Ellis Island, the family-owned casino-hotel just east of the Strip, has opened the first stage of its $35 million expansion project in time for Labor Day weekend visitors. The redesign nearly doubles the casino’s footprint, adding new gaming, bar, and entertainment options while keeping intact the affordability that has long attracted locals and hospitality workers.

The centerpiece of the revamped space is a 25-seat circular bar positioned beneath a 50-foot-long LED screen, offering guests a new focal point on the casino floor. The project also introduces a redesigned high-limit slot section, a permanent home for Boomer’s Sportsbook, and a digital exterior spanning more than 1,200 square feet and illuminated by nearly 1.74 million pixels.

Inside, players will find nearly 250 new slot machines, a double-height ceiling, and floor-to-ceiling windows equipped with automated shades. Ellis Island executives stressed that the renovations were designed to enhance, rather than alter, the property’s longstanding identity as a value-driven destination.

“It’s in our core values. It’s what’s made us popular amongst locals and industry workers and our loyal customers,” said Christina Ellis-Stalker, vice president of development. “We are Vegas. We are dedicated to maintaining those low drink prices, those value-driven deals, those $5 table games. It’s what made us.”

Anamarie Ellis, vice president of operations, said the property would continue to feature slot tournaments, food and drink promotions, and sign-up bonuses through the Passport Player’s Club. “We knew people didn’t want the value to change,” she said. “Now, we’re giving them that same value in a beautiful new space, with amenities that bring us up to new standards and new excitement.”

The Ellis family has operated the property since the late 1960s, gradually expanding and upgrading the site near the corner of Koval Lane and Flamingo Road. Owner Gary Ellis said the latest updates strike a balance between modernization and tradition.

“In our location, as long as the value is there, I think we win,” he said. “We’re positioned really well. We’ve given the property a facelift while keeping the core of what makes Ellis Island special.”

Design and construction were led by Steelman Partners and Bentar Construction, both Las Vegas firms. Suzanne Steelman Taylor, vice president of strategy at Steelman Partners, said the project aimed to preserve the property’s character while offering fresh energy.

“This expansion is about creating energy and connection — an elevated yet inviting environment that builds on the property’s legacy while introducing bold new experiences,” she said.

The second phase of construction, scheduled to begin in September, will update the remainder of the casino floor. By November, a rooftop bar known as The Deck is expected to open overlooking Koval Lane, timed for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The full renovation is slated for completion by the end of the year.