The Flamingo is most famous for representing mobster Bugsy Siegel’s big entry into the casino business in Las Vegas. The Flamingo originally started with publisher William Wilkerson, who owned The Hollywood Reporter, buying 33 acres on Las Vegas boulevard. Wilkerson had opened several nightclubs on the Sunset Strip in Las Angeles and wanted to build a more upscale casino than the rather low quality ones that were in Las Vegas at the time.
This was to be a hotel casino resort on a scale much grander than Las Vegas had ever seen at the time, with a luxury hotel, a French style casino, a spa, a health club, a showroom, a restaurant, and even a golf course.
Construction costs for the casino were higher than expected, and Wilkerson ran out of money and was forced to take on a partner. He sold two thirds interest in the project to Siegel and his partners. This wasn’t Siegel’s first casino venture, he had already bought a casino in Las Vegas proper, but was looking for something outside the city limits where his reputation might not be looked upon so unfavorably.
So this wasn’t the first casino in the city or even the strip, Bugsy Siegel didn’t discover Las Vegas, among other myths surrounding the place, but he was the majority owner of it for a time. He wasn’t bumped off right after the opening either, they actually gave him a second chance to make the place work after the first opening flopped, but that didn’t work out too well for him.
The Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel & Casino will be the first to resume operations. They will comply with the reopening orders issued by Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, public health bodies, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
It is true though that the Flamingo was named after Siegel’s girlfriend, which is the nick name he gave her. The property opened in 1946, then deemed the “west’s greatest resort hotel,” although with its 105 rooms it paled greatly in comparison to today’s casino resorts.
There were concerns about Siegel skimming money from the project, including some of the money earmarked for construction, and Siegel’s partners were among the biggest gangsters of the day, and they weren’t particularly fond of being cheated. Siegel ended up being shot to death in his Beverly Hills mansion a short time later.
The Flamingo is still alive and well all these years later, and is the oldest standing casino on the strip. There is a monument there remembering Bugsy Siegel.
The Flamingo was surely run first class though, this was the first Vegas casino to dress their staff in tuxedos, and they also attracted the biggest names in show business to their showroom in the early days, helping them gain not only guests but a lot of publicity as well.
The Flamingo Las Vegas has seen a lot of renovations over the years, and the original building is long gone, with four newer towers taking their place. The Flamingo has also changed hands several times over the years, currently owned by Caesar’s Entertainment, one of their many properties in the Las Vegas area and elsewhere.
The Features of the Flamingo Las Vegas
The theme of this casino resort is a South Florida one, and flamingos are of course featured here, both depictions and the real thing. They have a wildlife habitat in their courtyard featuring Chilean flamingos and other wildlife.
The hotel here is a good sized one indeed, with 3,626 rooms. The rates here are as reasonable as you will ever find, starting at $30 a night for a Fab room, and you get a pretty nice room for that little amount of money as well.
There are many other selections with increasing degrees of luxury and amenities, but all of them offer guests a fabulous deal for the money. The suites here start at $100 a night, and these are real suites. $125 a night gets you a 1200 square foot Luxury Suite for instance. If you’re looking for a room deal in Las Vegas, they have some real head turning ones here.
The Flamingo is famous for its shows, from all the way back to the 1940’s onward, and while the competition these days doesn’t allow for the biggest names to be brought in anymore, their entertainment lineup is still worth a look. Regular headliners these days include Donny and Marie Osmond and Olivia Newton John. It might have been a few decades since these acts were big but a lot of people love nostalgia and they still pack them in.
The Donny and Marie Showroom also features other live acts, both musical and comedy ones. There’s even a burlesque show, along with X-Burlesque University which teaches all you need to know about making it as a Las Vegas showgirl.
The restaurant selection is a good one, starting with the upscale Center Cut Steakhouse. There’s also a Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville for more casual dining. A buffet restaurant, a Mexican restaurant, the Beach Club Bar and Grill, a food court, and a specialty coffee shop.
The Beach Club also has a pool of course, as well as the Go Pool where you are served your favorite cocktails. There’s also shopping on site, a spa, several bars including Bugsy’s bar, a meeting center, a wedding chapel, and deals on golf.
The Casino at the Flamingo Las Vegas
The Flamingo features 77,000 square feet of gaming space in the main areas, as well as a separate 15,000 casino inside Margaritaville, featuring 220 slot machines and 22 gaming tables.
The main casino has 1600 more slot machines, including very good selection of video poker, blackjack, and keno. Penny players will particularly like the selection here, and they have progressive jackpot slots starting at 2 cents a play.
There’s lots of selection among the various types of slots as well, and they have plenty of ones that pay out even more bonus spins than is typical with Vegas slots.
Craps are particularly big here, and the Flamingo hosted the first craps table on the strip back in the day, so the game of craps has a rich history at this casino and a strong following as well.
They also have the other most popular casino games, including blackjack, roulette, mini baccarat, let it ride, pai gow poker, three card poker, and six card poker.
Speaking of poker, they have a separate poker room with 6 tables where you can play against your fellow guests at the hotel casino resort. They have as low stakes as you’re going to find, starting at $50 buy ins, right up to the higher stakes.
Their sports book may not be quite up to the latest technology like some sports books at casinos in Las Vegas, there’s no private screens at every seat for instance, but there are plenty of monitors in the place to catch the action on. There’s also a separate Keno lounge where you can watch the action unfold in person.
Overall, the Flamingo has a rich history and that’s definitely part of the appeal here, although people do come for the great room deals and there’s some good casino action here as well, so it’s a good pick overall.
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The ever-famous Flamingo Casino opened the day after Christmas in 1946 by the gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel. Though the gangster hated his nickname, it stuck and a cabaret inside the property is named after it. Now owned by Caesars Entertainment, the Flamingo is in the prime thick of the action on Las Vegas Blvd.
If driving, whether you’re entering off the strip or through the back entrance by using the street now called The LINQ, its old design will make things a bit hectic competing with pedestrians and other vehicles. Parking and valet now charge. To get free self-parking you need to be a Platinum cardholder within the Total Rewards program from Caesars Entertainment. You can always gamble your way to move up in tier status, but you can also apply for the Caesars credit card right inside.
The Las Vegas Monorail also makes a stop at the Flamingo which can be picked up at the rear of the property. The monorail is relatively useless for most people, but it comes in handy if you are attending a convention down by the Westgate.
Flamingo Hotel Slot Machines Machine
Since its 2009 renovation, the Flamingo is looking pretty good. Given its multiple strip entrances for pedestrians, people are constantly going in and out. There is also an entrance that leads directly to The LINQ outdoor shopping promenade.
If you’re looking for a good hotel rate, then the Flamingo us usually a safe bet. The crowd tends to be slightly older here than most other casinos in Las Vegas. For the most part it will be tourists, but locals who prefer an old time classic casino with a little less youthful partying also like to drop in. We certainly don’t want to give the impression this is a low energy casino. It is by no means that, and the stage dancers out on the casino floor prove it.
Casino at Flamingo
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The main gaming floor at the Flamingo has multiple pit areas. The larger one is near the strip entrance while an additional, smaller pit located by the lobby. This casino is not especially small, but is still only 72,300 square feet and tends to be a bit smoky. When you exit the Flamingo onto the strip and walk just a tiny bit north, you’ll then be able to enter the Margaritaville Casino which is also part of the Flamingo.
Since the Flamingo is not supposed to blow you away with how gorgeous it is, gambling does not have to be an expensive endeavor as most games can be played for $5 or $10.
Baccarat
There is one baccarat table, with a $10 minimum. This game features the Dragon Bonus.
Blackjack
On the majority of its tablesm 6-5 is the payout on blackjack and there is a $10 minimum. It took us a while to find it, but there was one $5 table near the lobby. Some of the tables also had the Blazing Blackjack Progressive bonus, but this does not affect the rules as the dealer still hits on soft 17.
There are also some 3-2 blackjack games, but they are only offered on the $25 min. tables. On top of traditional blackjack, there is also several virtual games with a live dealer within the slots and have a $5 minimum. If you’re drawn to some of the other blackjack variations, Free Bet Blackjack is also available at Flamingo, with a $15 minimum.
Craps
During our last visit, there were $5 and $10 tables going with odds of 3-4-5. Virtual craps can also be played for $1.
Roulette
The Flamingo features standard double zero wheels with $10 minimums. If you want to spin for less, virtual roulette with a live wheel goes for $5.
Other Flamingo Table Games
– Three Card Poker ($5 minimum)
– High Card Flush ($5 minimum)
– Texas Hold’em Bonus ($5 minimum)
– Crazy 4 Poker ($5 minimum)
– Let It Ride ($5 minimum)
– Mississippi Stud ($5 minimum)
– Ultimate Texas Hold’em ($5 minimum)
– Fortune Pai Gow Poker with Progressive ($25 minimum)
When compared to other casinos on the strip, the Flamingo has a healthy variety of table games. While there’s nothing enticing about the payouts for any of them, there are enough games going for each and you should never have a problem getting a seat.
High Limit Room at Flamingo
The high limit table games and slots rooms are located next to each other. They have separate entrances, but also connect to one another using a back hallway. The rooms are private, but you can still hear some of the outside noise. The table games were baccarat and blackjack, each of the games have a $100 minimum. All blackjack rules were the same with the exception of the dealer standing on all 17s.
Slots start at $1 in the high limit room, and wagers get up to $5, $10, $25, $100, and $500. Their machines were a mix of the old school variety and new games like Super Monopoly. Video poker players also have a lot to choose from. Limits start at $1 and go up slowly to $100.
A view of the high limit slots room:
Slots at Flamingo
Slots machines occupy a large chunk of the casino floor. There are 1,600+ machines with an additional 220 at the Margaritaville Casino. Limits begin at a penny and increase flexibly to $1. You’ll find a large selection of new machines and video slots. Some of its notable games are Wheel of Fortune, Megabucks, Game of Thrones, Monopoly and Buffalo.
Video Poker at Flamingo
Video poker players will find lots of games to choose from around the casino floor, with a particularly large section right outside the poker room. Limits are very flexible, allowing you to start at penny. Most of the games are $0.25, but they also can be played for $1, $2, and $5. You’ll also find tabletop video poker games at the bars which are a great way to get comped drinks.
Like all the other casino games, the payouts are nothing to write home about. The max payout is 98.61% when playing Super Double Double Bonus and are as little as 98.01% for Bonus Poker.
A view of the Video Poker section outside the poker room:
Poker Room at Flamingo
The poker room is small and off to the side, preventing too much casino noise from creeping in. The dealers all have an excellent shuffle and pitch. One might think the smaller the poker room the weaker the dealers will be, but poker room size irrespective of what management wants.
Of the 12 tables available, you can always count on $1/$2 No Limit Hold’em ($100-$300 buy-in) and $2/$4 Limit Hold’em. They spread other games like $2-$6 Spread Limit, $1-$1 Pot Limit Omaha ($50-$300), and $3-$6 Omaha 8/B, but these games never actually run. Comps pay $1 an hour with 17 tier credits. Flamingo tries to promote a $2/$3 No Limit game with $2/hour comps and 34 tier credits but it isn’t working.
Typical for a small poker room, the Flamingo has high hand bonuses along with a single table Bad Beat Jackpot of $5,000. 60% to the loser, 20% to the winner, and 20% split amongst the table.
Daily tournaments are this poker room’s specialty, dealing six of them every day. The 10 AM and 4 PM are $60 buy-ins with a $600 guaranteed prize pool. The 1 PM, 6 PM, 9 PM, and midnight tournament are $70 with a $750 guarantee.
Sportsbook at Flamingo
Seating is comfortable at the sportsbook. All of the 70 chairs are leather and spacious, and the 20 desk row seats that face the perpendicular racebook have their own TV. The biggest drawback is immediately noticed in that every TV is no bigger than what you’d see in your living room.
A big part of the sportsbook thrill is getting to see the game on a huge TV which you can see from far away. If you’re not sitting close enough here, you’re liable to have to start squinting – and that stinks! It is for this reason we never expect this sportsbook to get too crowded, not even necessarily during the biggest events.
This is at least partially made up for with the policy on drink tickets. No, they’re not free again, but you only have to bet $40 to get a voucher. This is terrible for horse players since usually $20 is the absolute highest requirement you’ll see, but for sports bettors this is as good as it gets as most sportsbooks charge at least $100, some even as much as $500.
There are up to eight cashiers, so lines should never get too long, but if you don’t want to move to bet you can open an account inside the sportsbook and download the Caesars sports betting app. It’s a fast and free process, and from there it’s all at your fingertips. Live betting, which is betting on games after they have started is not available yet in the sportsbook or on the app, but Caesars is hoping to have it available soon.
Hotel at Flamingo
If you are looking for value, the Flamingo hotel has over 3,600 rooms and is one of the best options. Its location can’t get any more central, and weekly room rates are usually under $100 and sometimes below $50. Even weekend prices often stay less than $150. Some of the rooms are pet friendly.
– Standard Room (350 square feet)
– Studio Room (550 square feet)
– FAB Deluxe
– Flamingo Mini Suite
– Neapolitan Suite (700 square feet)
– Cosmopolitan Suite (1,200 square feet)
– Metropolitan Suite (1,400-1,600 square feet)
In addition to the hotel rate, there is a mandatory nightly resort fee of $39.68. This includes pool and fitness access along with Internet for two devices. Note that the pool now has waterslides and is a Beach Club for all ages. All hotel guests get in free, and cabanas are also available for VIP reservation.
Like the rest of the casino, expect to see a lot of pink and other bright colors in your room which you can get with either a view of the strip or the High Roller. The standard room starts at 350 square feet. Some of the newly renovated ones also have a chaise. If you’re a smoker the 550 square foot studio room is often one of the best deals Flamingo has, hence the reason it frequently sells out.
It’s important to research carefully if you’re booking your trip well in advance because pricing on the rooms are usually quite bizarre. For instance, the 700 square foot Neapolitan Suite is sometimes more expensive than the 1,200 square foot Luxury Suite. Even when it’s not, prices are so comparable you might as well get the room that’s 71% larger.
Meanwhile, the top level Metropolitan Suite (1,400-1,600 square feet) can be anywhere from 2x-4x more than the Luxury Suite. We realize larger doesn’t always mean nicer, but where else do you see hotel room prices vary so drastically?
Spa and Fitness Center
The Flamingo Spa is open daily from 6 AM – 7 PM. Entrance costs $20 for hotel guests and $30 for drop-ins. The spa is a full service facility for for men and women. Services include massages, facials, body treatments. Additionally, there are multiple temperature whirlpools, steam rooms, saunas, as well as the Uno Salon.
The fitness center has the same hours and is free for hotel guests. It is fully equipped with the newest cardio equipment, free weights, and strength machines.
Restaurants at Flamingo
It doesn’t cost much to eat at the Flamingo as most of its options will be $15 or less. Quick bites include a 24 hour food court along with a 24 hour café which serves pizza by the slice. Its buffet is among the most modestly priced on the strip, and Club Cappuccino is a good option for breakfast or gourmet sandwiches.
If you prefer something more casual, there is the poolside Beach Club Bar & Grille along with Carlos ‘n Charlie’s Mexican cuisine.
Fine Dining
Upscale dining is not what the Flamingo is known for, but the Center Cut Steakhouse obliges and is only around $40 per entrée. All their beef is raised from cows in the United States and are 100% free of hormones and steroids. In addition to their wine menu is also a happy hour menu from 5 PM – 7 PM and 9 PM – 10 PM.
Bars at Flamingo
One of the nicer things about the Flamingo are its bars will be relatively cheap and won’t be overrun with loud rowdy partyers disturbing the casual video poker player. Some of Flamingo’s notable watering holes are It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere located in the Margaritaville section. Here you’ll find $0.05 beers from 5 – 6 PM along with beer pong. The Garden Bar is on an elevated deck which overlooks the Flamingo’s lagoons and waterfalls, and Bugsy’s Bar is in the heart of the casino and open 24 hours.
GO Pool Dayclub at Flamingo
There may not be any hopping nightlife at Flamingo, but seasonally there is the GO Pool Dayclub. Cover is free for hotel guests except Saturdays when it is $10, while non-hotel guests pay $10 during the week and $20 on Saturday. This pool party does not normally require long waits to get in. To go with the DJ are multiple bars, and bottle service is available when you reserve a VIP daybed or cabana.
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