in 2025 that added more slots, table games and a new high-limit room.

Guests can now choose between a bright new casino and the slightly moodier older casino spaces.

With extra space between slot machines on the main casino floor and the new high-limit room, the new casino is more welcoming to content creators. In fact, El Cortez is leading the way.

Well-known content creators such as Vegas Matt take the spotlight, recording their own original content. Meanwhile, El Cortez is on the casino floor capturing players as they hit jackpots.

This is a unique way to promote the casino and its players, who range from locals to those staying at big casinos on the Strip.

El Cortez offers older guests the historic property they came to love while creating an environment for younger guests who want a brighter, livelier experience.