When Las Vegas Practically Gave Everything Away
There was a time when Las Vegas casinos practically begged you to visit, offering ridiculously cheap meals, complimentary entertainment, and perks that barely cost a dime. A few dollars could buy you a buffet, a steak dinner, or an entire evening of entertainment. Today, many of those same experiences come with hefty price tags.
So what happened to all those legendary Vegas freebies and bargains?
The City That Practically Paid You To Stay
For decades, Las Vegas casinos followed a simple strategy: keep visitors happy, and they'll keep gambling. Cheap meals, complimentary drinks, and entertainment were designed to attract customers to the gaming floor. It helped make Las Vegas famous as a destination where a little money could go surprisingly far.
Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio, Wikimedia Commons
All-You-Can-Eat Buffets
In 1946, El Rancho Vegas introduced the Buckaroo Buffet, offering an all-you-can-eat meal for just $1. The idea caught on, and cheap buffets became a Las Vegas tradition. Even in the 1970s, visitors could enjoy a buffet at Caesars Palace for $2.75 or the Silver Slipper for just $1.98.
Live Casino Entertainment
During the 1950s, casino lounges offered live entertainment without the hefty admission prices associated with modern headliners. Comedians and musicians performed in intimate settings, with entertainers like Don Rickles and Shecky Greene becoming Vegas favorites. Visitors could sometimes enjoy an impressive show simply by buying a drink.
Shrimp Cocktails
Few bargains captured old Las Vegas better than the Golden Gate Casino's famous shrimp cocktail. Introduced in 1959 for just 50 cents, it featured chilled shrimp served with cocktail sauce in a small glass. The casino maintained that price until 1991, when it finally increased to 99 cents.
Casino Parking
For decades, major Las Vegas casinos allowed visitors to park for free. That began changing in June 2016, when MGM Resorts introduced parking charges at its Strip properties. Caesars Entertainment soon followed, turning a once-standard courtesy into another vacation expense.
Prime Rib Dinners
Prime rib was once a surprisingly affordable staple of Las Vegas casino dining. In 1985, the Frontier advertised a $4.95 prime rib dinner, while the Maxim offered a $3.50 prime rib buffet in 1991. Today, ordering prime rib at a major Strip restaurant can cost many times those amounts.
Michael J. Bennett, Wikimedia Commons
Casino Shuttle Buses
Visitors once had plenty of complimentary transportation options between casinos. Properties including the Rio, Orleans, and Gold Coast operated free shuttles connecting guests to popular destinations. Many services were discontinued before or after the pandemic, leaving visitors with fewer complimentary alternatives to taxis and rideshares.
Mariordo (Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz), Wikimedia Commons
Casino Coupon Books
Casinos once distributed promotional booklets filled with offers designed to encourage visitors to explore their properties. Known as "fun books," they contained everything from free food vouchers to gambling bonuses. Budget-conscious tourists could collect several and enjoy a remarkably inexpensive day in Las Vegas.
Carol Pyles from Winter Haven, FL, US, Wikimedia Commons
Low-Stakes Casino Games
In 1980, the El Cortez offered blackjack with a $1 minimum bet and craps for just 25 cents. These low-stakes games allowed visitors to experience casino gambling without risking much money. Today, minimum bets of $15 to $25 or more are common at major Strip casinos, although cheaper tables can still be found.
No machine-readable author provided. Ppntori assumed (based on copyright claims)., Wikimedia Commons
Complimentary Drinks
Complimentary drinks became a Las Vegas casino tradition, with everything from cocktails and beer to soda and coffee offered to gamblers. The perk still exists, but some casinos have tightened their rules. Since 2016, certain casino bars have used systems that track how much customers gamble before qualifying them for free drinks
Arthurs perspective, Shutterstock
Casino Souvenirs
During the 1960s and 1970s, casinos regularly handed out inexpensive branded souvenirs. Playing cards, matchbooks, and other promotional items allowed visitors to take a little piece of Vegas home. These vintage keepsakes have since become collectibles, with thousands preserved in museum collections.
Steak Dinners
In 1998, budget travel experts highlighted the $2.95 steak dinner at Ellis Island as an example of Las Vegas's extraordinary affordability. Similar casino dining specials attracted visitors who wanted a satisfying meal without spending much. These bargains encouraged people to visit the property, where they might also spend money gambling.
Archie MacDonald52, Wikimedia Commons
Valet Parking
It wasn't just self-parking that used to be free at many Las Vegas resorts. Complimentary valet service was another familiar convenience, although tipping attendants remained customary. In late 2016, Caesars announced plans to introduce paid valet parking at several properties, with some loyalty members retaining free access.
Bacon And Eggs
Forget paying premium prices for breakfast on the Strip. In April 1992, the King 8 casino offered bacon and eggs for just 99 cents, available around the clock. These inexpensive meals catered to everyone from early risers to gamblers who hadn't gone to bed.
Free Circus Shows
Circus Circus opened in 1968 with a distinctive entertainment concept that included circus performances above its gaming floor. Visitors could watch talented performers without purchasing an expensive show ticket. Remarkably, this is one old-fashioned Vegas perk that survives, with complimentary circus acts still available today.
David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada, Wikimedia Commons
Luxury Superbuffets
The arrival of extravagant superbuffets transformed one of Vegas's cheapest traditions. When the Rio opened its famous buffet in 1993, dinner initially cost just $6.25. Decades later, luxury buffet experiences featuring premium seafood and elaborate carving stations could cost well over $100.
Complimentary Rooms
Las Vegas casinos have long rewarded gamblers with complimentary hotel stays. Those offers still exist, but a room advertised as free may not cover every charge. Some casino loyalty offers require guests to pay resort fees, although certain reward tiers and promotions waive them.
King of Hearts, Wikimedia Commons
Hot Dogs
In the 1970s, casino fun books sometimes included vouchers for complimentary hot dogs. The giveaways were designed to encourage visitors to enter the casino, where they might spend money on gambling. By 2014, the Las Vegas Sun described these widespread promotions as a fading tradition.
Paul Goyette, Wikimedia Commons
Hotel Wi-Fi
Internet access is now frequently bundled into Las Vegas hotel resort fees. These charges can also cover amenities such as local telephone calls and other services. Even visitors who don't need the Wi-Fi may find themselves paying for it through the mandatory nightly fee.
Free Casino Spectaculars
The Mirage's famous volcano show entertained visitors for free for decades after its debut in 1989. Its fiery eruptions became a recognizable Strip attraction before the resort closed in July 2024. Treasure Island's free pirate productions had already ended in 2013, removing another once-popular complimentary spectacle.
Serge Melki from Indianapolis, USA, Wikimedia Commons
King Crab Dinner
Seafood lovers could once enjoy surprisingly generous casino specials without paying luxury restaurant prices. In January 1992, Palace Station advertised a 16-ounce king crab dinner with salad, potato, and vegetables for $10.95. It was the kind of extravagant-sounding meal deal that made old Las Vegas so memorable.
Hotel Fitness Centers
Fitness centers are another amenity commonly included in modern Las Vegas resort fee packages. Caesars Entertainment lists fitness center access among the services covered by its nightly fees. Visitors who never set foot in the gym may still pay for the package as part of their stay.
Casino Pool Access
Las Vegas hotel pools were traditionally a complimentary perk for registered guests, and many still are. But visitors hoping to enjoy a pool at another resort increasingly encounter admission charges. In 2024, the Golden Nugget charged non-hotel guests $40 for general admission to its pool, while Circa's Stadium Swim charged $25.
Some Of The Best Freebies Still Survive
Not every complimentary Vegas attraction has disappeared. Visitors can still enjoy the Bellagio fountains, free Fremont Street concerts, and circus performances at Circus Circus without buying tickets. But these surviving attractions are increasingly exceptions in a city where entertainment often comes with a hefty price tag.
Rich Anderson, Wikimedia Commons
Why Old Las Vegas Was Such A Bargain
Las Vegas didn't become famous for inexpensive meals and complimentary entertainment by accident. Casinos deliberately offered these perks to attract gamblers, while luxury tourism, resort fees, and paid amenities gradually changed the business model. There are still bargains to be found, but the days when a few dollars bought an entire evening of Vegas indulgence are largely history.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/that_chrysler_guy/, Wikimedia Commons
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