[+] Slots-A-Fun Casino

One of the smallest casinos on the Las Vegas strip is a very convenient five-minute walk from where I have stayed during the last three summers I've been in town. Low stakes, fun crowds and - most importantly - an open-air craps table practically on the sidewalk has made this my go-to spot whenever I have a few minutes to play.

A co-worker and I got to the craps table a little before midnight last night and were told (surprisingly, since I hadn't noticed any signs earlier in the week) that the casino would be closing within the hour as part of a merger with the neighboring Circus Circus. As of July 1, Slots-A-Fun will no longer exist.

We were told that the building will remain standing and remain open, but (supposedly) all of the chips, table felts and signage will be changed. It was a little surreal to watch as the slot machines were all shut down one by one and the tables were emptied. The last hour turned into (at least) two and we had to work today, so we left before the doors were closed - but I was amongst the last craps players (having pocketed a $1 chip as a souvenir) and Eric won a few big hands towards the end of the night at the last open blackjack table.

Aside from it having perhaps the most awesomely cheesy name possible for a casino, Slots-A-Fun had a charm that I fear will disappear along with its name. The crowds seemed to be a mix of locals, rookies and people who had been playing there for many years and as a result, the vibe was almost always relaxed and friendly as opposed to the stuffy, high-pressured atmosphere in some of the newer, fancier casinos. I appreciate the new places, but they offer an entirely different kind of fun. Slots-A-Fun was a classic - hopefully the name is all that will change.