Golden Gate Hotel & Casino is an iconic Las Vegas property for many reasons. Not only is it Vegas’ oldest casino, but it is also one of the most popular destinations in downtown Las Vegas today. Although the property has undergone several renovations since it first opened, you can still experience decades of preserved history within its walls.
Explore the rich Golden Gate history that paved the way for all the Las Vegas casinos and resorts that followed.
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The First Las Vegas Casino
After the land was purchased in 1905, the doors to the first Las Vegas casino opened at 1 Fremont Street in 1906. The Golden Gate property, then called Hotel Nevada, was in a prime location where the railroad passed through the city during a mining boom.
The casino was always full of passersby partaking in whiskey, a game of poker and other dubious activities of the Wild West. You could also stay the night at the hotel for $1.00.
Ring One, Please
In 1907, the very first Las Vegas telephone was installed at the property. Being the first phone line in the city, the telephone number was “one.” You can see an authentic 1907 Kellogg telephone, just like the original, in Golden Gate’s lobby today.
History shows that the local newspaper publisher, Charles “Pop” Squires, was the one to have the telephone installed by the Las Vegas Trading Company. He also founded the local bank and electric company in Las Vegas.
Gambling Is Outlawed in Nevada
The Nevada Legislature passed a law prohibiting all forms of gaming in 1910. This was bad news for the casino, which had to put away the popular poker and roulette tables for a while. Although the gambling ban was briefly lifted between 1911 and 1913, it wouldn’t be until 1931 that gambling would be legal again in the state.
Let There Be Light
While it’s hard to imagine Las Vegas without its signature neon lights, there was a time when the city was pretty dark. All that would change with Hotel Nevada. In 1927, the hotel installed its first outdoor electric sign. This would be a precursor to the dazzling neon signage you see on every casino today.
Legalized Gambling Returns to Sal Sagev
During Nevada’s 25th Legislative Session, Assemblyman Phil Tobin debated that gambling was happening throughout the state, whether they liked it or not, so it might as well be made legal and taxed.
It was a compelling argument, as Tobin’s proposed gambling bill passed with 13 to three votes in the Senate and 24 to one votes in the Assembly. After then-Governor Balzar signed the bill into law on March 19, 1931, the fate of Las Vegas was set.
The casino, renamed Sal Sagev (Las Vegas backward), reopened and welcomed Las Vegas locals and tourists eager for a chance to win big. Just in time, too. With the nearby Hoover Dam under construction from 1931 to 1936 and plenty of paid workers with nothing to do, you can believe that business was booming.
Prohibition Ends?
On December 5, 1933, Prohibition officially ended with the ratification of Amendment 21, making the sale, manufacturing and transportation of alcohol legal in the United States. However, this came as a surprise to Sal Sagev regulars who had been enjoying whiskey with their gambling all along.
If you visit Golden Gate today, you can see whiskey bottles that were found in the walls of the building, remnants of how the casino kept the booze flowing despite Prohibition.
We’ve Got Our Eyes on You
In the early 1950s, Sal Sagev owners wanted to crack down on cheating in the casino. The solution was a primitive surveillance system that used two-way mirrors above the poker and roulette tables. Workers would climb into a crawl space and monitor the goings-on in the gaming pit from above. You can still find the original mirrors on the casino’s ceiling today.
The Property Is Named Golden Gate Casino
In 1955, Italian-American gaming pioneers moved from San Francisco to Las Vegas with big plans for the downtown property. The partners renamed Sal Sagev the Golden Gate Casino, paying homage to their hometown. One of the original partners managed the casino for almost 40 years, which helped to shape the Golden Gate into what it is today.
The Original Shrimp Cocktail Hits Las Vegas
The classic shrimp cocktail has been a Las Vegas staple for decades. But why? It turns out that one of the Golden Gate managing partners, Italo Ghelfi, had the idea in 1959 to offer 50-cent shrimp cocktails as a promotion to get people into the casino. It was such a big hit that other properties soon followed suit. The rest is history.
The Rat Pack Stomping Grounds
Throughout the 1960s, Golden Gate’s Bar Prohibition was a regular stop for the Rat Pack, including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin. The crooners would frequent the establishment after their nightly shows and even break into an impromptu performance here and there. You can grab a drink at the same bar near the Golden Gate’s lobby.
The Debut of Fremont Street Experience
Long-awaited efforts to revitalize the downtown Las Vegas area came to fruition with the opening of the Fremont Street Experience in 1995. The transformation involved:
- The creation of a pedestrian mall on Fremont Street
- The installation of the massive Viva Vision screen
- A heavy focus on entertainment and events
As one of the Fremont Street Experience partner casinos, Golden Gate has a front-row seat to the dazzling Viva Vision light shows, free concerts and Las Vegas zipline riders soaring over downtown.
Buy tickets to ride SlotZilla today.
The Biggest Roulette Bet
The biggest roulette bet in the history of Las Vegas was made at Golden Gate in 2010. After putting $125,000 on red and winning, the cast members of the MTV show The Buried Life bet $250,000 on black. They were trying to cross off their bucket list item of making $1 million. While they did not hit that goal, they did donate their winnings to The World Food Program at the end of the episode.
Golden Gate Gets the Ultimate Revamp
The Golden Gate underwent an extensive renovation in 2012, transforming the property into a boutique hotel and casino. The updates added:
- New luxury suites
- An elegant high-limit section in the casino
- New lobby features
- High-tech features in the rooms
Get Your Vintage Vegas Fix in Downtown Las Vegas
Golden Gate Hotel & Casino is the perfect blend of vintage Vegas history and modern sophistication. Book a room or swing into the casino to experience a piece of old Vegas downtown. Then, stay for all the fun things to do at Fremont Street Experience.
Catch a free Viva Vision light show in downtown Las Vegas.