RIP Las Vegas Nickel Machines

[Immy]

Of all the pictures I've posted on TNet, this is the saddest.

Yesterday I discovered that the last six nickel machines at the El Cortez Hotel, in fact in all of Las Vegas, were mothballed a few days ago. The chairs you see in the pic are where they once stood. It was a depressing moment, and it means the end of my casino nickel searching after 37 years. I will have to be content with the 59 quarter machines and 9 half dollar slots that are left, though they obviously won't be an adequate substitute. I'll say more in my Casino Royale thread, including a nickel stat retrospective eventually, but I wanted to post here for better visibility.

Thanks nickel slots. You've added volumes to my collection and untold enjoyment to my free time.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

How to Research for Treasure Hunting and Metal Detecting From Lead Generation to Vetting - Grab it through Amazon!

[jrf30]

Do the half dollar slots still produce anything, or are they just retreads of the same coins, over and over. (Might want to mark to do a test)

 

[Cuda74]

Of all the pictures I've posted on TNet, this is the saddest.

Yesterday I discovered that the last six nickel machines at the El Cortez Hotel, in fact in all of Las Vegas, were mothballed a few days ago. The chairs you see in the pic are where they once stood. It was a depressing moment, and it means the end of my casino nickel searching after 37 years. I will have to be content with the 59 quarter machines and 9 half dollar slots that are left, though they obviously won't be an adequate substitute. I'll say more in my Casino Royale thread, including a nickel stat retrospective eventually, but I wanted to post here for better visibility.

Thanks nickel slots. You've added volumes to my collection and untold enjoyment to my free time.

Sad that they're taking these out now, but then again, I thought the slots were dead after they went with the electronic machines, not fun to just press a button.......
I thought I heard that there was at least one casino that had a floor of only older machines but can't verify.

 

[Immy]

Do the half dollar slots still produce anything, or are they just retreads of the same coins, over and over. (Might want to mark to do a test)

If you're an NIFC collector, it's a haven. Silver is pretty scarce but it does appear on rare occasions, usually 40%ers.

Sad that they're taking these out now, but then again, I thought the slots were dead after they went with the electronic machines, not fun to just press a button.......
I thought I heard that there was at least one casino that had a floor of only older machines but can't verify.

There was another one - The Klondike - that had two locations but the coin-op location closed and the other one is coinless. Would love to be proven wrong though. Let me know if you find anything.

 

[Mackaydon]

Last time I checked, Circus Circus still had token slots.
Don....

 

[Immy]

Last time I checked, Circus Circus still had token slots.
Don....

Just called them. They referred me to Slots-A-Fun next door that has coin-op quarters, dollars and five dollars. No nickels.

 

[Immy]

Just a little epilogue to this thread.

Many months have passed since the Cortez banished nickel slots. I still visit several times a year...my haircut guy is there (if you're in the neighborhood, stop by the Speakeasy Barbershop. You'll get a great cut and laugh your butt off at the same time!)

But strolling thru the casino today I noticed all the half dollar machines are also gone.

Only 36 quarter machines left. There were close to 60 when nickels disappeared. Just sad.

For the record, Slots-a-Fun (next to the Circus Circus) mentioned in the previous posts also have quarter slots as well as $1 & $5 token machines, and I've recently discovered an off-Strip casino called The Skyline that also has quarter slots. Have yet to visit them.

 

[jeff of pa]

Sad that they're taking these out now, but then again, I thought the slots were dead after they went with the electronic machines, not fun to just press a button.......
I thought I heard that there was at least one casino that had a floor of only older machines but can't verify.

the Handle was addictive , Good for the Casinos, But bad to the Anti Gambling "Yahoos" who are trying to save the world from people enjoying life

they did away with coins all together in Atlantic city.
Now you get a Paper Slip like Coinstar

Probably the same here in PA hollywood Casino at Penn National Horse track is only 15 Mile away, I won't waste my time to find out , For a Paper slip

 

[tamrock]

I remember back in the late 70s one casino would lure you in by offering a free roll of nickels. Are there any machines that pay in Morgan silver dollar anymore. They had a few of those back then also.

 

[dognose]

Bummer about El Cortez. I liked that casino.

I am more into the Main Street Station and Brewery close to the El Cortez. We gamble at Sams Town, which I like also.

 

[jeff of pa]

I remember back in the late 70s one casino would lure you in by offering a free roll of nickels. Are there any machines that pay in Morgan silver dollar anymore. They had a few of those back then also.

before PA Had Gambling, Atlantic city By bus was $20
& They would give you $27.50 in Quarters once you entered the Casino . once Pennsylvania legalized gambling A.C. tanked.
And they stopped luring pa residence and got rid of thousands of machines there. there are now whole areas that are empty and blocked off in the casinos.

looks like late 80's it died

 

[Mackaydon]

In 1962 I worked at the Nevada Club Casino; at that time next to the Golden Nugget downtown (although I didn't show that employment on any subsequent employment application).
At that time we had shot machines in all denomination--though I don't remember a silver dollar slot machine. I was a coin collector then but never had enough money to buy the coins that I couldn't find in circulation. However, I was able to collect a dozen Variety One SLQs (1916-1917)--and still have them-though none are '16s.
Don in SoCal

 

[Immy]

In 1962 I worked at the Nevada Club Casino; at that time next to the Golden Nugget downtown (although I didn't show that employment on any subsequent employment application).
At that time we had shot machines in all denomination--though I don't remember a silver dollar slot machine. I was a coin collector then but never had enough money to buy the coins that I couldn't find in circulation. However, I was able to collect a dozen Variety One SLQs (1916-1917)--and still have them-though none are '16s.
Don in SoCal

That's amazing. Coin-op machines these days reject silver quarters but once in awhile they get into the fill bags and can be found when cashing out.

I remember dime slots in the mid 80s. $100 would yield four or five silvers.