7 Overlooked Casino Gems in Las Vegas

Las Vegas and its famous Strip are world-renowned for having some of the most celebrated casinos on the planet. However, many casino gamblers miss seeing the forest through the trees.

Las Vegas is full of excellent casino gambling, and the problem isn’t that there are only a few great casinos at the top. The issue is that there are so many great places to gamble that the smaller casinos and those that are off the Strip often get missed.

Next time you make the trip, check out these seven overlooked casino gems in Las Vegas, Nevada.

1 – The Cromwell

The Cromwell is quickly becoming the hot spot for Las Vegas visitors in the know. This posh boutique hotel and casino are for the adults.

Guests must be 21 and older to stay at The Cromwell. This added detail is a bummer if you plan to visit Las Vegas with the family, but fantastic for those trying to get away from the kids for a short stay.

The Cromwell offers several dining options, but the star of the show is no doubt Giada. It’s the first signature restaurant from celebrity chef and a personal favorite of mine, Giada de Laurentis.

Giada brings her family’s old-world Italian recipes and infuses them with a touch of California flair to create the menu. The result is a refreshingly hearty meal with immaculate attention paid to detail.

As impressive as the hotel and dining options are, the casino is the main attraction. The Cromwell has the absolute best tables in Las Vegas.

Firstly, the 3:2 payout on double-deck blackjack is one of the best gaming deals in Vegas. Follow that up with 100x odds at the craps table, and you’re looking pretty good to walk away from a winner.

Still, The Cromwell doesn’t stop there. The single zero roulette wheel further nudges the odds in the player’s favor.

To top all of that off, The Cromwell eliminates the commission for EZ Baccarat. One thing is for sure, The Cromwell is a luxury boutique hotel-casino that is making a push to steal the discerning casino gambler away from the likes of Aria and Caesars.

2 – The Orleans

The Orleans is what comes to mind for many that imagine a Las Vegas casino. In fact, The Orleans is the image I had in my head of a Vegas casino before I ever visited Las Vegas.

The hotel offers every room imaginable, from the reasonable Deluxe King to the opulent Presidential Suite. You’ll find everything in between with several suites for a much lower price than you could imagine.

You can enjoy over a dozen different dining options at The Orleans. These bites range from bowling alley snack bar to posh Arden and Birch. 

The Orleans does a fantastic job of catering to patrons regardless of their tastes or budgets. This shotgun approach to a casino destination is welcoming and preferred by many.

Sometimes, you need to get nachos and sliders at the alley while you bowl a game and follow it up with a romantic prime rib dinner. Variety keeps things interesting.

The variety doesn’t end with the dining choices. The casino at The Orleans has every game under the sun.

Blackjack, craps, roulette, Three-Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, and baccarat can all be found in the casino. Table limits start lower than many of the casinos on the Strip. The house advantage is usually lower than the pricier options in Vegas.

The slot machines you’ll find are the same titles they have across town, with one significant caveat. The RTP or return to player is going to be even higher here at The Orleans.

The Orleans is an excellent choice for gamblers wishing to save a few bucks without sacrificing any of the fun or excitement of Las Vegas.

3 – Silver Sevens

Silver Sevens is becoming a popular casino spot for the Generation X “cool kids.” The casino is only a mile from the Strip. It has an atmosphere that can’t be duplicated in the busier casinos.

You’ll find smaller but outstanding dining options, including a delightful Mexican cantina and full fledged sports bar with the standard pub fare.

The rooms are hip and modern. Quite frankly, the rooms remind me of what I wished my college dorm was, with more modern appointments.

Silver Sevens offers a generous RTP on its progressive slots. So, you can stay at the casino longer and enjoy all that the casino has to offer.

Table games at Silver Sevens are equally friendly. Silver Sevens believes in quality over quantity, and it shines on the casino floor. 

The blackjack and craps tables stay full on busy nights, but you never feel crowded. Please don’t sleep on Silver Sevens; it’s an overlooked casino gem that’s gaining some traction.

4 – Ellis Island

I’ll never forget the look of disappointment when I explained to my grandfather that my trip to Ellis Island was indeed to Las Vegas and not New Jersey.

Ellis Island Casino in Las Vegas doesn’t pack the historical or personal significance as its namesake. However, and forgive me for saying this, it’s way more fun.

Ellis Island offers everything from small plates to barbecue. You could have tacos for lunch and a steak dinner, the choice is yours.

Las Vegas’ Ellis Island even has its own brewery on the premises, and they pump out seasonal varieties each month.

The rooms at Ellis Island are nothing special. They remind me of an updated Hampton Inn, but they are more than functional.

I’ve never seen much point in getting an incredibly nice room anyway; I don’t plan to be there more than about six hours a day.

The casino at Ellis Island shines, and the tables have some of the lowest limits in Las Vegas. The $5 minimum 24/7 on roulette and blackjack draws in the players looking to save a few bucks and those newer players on the fence about gambling as a hobby.

It’s a great mix of players, and the crowd adds a special touch to the games. Silver Sevens is a fantastic casino property and will be an excellent fit for most casino gamblers. 

5 – Plaza Hotel Casino

The Plaza is setting out to make Downtown Vegas cool again. I never thought it lost its cool factor, to begin with, but I never experienced old school Las Vegas.

Oscar’s Steakhouse is the culinary pinnacle of the Plaza, with fine dining served up each night. There are also several quick options, including pizza, Mexican, and fast food like Subway.

The standout dining for me was at the Hash House A Go Go. This modern twist on classic farm-fresh recipes is a perfect place to load up before a night at the tables.

The Plaza has rooms from the standard double queen up to the suite. However, the suites are something closer to what you’d expect to find at the Marriott in Tulsa, OK, than across town at Aria.

It’s not a knock by any means, but there’s a clear difference.


The Plaza offers the latest in 3D slots and a higher RTP than many of the Strip properties.

Table games at The Plaza are numerous. Besides the casino staples, you’ll also find several poker derivative games to enjoy.

The Plaza offers a ton of entertainment options for its guests. Those lucky enough to visit are sure to make it a regular in their Vegas rotation.

6 – Palms Casino

The Palms Resort Casino isn’t technically on the Las Vegas Strip, but it stands toe to toe with any of the luxury properties. 

If you want a beautiful view of the Strip, the Palms may be the best choice in Las Vegas.

Everything about the Palms is a first-class nod to luxury and entertainment. The casino offers over 1,300 slot machines, and players can enjoy all of their favorites.

Palms has low stakes for all of its table games, which is rare in a casino of this caliber. If you want all of the great amenities of the Strip without the prices, the Palms Casino may be the perfect fit.

7 – The D Las Vegas

The D is a fabulous casino on Fremont Street. The fact that it’s part of the full Fremont Street experience only adds to the casino’s charm.

Merely being on Fremont Street makes this one of the coolest casinos in Las Vegas for my money. The table games have friendly odds, and the dancing dealers make even the worst session sting slightly less.

The D Las Vegas is definitely an overlooked casino gem in Las Vegas.

Conclusion

For gamblers looking to gain a unique perspective and enjoy an experience that the crowds on the Strip are missing, check out the casinos listed above or click here to view the full list of Las Vegas casinos.

These seven overlooked casino gems in Las Vegas are trending up, and this may be your shot at getting in on the ground level of something very cool.