Hotel Nevada & Gambling Hall is a historic casino hotel in downtown Ely, Nevada, with 64 rooms and suites, slots, digital blackjack, and William Hill sports betting kiosks. Its strongest draw is an overnight stop with old-Nevada character and meals downstairs. The trade-off is an uneven hotel experience: guests praise the atmosphere and helpful staff, but room-condition reports differ, and casino smoke bothers some visitors. I’d shortlist it for history-minded road-trippers, not travelers seeking a polished resort escape.
Hotel Nevada at a glance
| Location | 501 Aultman Street, Ely, NV 89301 |
|---|---|
| Property type | Historic downtown casino hotel |
| Minimum gambling age | 21 |
| Casino games | Slots and digital blackjack |
| Poker room | No |
| Sportsbook | William Hill retail betting kiosks, advertised as available 24/7 |
| Hotel | 64 rooms and suites, according to the property |
| Dining | Hotel Nevada Café & Diner and Hotel Bar |
| Parking | Free self-parking listed by Trip.com; truck and trailer parking advertised by the hotel |
| Smoking | Guests report casino smoke; non-smoking rooms are listed |
| Rewards program | The Club; free membership |
| Phone | 775-289-6665 or 888-406-3055 |
| Official website | Hotel Nevada & Gambling Hall |
| Guide updated | October 14, 2026 |
A historic downtown hotel, not a Strip-style resort
Hotel Nevada was established in 1929, with gambling added in 1931. That history explains its appeal better than a long amenities list: artwork, photographs, memorabilia, and unusual architecture give visitors something to browse beyond the next slot screen.
The downtown setting lets you combine a room, dinner, and some gambling while using Ely as your overnight base. My advice is to choose it because you enjoy historic hotels, not because “casino hotel” suggests a pool-and-spa vacation. Its personality is the selling point; whether that outweighs its practical compromises depends on how you travel.
Casino games: slots and digital blackjack
The advertised game mix centers on slots and a digital blackjack table. That makes Hotel Nevada a more natural fit for casual gambling during an Ely stay than for a trip built around an extensive live-table lineup.
Slots and video poker
Slots are offered, but the property’s gaming description does not publish a machine count or detailed current inventory. If a particular title, denomination, or video poker pay table matters to you, call before planning around it.
Check the total wager before pressing the button, and keep your gambling budget separate from money needed for the room, meals, and the next day’s driving. Guest reports of wins or losses do not establish machine payouts.
Table games: blackjack is digital
The important word is digital. Hotel Nevada advertises digital blackjack, not a confirmed lineup of live-dealer blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat.
Read the displayed rules, blackjack payout, and minimum wager before playing. I would not assume it has the same rules or social atmosphere as a staffed table simply because the game name is familiar.
Poker room
Hotel Nevada has no dedicated player-versus-player poker room. Video poker and poker-themed casino games are different offerings.
Sportsbook: William Hill kiosks
The property offers on-site retail sports wagering through William Hill kiosks, advertised as available 24/7. It also advertises on-site signup for a William Hill mobile account.
Think of this as a place to make a wager, rather than assuming a large viewing lounge or staffed betting counter. Ask about ticket redemption and assistance before betting, especially if you will be leaving Ely soon afterward. The kiosk schedule does not establish casino-wide or restaurant hours.
Hotel rooms: character with practical compromises
The official hotel inventory is 64 rooms and suites. Staying on-site makes the most sense when you want downtown lodging with food and gambling close at hand.
Guest reports disagree meaningfully about room condition. Some describe clean, updated rooms and comfortable beds; others report dirty floors, worn fixtures, maintenance problems, or cramped layouts. Small bathrooms recur even in otherwise positive accounts.
An August 2026 guest enjoyed a clean room and the hotel’s antique-like character. A September 2026 guest described cleanliness concerns in both an older room and a remodeled replacement, while praising the staff’s help with changing rooms. These are individual experiences, not proof that every room is alike.
My takeaway: “historic” and “updated” are not enough information to choose a room. Ask about the actual room category, bathroom layout, refrigerator, microwave, and coffee-making facilities. If space or accessibility matters, explain your needs rather than relying on a broad room label.
The official room descriptions list a mini-fridge and microwave in the Mini-Suites. That is a useful category to ask about if you are carrying leftovers or road-trip groceries.
Trip.com lists check-in from 3:00 p.m. to midnight, checkout before 11:00 a.m., and a 24/7 front desk. Arrange a late arrival in advance.
Compare the total booking cost
Compare final prices, room layouts, smoking exposure, and cancellation terms, not just the lowest advertised nightly rate. Pet fees add to the stay cost, while a deposit affects the money you need available without necessarily becoming a permanent charge.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information and our calculations. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Gambling Hall: Advertised blackjack format | The official gaming page advertises digital blackjack; this passage does not establish live-dealer rules or payouts. |
| Gambling Hall: Sports wagering format and availability | William Hill sports betting kiosks are advertised as available 24/7, distinct from a staffed betting counter. |
| Gambling Hall: Mobile sportsbook enrollment | The property advertises on-site William Hill mobile-account signup. |
| Gambling Hall: Players-club membership cost and enrollment | The Club is free and advertises gaming promotions, special events, and hotel offers; signup is at the front desk. |
| Gambling Hall: Current official restaurant branding and meal service | The official dining page names Hotel Nevada Café & Diner and describes breakfast, lunch, and dinner rather than naming Denny’s. |
| Gambling Hall: Fitness equipment | The official amenities page lists free weights, foam rollers, a treadmill, and an elliptical machine. |
| Gambling Hall: Guest laundry facilities | The official site lists two washer-and-dryer sets and detergent available for purchase; it does not publish machine-use prices here. |
| Gambling Hall: Large-vehicle parking | The official site advertises parking designed for trucks and trailers. |
| Gambling Hall on Trip.com: Parking cost and reservation policy | Trip.com lists free on-site public parking without a reservation requirement. |
| Gambling Hall on Trip.com: Pet policy and recurring charge | Pets are listed as allowed with a $15.00 charge per room per night; confirm restrictions directly. |
| Gambling Hall on Trip.com: Deposit requirement | Trip.com lists a fixed $100.00 deposit requirement, separate from the room price; this passage does not specify release timing. |
| Gambling Hall on Trip.com: Arrival, departure, and front-desk hours | Trip.com lists check-in from 3 p.m. to midnight, checkout before 11 a.m., and a 24/7 front desk. |
| Gambling Hall on Trip.com: Minimum age of the main hotel guest | Trip.com lists a minimum check-in age of 18; this is a lodging policy, not gambling eligibility. |
| Gambling Hall on KAYAK: Cancellation and prepayment terms | Terms vary by room type and provider, so the lowest displayed price alone is not a like-for-like booking comparison. |
| Gambling Hall on KAYAK: Displayed rate tax-and-fee qualification | KAYAK says its total includes estimated local taxes and fees payable at checkout; treat displayed rates as estimates rather than guaranteed final charges. |
| Prospector Hotel & Gambling Hall in KAYAK’s nearby comparison: Published alternative price and amenities | The nearby comparison lists a starting price of $118.00 with an indoor pool, fitness center, and restaurant. The starting-price format is not a matched final reservation total. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised king-room premium over the lowest queen-room offer for October 21–22, 2026 | $25.00 per night | The queen offer is the lower-cost starting point in this search snapshot. Compare bed details, cancellation terms, and checkout totals before paying more for the king category. |
| Published recent weekend-versus-weeknight average price difference | $18.00 per night | The published recent averages favor a weeknight stay for flexible travelers, but they are historical comparison data, not a quote for your dates. |
| Illustrative three-night pet surcharge for one eligible room | $45.00 per stay, excluding any additional applicable taxes | Include the recurring pet charge when comparing an extended stay with another hotel, and confirm eligible rooms and the current fee directly before booking. |
Research references: hotelnevada.com 1, hotelnevada.com 2, hotelnevada.com 3, ca.trip.com.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-14. Illustrative assumptions are labeled, and the full calculation inputs remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
- Room-category premium: In KAYAK’s October 14, 2026 snapshot for October 21–22, the advertised king-room offer was $25.00 more per night than the lowest queen-room offer. Bed details were unspecified, and booking terms were not necessarily identical. These changing offers are not standing room rates.
- Flexible dates: KAYAK’s published recent weekend average was $18.00 above its weeknight average. That historical comparison does not promise the same saving for your dates.
- Pets: Trip.com lists a $15.00 per-room, per-night pet fee. An illustrative three-night stay in one eligible room adds $45.00 before any additional applicable taxes. Confirm current charges and room eligibility.
Trip.com also lists a $100.00 deposit. Ask how it is collected and when it is released; do not assume it is included in the advertised room total. Read the cancellation and prepayment terms attached to your selected rate.
If you value the historic surroundings and downtown setting, those are legitimate reasons to choose Hotel Nevada. If you mainly want predictable room space and a smoke-free environment, a modest price difference may not justify the compromise.
Restaurants and bars
The current official restaurant name is Hotel Nevada Café & Diner. It advertises American comfort food, including made-to-order breakfast, sandwiches, burgers, and homestyle lunch and dinner dishes. The Hotel Bar offers cocktails, draft beer, spirits, appetizers, and food from the kitchen.
Meals downstairs are convenient after a long drive, but guest food reports are mixed. An August 2026 visitor enjoyed breakfast at the replacement for Denny’s, while a September visitor disliked a dinner. Older Denny’s comments describe a different restaurant arrangement.
Confirm kitchen hours if arriving late, and ask whether your room package includes breakfast. A restaurant in the lobby does not automatically mean a meal comes with the reservation.
Amenities and exploring Ely
The hotel lists a fitness center with free weights, foam rollers, a treadmill, and an elliptical machine. Its on-site laundromat has two washer-and-dryer sets, with detergent available for purchase. For a road-tripper, laundry may be more useful than a glamorous amenity you never use.
Historic art and memorabilia add to the property’s appeal. The Postal Palace, a converted historic post office, serves as event space, but that is not a promise of nightly entertainment.
Use Ely as a base for the Nevada Northern Railway and local exploration. Great Basin National Park is a separate driving excursion, not an attraction beside the hotel, so allow time for it in your itinerary.
For off-highway vehicle travelers, the hotel’s lodging guide advertises convenient access to the Silver State OHV Trail. Ask about the appropriate access route before unloading.
Parking, smoking, and practical visit advice
Hotel Nevada is at 501 Aultman Street in downtown Ely. For most road-trip visitors, a car is the practical way to reach it and explore the surrounding region.
- Parking: Trip.com lists free self-parking, and the hotel advertises truck and trailer parking. Ask where to unload and park a larger vehicle.
- Smoking: Casino smoke is a recurring guest complaint. One visitor specifically reported that their room did not smell smoky, so bedroom conditions and public-area exposure should not be treated as identical.
- Accessibility: Confirm step-free access, elevator arrangements, bathroom configuration, and the route from parking for your specific room.
- Pets: Confirm restrictions, eligible rooms, and charges before reserving.
- Age and identification: Gambling is for adults 21 and older. Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
The Club rewards program
The Club is free to join at the front desk. The hotel advertises gaming promotions, special events, and hotel offers for members.
Ask which games earn benefits and how offers are redeemed. My usual advice applies: use the card for gambling you already intended to do, but do not chase a meal or room offer by spending more than planned. A “free” perk can become an expensive purchase in disguise.
Guest praise and common complaints
Across the available Trip.com accounts and Google reviews reproduced on Birdeye, recurring positives include historic character, interesting memorabilia, and friendly, helpful staff. The downtown location and meals downstairs also fit the property’s road-trip role.
The main complaints concern casino smoke, small bathrooms, and inconsistent room cleanliness and maintenance. Staff kindness and room quality are separate questions: a visitor can appreciate the people while still being disappointed with the accommodation.
Our recommendation: who should stay here?
Hotel Nevada suits history-minded Highway 50 travelers who want downtown Ely lodging, casual machine gaming, and meals downstairs rather than a conventional roadside stay. Guests often praise its memorabilia and helpful staff, but reports of room cleanliness and maintenance conflict, and small bathrooms and casino smoke are recurring concerns. I’d choose it for character and convenience, while confirming the room details first; travelers who prioritize a smoke-free setting and consistently spacious accommodations should choose another property.
Frequently asked questions
Does Hotel Nevada & Gambling Hall have a sportsbook?
Yes. William Hill retail betting kiosks are advertised as available 24/7. That does not establish a staffed counter or large viewing lounge.
Does Hotel Nevada have live blackjack?
The advertised blackjack offering is digital. Call before visiting if a live dealer is essential.
Does Hotel Nevada have a poker room?
No. It has no dedicated player-versus-player poker room.
What is the minimum gambling age?
You must be at least 21. Hotel check-in eligibility is separate from gambling eligibility.
Is the restaurant still Denny’s?
The current official dining page identifies the restaurant as Hotel Nevada Café & Diner.
Is Hotel Nevada smoke-free?
Non-smoking rooms are listed, but guests report casino smoke. A non-smoking bedroom does not guarantee smoke-free public spaces.
Is parking free?
Trip.com lists free self-parking. The hotel also advertises truck and trailer parking; confirm placement for larger vehicles.
For more choices across the state, see our Nevada casino guide.
Sources
- Hotel history and official room inventory
- Casino games, William Hill kiosks, and The Club
- Café, diner, and bar information
- Amenities and large-vehicle parking
- Address and telephone numbers
- Trip.com guest accounts and listed booking policies
- Google guest reviews reproduced on Birdeye
Guest accounts describe individual stays, not a representative survey. Rates, charges, menus, and game availability can change; check the terms for your selected reservation and visit.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no dedicated poker room.