This week marks the 120th anniversary of the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, a historic venue in downtown Las Vegas that continues to adapt its gaming operations to meet the evolving preferences of patrons.

Initially known as the Hotel Nevada, this iconic hotel opened its doors on January 13, 1906, making it the oldest continuously operational hotel in Las Vegas. At its inception, the cost for room and board was just $1 per day, predating the paving of Fremont Street by nine years.

The celebration of this milestone follows a significant operational transformation. In August 2025, all live dealer table games were replaced by electronic table games throughout the casino floor.

“This is genuinely the birthplace of hotel tourism and gaming as we recognize it today in Las Vegas,” stated Jeff Victor, Vice President of Operations for Circa Hospitality Group.

The hotel’s historical significance extends beyond its opening. In 1905, the site was auctioned for $1,750 to John F. Miller, a pioneer in Las Vegas. Miller initially established a tent hotel on the property, which was one of the first in downtown to offer piped water, as detailed in “Young Las Vegas: 1905–1931” by Joan Burkhart Whitely.

When the Hotel Nevada was launched, it featured just 10 guest rooms, all of which remain part of the hotel’s inventory today. Distinctive remnants of the original structure can still be seen in seven narrow second-story windows facing Fremont Street and 11 windows along Main Street, which outline the building’s original dimensions at the intersection of Fremont and Main streets.

The property came under the ownership of Derek and Greg Stevens in 2006, who also manage The D and Circa in downtown Las Vegas. Renovations post-acquisition revealed features from the early expansions, including a partially visible former kitchen space on the Main Street side.

“The enduring existence of Golden Gate is somewhat miraculous,” noted Victor. Golden Gate also holds a significant place in the early history of downtown Las Vegas’s neon signs, having showcased the area’s second neon sign as the Hotel Nevada, trailing only the now-demolished Overland Hotel.

To commemorate the anniversary, Golden Gate hosted a festive event on Friday at 6 p.m. in downtown Las Vegas, featuring giveaways, complimentary birthday shots, and limited-edition merchandise.