By Some people opt to stay on The Strip when they go to Las Vegas, right in the hustle and bustle of modern Sin City. Others, though, prefer a more low-key experience, where they can still be a heartbeat away from the contemporary action but spend most of their time basking in the Old Vegas feel. The Golden Nugget is for these people.
Once upon a time the toast of the town, the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino is now the highlight of the Old Vegas experience on Fremont Street. But while it may not include the modern trappings of the Bellagio or the Cosmopolitan, you’ll find it still has everything you need to enjoy your stay or visit—a place to crash, play table games and slots and bet on sports.
Our Golden Nugget Sportsbook review will break down everything you need to know, covering the ins, outs, ups, downs, and, heck, even diagonals of the hotel’s amenities, the casino experience, and other useful tips.
The Cosmopolitan Sportsbook Experience
There is loads to do and see at the Golden Nugget Las Vegas Sportsbook. Your experience starts with knowing where to go and the Golden Nugget hours, and it ends with taking stock of what all your surroundings include. Let's cover everything, shall we?
Pros of the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino
- More TVs per square foot than most sportsbooks
- Independent linemakers
- Affordable room rates
Cons of the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino
- Located off The Strip
- Only seating for 100 in the sportsbook
- Basic rooms
Golden Nugget Sportsbook Hours of Operation
- Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday-Saturday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Location of Golden Nugget Sportsbook
The Golden Nugget sportsbook is located in downtown Las Vegas—also known as Old Vegas—at 129 East Fremont Street. Remember that this casino and hotel is different from the Golden Nugget Laughlin Sportsbook, which is an establishment in Nevada but way outside of Las Vegas.
Because it's off the strip, you're going to need a little extra time if you're traveling to or from the McCarran International Airport. It's about 9.2 miles away, which can take about 15 minutes by taxi or rideshare without traffic. If you're catching an outbound flight during rush hour, you'll want to leave yourself extra time.
Registered guests of the Golden Nugget do not have to pay for self-parking, so if you want to rent a car, you can do so without worrying about extra fees. Non-guests, however, will be charged by the hour.
And if you've never visited Fremont Street, the Golden Nugget is the place to be. It is centrally located relative to all the restaurants, bars, clubs, and street shows.
Place Your Bets at the Golden Nugget Sportsbook
If you're looking for a lower-key but still entertaining betting experience, the Golden Nugget sportsbooks is a place for you.
With seating for only 100 players, it can feel a little small. But that also means it's built for a more intimate setting. There are booths that can be reserved, a bar within the sportsbook, and a grill for you to purchase food and other refreshments also within the main room.
All Golden Nugget sportsbook odds are done in-house, so you needn't worry about delayed updates from third parties. You might even spot some unique Golden Nugget sportsbook lines that won't be posted anywhere else.
With more TVs per square foot than pretty much any other sportsbook in Vegas, you will always be inside the know. They have a seven-foot wide screen that will show the biggest event going on, with a bunch of other TVs of various sizes dedicated to showing you every game, match, and competition possible.
Some people won't like that the Golden Nugget doesn't offer massively extended sportsbook hours on the weekends. This can be particularly problematic for those looking to capitalize on college football Saturdays and NFL Sundays. Still, 8 a.m. is early enough for you to take advantage of initial lines, and most other domestic sporting events will be done by 8 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
This is to say, betting at the Golden Nugget doesn't cost you any opportunities.
Whether you have access to any Golden Nugget specials depends on the time of year. Every sportsbook typically offers periodic horse racing promotions, and you should be able to take advantage of unique pricing and offers during major sporting events like the Super Bowl or NBA Finals.
When you play at the Golden Nugget, you have the option of joining the 24K Select Club to earn rewards points. However, this is not valid in the sportsbook, just on table games and slots in the casino. You'll still want to sign up, especially if you're staying there. The opportunity to rack up points that can be deemed for special room rates and events is never a bad thing.
Among the best features, the Golden Nugget offers is its sportsbook app. You don't need to be on the premises to place your wagers. Just download their app, sign up for an account, make a deposit and start betting. You can then claim your winnings in person or via pay-by-mail service.
Of course, the app is only available to those within the state of Nevada. And there is no use trying to work around it. The Golden Nugget uses special geolocation data to determine whether you're within range. It won't work once you cross state lines.
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Many of the above sportsbooks also offer a Vegas-style casino. They offer all kinds of casino games, such as keno, roulette, blackjack, poker, slots. They also offer you to play these games through a live-casino service where you can actually see a real person croupier handling your cards.
The Golden Nugget Casino
You will not find a bigger casino floor in downtown Vegas than the one at the Golden Nugget. With 17,000 square feet of space, it isn't nearly as large as the casino at the MGM, but it is more than big enough to accommodate all the usual playing options: slots, virtual games, and table games like roulette, blackjack, craps, poker, etc.
Whereas many casinos are now using drink vouchers on their floors—in which you get one free drink after placing $20 worth of bets and can keep receiving them as long you continue wagering $1 per hand or slot pull—the Golden Nugget isn't yet operating with this system. That means you can effectively drink for free while you're playing slots or table games.
One tip we pass along to everyone, at any casino with complementary or super-cheap beverages: Give gratuities to your servers. It will ensure they keep coming back with refills.
You will want to note, though, that free drinks do not include top-shelf liquor. You'll have to actually order and pay at the bar for those cocktails.
And like all casinos in Vegas, you must be 21 years of age to play at the Golden Nugget. If they don't catch you entering the floor, you can rest assured you'll be ID'd at some point should you look young enough.
Staying at the Golden Nugget
Make no mistake, the Golden Nugget is a clean and friendly place to stay. But if you're looking for a more upscale experience, you'll want to head elsewhere.
Rooms at the Golden Nuggets are mostly unspectacular. They're covered in classic decor and on the smaller side. That said, they are ultra-affordable. You can book rooms for under $143 per night during the busiest times of the year, and their resort fee runs under $44 per night as of 2024. This cheapo rate includes wifi, along with other basic amenities like room service and access to a fitness center. There have been known to be Golden Nugget comps, but they aren't as necessary when rooms are this affordable.
Guests will have no trouble remaining fed and watered when staying at the Golden Nugget. They have seven different places to eat, ranging from actual restaurants and steakhouses to quick pit stops. Other hotels offer more, but the Golden Nugget isn't the size of, say, Mandalay Bay. You will also be right on top of Fremont Street, which includes plenty of quick dining options and street-type food.
On-site entertainment is not part of the Golden Nugget experience. That's okay. Fremont Street has plenty to do, and you're still only a few minutes away from The Strip and all of the popular shows and clubs it has to offer.
In the event you don't want to be in the thick of the partying, you'll also want to find alternative lodging. The Golden Nugget is in the heart of Fremont Street, where the nightlife is wild. All the craziest stuff happens on the actual street, but you'll still want to be wary of the pace at which people party should you be looking to stay at the Golden Nugget.
Given the affordable price tag and proximity to the lively downtown Vegas scene, we consider this hotel and casino a great place to stay for those on the younger side who will be on more of a budget and interested in a 24/7 lifestyle.