BIG CHANGES FOR THE GOLD STRIKE IN JEAN

Update February 27, 2016  Anyone from Southern California who has made the drive between SoCal and Las Vegas along the I-15 Freeway has seen the Gold Strike Hotel & Casino about a half-hour south of the Las Vegas Strip. The Gold Strike was probably the last casino where all of the slot machines used "real coins," and that's because the previous owner -- MGM -- failed to modernize the casino. But Gold Strike has been sold and now it is being modernized and it is now transitioning to be a Terrible's Road House casino with modern slot machines with ticket in, ticket out and other services from the machines including downloading free play. It will also be a mega truck stop and the Shell gas station which also serves diesel fuel and truck bays already has the Terrible's brand signage. As you pass by the casino and hotel the familiar Gold Strike sign is still there but the electric sign now says there is a Denny's open 24-hours. Inside the casino is a free exhibit of movie cars which is worth a look. If you are interested in video poker I found 8/5 Bonus Poker which is "full pay" but Jacks or Better was also at 8/5 and I didn't see the full pay 9/6 game.

For years I would stop in at the Gold Strike to play their $3-minimum craps game but the craps table is gone as are most of the other table games. There is still one roulette game and three blackjack tables but they are open only during busy hours. The hotel desk is open 24-hours and the hotel clerk also handles the players club and if you open a new account there is $10 free play available after a modest amount of coin-in on slots and video poker games. You will also see branding for the Terrible's Road House on the new slot machines and video poker machines where you would insert your player's card and there is still a bar area with live entertainment during certain hours.