{"id":29928,"date":"2021-11-11T13:39:04","date_gmt":"2021-11-11T21:39:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/vitalvegas\/?p=29928"},"modified":"2026-01-25T03:26:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T11:26:22","slug":"heres-the-last-casino-with-coin-slot-machines-on-the-las-vegas-strip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/vitalvegas\/heres-the-last-casino-with-coin-slot-machines-on-the-las-vegas-strip\/","title":{"rendered":"Here’s the Last Casino With Coin Slot Machines on the Las Vegas Strip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Coin slots have become as rare as diving boards in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

In fact, there’s only one casino in the Las Vegas Strip that still takes coins. Just the one.<\/p>\n

The last hold-out for coin-operated slot machines on the Las Vegas Strip?<\/p>\n

Wait for it. Circus Circus.<\/p>\n

\"Coin
The last remaining coin-operated slots on the Las Vegas Strip. Trust us, it’s a circus.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are lots of reasons casinos phased out coin-operated slots.<\/p>\n

The bottom line: The bottom line.<\/p>\n

To put it simply, coin slots are a huge pain in the ass, requiring lots of labor to fill and maintain these machines.<\/p>\n

Circus Circus, however, has weighed the costs and decided coin machines are worth the trouble and guests have repaid that outlier attitude with loyalty, lots of play, a steady stream of revenue and positive word-of-mouth.<\/p>\n

\"Coin
Coins take a toll on slot machines, so you get a lot of this.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While there are a bunch of machines at Circus Circus that take and pay coins, the star of the show is a $1 carousel that sits inside the doorway coming in from Slot-A-Fun.<\/p>\n

We’ve rarely seen this group of machines anything other than packed. It’s pretty much chaos, a slot coin feeding frenzy, all the time.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Behold, the busiest and most patient slot attendant in Las Vegas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The sound of coins is unmistakeable, and a throwback to another era when coin machines were the rule, not the exception.<\/p>\n

\"Coin
Anyone who thinks “money is money” has never played a coin-operated slot machine in Las Vegas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Coin slots began disappearing with the advent of paper TITO (ticket in, ticket out) vouchers.<\/p>\n

Gamblers love coins so much, game manufacturers replicate the sound of coins dropping into the payout tray, even when no coins are involved!<\/p>\n

While modern machines have their benefits, there’s nothing quite like playing with coins.<\/p>\n

It’s not just the sounds, it’s the feel of them, the disgusting, gritty grime of them.<\/p>\n

\"Las
If you know, you know.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When you win, it’s the sheer heft of them.<\/p>\n

While the number of coin machines has dwindled, many longtime Las Vegas visitors still cherish their collection of plastic, casino-branded coin buckets.<\/p>\n

The buckets at Circus Circus are generic, but it’s so much fun to see them, who cares?<\/p>\n

The biggest downside to the coin machines at Circus Circus are the asshats who hog machines, even when others are waiting.<\/p>\n

\"Coin
We call them “slotholes.” Somebody has to.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Slotholes” are related to “saveholes.” These are the folks who save machines for a friend or relative who never actually shows up. It’s just a way for them to not look like “slotholes.”<\/p>\n

Sorry, but “savsies” isn’t a thing beyond the age of eight.<\/p>\n

\"Coin
Nice purse, but unless it has arms that can insert coins into a slot machine, move it. Oh, and zip it. We’re here to help.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Circus Circus has obviously seen and heard it all from guests, so they post some simple rules which everyone pretty much ignores.<\/p>\n

Asshats gonna asshat.<\/p>\n

\"Coin
Bigger and with neon, please.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Still, the coin machines at Circus Circus are not only fun because of the experience, they also pay out 97.4%, which means they’re some serious, old-school “loose” slots right there.<\/p>\n

Slot holds in Nevada can be as high as 25%, although that’s rare.<\/p>\n

The average slot machine payback percentage on the Las Vegas Strip is about 92% (or an 8% casino “hold”).<\/p>\n

\"\"
Oh, look, it’s our love life.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While Circus Circus is the last casino on the Las Vegas Strip with coin machines, it’s not the only one in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

We’re going to make this subhead bigger to give it the proper emphasis.<\/p>\n

All the Las Vegas Casinos With Coin Slots<\/h2>\n

There are three Las Vegas casinos with coin-operated slot machines:<\/p>\n

\"googie\" Circus Circus Hotel & Casino
\n\"googie\" California Hotel & Casino
\n\"googie\" El Cortez Hotel & Casino
\nThe Cal and El Cortez are located in downtown Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Behold, some of the busiest and most patient slot techs in Las Vegas at El Cortez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The California is owned by Boyd Gaming, and its other downtown casinos (Fremont, Main Street Station) had coin slots until recently, but no more.<\/p>\n

The Cal only has coin-operated video poker machines, no reels. Meh.<\/p>\n

Plaza also had coin slots until about a year ago, but again, those high maintenance machines were retired.<\/p>\n

There’s one more asterisk here: Downtown’s The D has a coin-operated machine, Sigma Derby. It’s not a traditional slot machine, but the quarter-operated horse race machine is a great time (and an even better value). It’s also the only Sigma Derby machine in any casino in the country. Fortune Cup is everywhere, but it’s a knock-off of Sigma Derby.<\/p>\n

\"Sigma
There are very few coin slots left in Las Vegas. Even fewer have a cult following. Sigma Derby at The D is that.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We understand Jerry’s Nugget also has coin-operated slots, but who cares? It’s a dump and if you go there, you could be back-roomed or catch dysentary, assuming that’s something catchable.<\/p>\n

It’s also worth noting a small casino in Henderson, Skyline, has coin-operated slots, but this is about Las Vegas, so you don’t have to memorize that one.<\/p>\n

The list of Las Vegas casinos with coin slots is rapidly shrinking, and we trust coin-operated machines aren’t long for this world.<\/p>\n

If you’ve never played a coin slot, you need to do so before they go extinct.<\/p>\n

Slot machine makers might be able to simulate the sound of coins in newer machines, but it’s impossible to replicate the experience of coin-operated slots.<\/p>\n

Yes, parts of the experience are disgusting, but that grit on your hands (and under your nails) means you’re taking part in a time-honored Las Vegas tradition. One that won’t be around forever.<\/p>\n

-Update (3\/9\/24): The coin machines at Circus Circus have been moved to Slots-A-Fun. Same difference.<\/p>\n

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