The need to turn in one’s spare change for “real money” might not come up too frequently, but when it does, it’s nice to know there are still Las Vegas casinos that make exchanging coins for paper money easy. Downtown’s El Cortez is one of those Las Vegas casinos. This casino on Fremont East still has coin-operated slots, but the cage won’t accept pennies or dimes for paper currency. Downtown Las Vegas has been adding new businesses and renovating casinos a lot over the past five years or so. However, the operators know that keeping a vintage atmosphere is what separates the area from the Vegas Strip. The coin operated video poker and slot machines are just one way you’ll enjoy vintage Las Vegas downtown.

• Slot Machines In Vegas That Accept Coins Online
• Coin Operated Slot Machine
• Vegas Casinos With Coin Slots

Las Vegas is home to over 197,000 slot machines. That’s roughly one for every three residents. With so many slot machines to choose from, it should be no surprise that you can find some interesting ones hiding around town.

This is especially true in downtown Las Vegas, known to many as “Old Vegas.” Fremont Street specializes in keeping the old-time feel alive. This is where you will find all sorts of buildings, stores, merchandise, and yes, even slot machines from the early days of Las Vegas history.

Below you will find a list of some of the interesting, fun, vintage, or downright weird slot machines you can find in downtown Las Vegas.

Coin-Operated Slot Machines

Coin-operated slots are one of the most sought-after unique slot machines found in Las Vegas. They bring a bit of nostalgia back to the game. These are getting harder to find. Many casinos have a hard time finding parts for repair, which has caused most to get rid of coin-operated slots altogether.

The evolution of our U.S. currency has had a dramatic impact. The D Hotel and Casino has phased out all of its coin operated slot machines. For a place specializing in vintage slots (they have an entire floor devoted to these), why would they do this?

Turns out, the machine’s bill reader cannot recognize our newer versions of U.S. currency in $5 and $20 bills. These bill readers cannot be swapped, and old currency is hard to keep in supply. All of this works out to be too much of a headache for the casino.

With that said, there are still a few places in downtown Las Vegas that offer the chance to play coin-operated slot machines. They are:

• California Hotel and Casino
• El Cortez Hotel and Casino
• Fremont Hotel and Casino
• Main Street Station Hotel and Casino
• Plaza Hotel and Casino

Sigma Derby

Sigma Derby is a retro horse racing game. It made its debut in 1985 and was quite popular at the time. In today’s casinos, it’s nearly impossible to find. Just like coin-operated slot machines, parts for Sigma Derby games are hard to find when the game is in need of repairs.

In addition to having a difficult time keeping the Sigma Derby machines operational, the casinos make a very small profit on them. They are coin operated and run on just a few quarters. The machines also take over a minute to complete one round.

Because of this, almost every Las Vegas casino has done away with Sigma Derby machines. In fact, there is only one such machine in all of downtown Las Vegas. This machine is at The D Hotel and Casino. Or, if you’re willing to venture to the Las Vegas Strip, there is one other Sigma Derby machine located at the MGM Grand.

Silver Strike

Silver Strike slot machines have an incredible fan base. They appeal to both slot machine players and to collectors. This is because, rather than winning cash, you win silver coins. Well, partially silver coins.

The coins used to be .999 silver. Now they are usually a mix of silver and copper. The variance is due to the fact that each casino is responsible for producing their own silver strike coins. This brings in the collector’s aspect, as there are many different coins to try to win.

The machine has a $3.00 max spin, which you must bet to have a chance at the silver coin bonus. If you get a silver strike logo on the third reel, you win a silver strike coin. Most of these coins are worth roughly $10; however, you have a chance at randomly receiving one worth up to $300.

There are varying values within each casino, plus several different casinos offering their own coin variations. The cost associated with producing the silver strike coins has deterred many casinos from carrying the machines. In downtown Las Vegas, there are two casinos who still have the game on their floor:

• The Four Queens Hotel and Casino has four machines
• El Cortez Hotel and Casino has one machine

Slot Machines In Vegas That Accept Coins Online

Jumbo Slot Machine

The Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino is home to one of the largest functioning slot machines in all of Las Vegas. This slot machine is over eight feet tall! It is a 4-reel machine that works in dollar denominations. You will find this slot machine in the lobby by their front entrance. Such a massive machine can draw a lot of attention. It’s not unusual to see a crowd surrounding the machine, watching the player.

It does have an arm mechanism on it; however, this is no longer how the slot machine reels are spun. This is done with a spin button. One old-time aspect that still remains is that the payout from the machine is given in quarters. It’s a fun experience everyone should try once.

Vintage Slot Machines

If you’re looking to see some gambling history, Las Vegas is the place to do it. Even more specifically, looking through downtown Las Vegas, where the city got its start. Fremont Street is where the big casinos of Las Vegas originated. It is where it all began in the evolution of what Las Vegas is today.

This rich history is displayed throughout downtown Las Vegas. One of the crowd favorites in nostalgic merchandise is slot machines. There are two displays featuring retired, vintage slots. These are no longer functional but are still amazing to see. They are located at:

• The Golden Gate Hotel and Casino
• Main Street Hotel and Casino

If you’re looking for a large selection of vintage slot machines you can still play, your go-to destination should be The D Hotel and Casino. Their entire second floor is devoted exclusively to vintage slot machines. While they have all been converted to TITO (Ticket In/Ticket Out) machines, they still maintain the vintage gameplay options.

SlotZilla Zip Line

If you’re looking for unique slot machines that you can wager money on, the SlotZilla slot machine on Fremont Street is not for you. That’s because it’s not actually a slot machine, but a giant model of a slot machine. In fact, it’s the most giant one in the world. The SlotZilla slot machine holds the world record for the largest slot machine, standing at 128 feet tall.

It is truly a sight to see. It doesn’t stop there, though. The SlotZilla machine is actually a zip line. The zip line originates at the top of the 12-story-tall slot machine replica. From there, riders will fly down Fremont Street, just below the lighted canopy. There are two versions you can try: the zip line and the zoom line.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for something slightly different to do in Las Vegas, or simply trying to change up your usual gambling routine, this list has you covered. Everything on this list should be seen once if you’re a fan of slot machines or Vegas history.

Not only will you be able to play some of the oldest functioning slot machines around, but you will also get to see amazing pieces of Las Vegas culture. You can cap it all off with a ride on Vegas’s own slot machine zip line.

For decades, slot machines accepted bets and made payouts in coins. Gamblers, meanwhile, happily pumped quarters into these machines in hopes of winning hundreds or thousands of coins back.

But casinos eventually got tired of the inefficiencies of coin-based slot machines. Gaming venues needed to hire attendants just to deal with coin hoppers. Machines would also be down for half an hour or more following big wins. The player needed time to collect the rush of coins, while an attendant had to refill the coin hopper.

During the 1990s, casinos began replacing their coin-operated machines with ticket-in/ticket-out (TITO) games. Decades later, coin-based slots are now very rare on gambling floors.

Nevertheless, a few Las Vegas casinos offer these games. El Cortez, the longest-continually running casino in Vegas history, is the biggest haven for coin slot machines.

I’m going to discuss why El Cortez sees the need to keep these relics along with more on the disappearance of coin-based games.

Coin-Operated Slot Machines Offer a Sense of Nostalgia

Those who gamble on coin slot machines aren’t seeking the latest features and biggest jackpots. Instead, they want to relive Vegas trips of years’ past.

Phyllis Henry is one of these gamblers. The 84-year-old recently spoke to Vegas Inc. about why she returns to El Cortez to play coin-operated slots.

“I play the (coin-based slots) because it’s what I’ve always done all the years I’ve played,” she said. “I guess I like to get my fingers dirty.”

Henry is likely to keep paying these games in the future. After all, she won $200 worth of quarters during the interview.

A true throwback to gambling’s past, Henry recorded her win in a notebook that she uses to chart slots wins and losses. She also stored her newfound pile of quarters in an old cottage cheese container.

Henry isn’t the only gambler who appreciates the simple games and experience at El Cortez. Helen Iwata is another player who frequents the downtown casino’s coin slots.

The 88-year-old has been coming to El Cortez since 1965. She even knew the late owner, Jackie Gaughan, who passed away in 2014.

The Largest Selection of Coin Slot Machines

The vast majority of casinos want nothing to do with coin-operated slots. They’ve forsaken these machines long ago in favor of TITO games, which are more similar to an online slots experience but you’re still at the casino. The latter merely requires paper to print receipts. TITO slot machines don’t feature coin hoppers or go down for 30 minutes every time somebody wins 1,000 coins.

El Cortez is rare in their acceptance of the older style of slots. In fact, they’ve embraced such games in an effort to attract their core audience.

This gambling establishment features 175 coin slots, which is more than any other casino in Vegas or elsewhere. According to general manager Adam Wiesberg, they don’t plan on diminishing this selection anytime soon either.

“We have all the latest and greatest (slots) on our slot floor, but we intend on keeping a selection of coin machines,” said Wiesberg.

“We have a process where we take away some games every month that don’t get as much play, But we have players who love these machines.”

He added that most coin-operated slots were built to last. The main difficulty, though, involves finding parts when one of these games do break down. Some parts for coin-based slot machines are no longer being made. When they do get the parts, El Cortez also needs technicians who can handle the work.

Catering to Gambling’s Old Guard

The majority of the El Cortez staff has worked at the casino for over a decade. During this time, they’ve developed solid relationships with the regulars.

Rick Ronca, who manages El Cortez’s slots floor, noted that these relationships are important to the casino’s success.

“When you go to a place where it’s just ticket-in and ticket-out, you don’t really need any (maintenance) staff for that,” said Ronca. “Here, our staff is critical to us.”

“They know each regular customer by name. They greet them and talk to them. I don’t have an employee who’s been here less than eight years. The average is probably about 30 years.”

Wiesberg also spoke to the relationships that El Cortez staff members have with their long-time customers.

“Our ownership still appreciates that connection with the customer, which many places have gotten away from. They’ve gotten away from it because there’s no money in it. But for us, it’s a legacy that we’re trying to maintain. Our customers are loyal.”

A Tourist Destination

El Cortez enjoys more advantages from their coin-operated machines than just attracting nostalgic gamblers. They’ve also became a tourist destination thanks to their vintage games.

Some gamblers make a special trip downtown just to insert quarters into these games and pull the handles.

Because there aren’t many coin-operated slot machines left in Las Vegas, tourists from all over the globe stop by to play these old-school slots.

It’s no surprise that it’s become a novelty in the local Las Vegas gambling realm. While there are folks who are regulars at these slots, there are others who stop by just to experience its nostalgia.

Challenges to Offering Coin-Based Slots

Wiesberg said that newer gambling establishments make more profits from TITO games. After all, casinos don’t need as much manpower to keep modern slot machines running.

Coin Operated Slot Machine

El Cortez, however, does “require more labor” to maintain their coin-based games. They also need employees to handle various tasks dealing with the coins themselves.

Staff members count all of the coins on a nightly basis. They’ll go through $30,000 worth of quarters and $3,000 worth of nickels on average.

They must also separate the coin denominations via bags. Once the bags are full, they’re stacked on top of each other until a driver can take them to the bank.

Those handling the coins must wear pocketless jumpsuits. A security guard with a metal detector checks them before they leave the room.

Sometimes, the games also need special fixes that aren’t immediately available. For instance, the casino wanted to replace the outdated bill acceptors on the coin-based machines.

They had to contact a metal fabrication firm and order specially made brackets just so the games could accept both bills and quarters.

Conclusion

Vegas and other gambling destinations have long since put their coin slot machines out to pasture. These games are typically only available through eBay sellers (for personal use) nowadays.

However, certain casinos still see value in coin-operated slots. El Cortez is the biggest aficionado of these classic games.

They have a special place on their gaming floor for 175 coin-based slot machines. At a time when other casinos view these games as antiques, El Cortez uses them as an important marketing tool.

Vegas Casinos With Coin Slots

El Cortez won’t be getting rid of their coin slots anytime soon. While they offer newer games like any Vegas casino, they also plan to keep their coin-based slot machines for the foreseeable future.