Jail House Motel & Casino is a small casino motel at 211 5th Street in downtown Ely, Nevada, offering slots, video poker, a bar, and on-site lodging. Its main appeal is convenience for a road-trip stop or a visit to the nearby Bristlecone Convention Center. The biggest caution is the motel: guest reports include recurring hot-water problems and uneven room conditions. I see it as a possible casual gambling stop, but a more conditional choice for travelers who prioritize a comfortable overnight stay.
Jail House Motel & Casino: quick facts
| Address | 211 5th Street, Ely, NV 89301 |
|---|---|
| Property type | Casino motel |
| Minimum gambling age | 21 |
| Main games | Slots and video poker |
| Poker room | No |
| Retail sportsbook | No |
| Hotel | On-site motel; published room totals differ |
| Check-in / check-out | After 3:30 p.m. / before 11 a.m., according to the booking listing; confirm your reservation |
| Parking | Listed as free on-site public parking |
| Phone | (775) 289-3033 |
| Information date | October 14, 2026 |
What kind of casino is Jail House?
Think small-town Nevada casino motel, not miniature Las Vegas resort. The appeal is having lodging, machine gambling, and a bar together, rather than resort entertainment to fill a long weekend.
The Ely tourism lodging directory lists Jailhouse at this address. Its location near U.S. Route 50 makes it a practical candidate for an eastern Nevada driving itinerary, while proximity to the Bristlecone Convention Center is useful for event visitors.
I would separate two decisions here: whether to stop for video poker and whether to sleep here. A casino visit does not depend on the mattress or shower. An overnight stay most certainly does.
Casino games: slots and video poker
Slots and video poker are the core offerings described in the 2025 conference host-hotel listing. Plan around machine gaming rather than a broad live-game selection.
Do a lap before picking a machine. Check the denomination, total wager, and rules: a low denomination can disguise a much larger bet per spin. For video poker, inspect the actual pay table rather than relying on a guest’s report of a good session. There is no basis here for calling the machines loose, tight, hot, or due.
If a particular title, denomination, or pay table is essential to your visit, call first. A general listing of slots and video poker does not guarantee your favorite game.
Are there live table games?
The March 2014 Nevada Gaming Commission disposition approved Jailhouse’s license with a slot-machines-only condition. That is historical licensing information, not a current floor inventory. I would not plan a visit around dealer-run blackjack, craps, or roulette without a direct answer from the property.
Poker room and sportsbook
Jail House has no dedicated player-versus-player poker room and no on-property retail sportsbook. Video poker is played against a pay table, not other players, and the listed Casino Sports Bar is not a betting counter.
The motel: amenities and guest feedback
Published room totals differ: the 2025 conference listing describes 60 rooms, while the booking listing gives 49. Either way, this is motel-scale accommodation, not a large resort.
Listed room features include air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a refrigerator, a coffee machine, and cable television. A fitness center is also listed. These are useful basics, although an amenity listing does not guarantee reliable performance in every room.
Guest praise and conflicting experiences
Individual reviews displayed by Trip.com include descriptions of basic, clean, reasonably priced rooms and easy check-in. Some guests praise kind reception staff and bartenders. Other accounts report dirty bedding, uncomfortable mattresses, inadequate cooling, or unhelpful service.
A July 2026 reviewer praised staff kindness while reporting dirty bedding and hallway smoke odor. These conflicting accounts do not support a blanket promise of spotless rooms or a blanket verdict of bad service.
Recurring hot-water complaints
Hot water is the concern I would take most seriously. Reviews from June 2024 describe absent or slow hot water, and a March 2026 review again reports no hot water. That does not establish every room’s condition today, but recurrence across different dates makes it more consequential than one disappointing shower.
For me, the question is not simply whether the motel looks dated. It is whether the essential comforts work reliably. Before reserving, ask about the specific room’s hot water, cooling, bed configuration, smoking designation, and access from parking. Confirm a step-free route or accessible bathroom directly if needed.
Room costs and the listed refundable deposit
Compare the total for your dates, including taxes, additional charges, and cancellation terms. Do not assume breakfast is included: the booking listing says it is not provided.
Trip.com lists a $250 refundable deposit, collected by credit card and described as returning to the original payment account within seven days after checkout. Confirm whether it applies to your selected reservation and how it is collected.
For illustration, a hypothetical $100 total room charge plus that deposit means allowing for $350 in initial payment or credit availability. The $100 is an assumption, not a quoted Jailhouse rate. The refundable deposit is not an additional permanent room cost.
Historical price comparison, not a current deal
Gamboool’s comparison of published rates for the October 6–10, 2025 NCKMS symposium puts Jailhouse’s tax-inclusive event offer $23.95 per night below Hotel Nevada’s single-queen offer and $3.52 below Four Sevens’ single-queen or single-king offer. Those group offers expired in 2025, required direct booking, and are neither current quotes nor proof of equivalent rooms.
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 |
|---|---|
| Jailhouse Casino Motel: Local tourism lodging listing | The Ely tourism lodging directory lists the motel at 211 5th Street with a booking link and phone number; this is a listing, not independent confirmation of daily operations. |
| Jailhouse Motel and Casino: Historical gaming-license condition | The March 2014 Nevada Gaming Commission disposition approved the application with a slot-machines-only condition. This documents the historical license scope rather than a current floor inspection. |
| Jailhouse Casino Motel: Games described in the 2025 host-hotel listing | The event listing explicitly advertises slot machines and video poker, alongside a bar. |
| 2025 NCKMS host-hotel rates: Offer period, tax treatment, and expiration | The offers accompanied the October 6–10, 2025 symposium. The page says prices include a 13.5% county room tax and that room blocks would be released by mid-September 2025; these are expired offers. |
| Jailhouse Casino Motel: Historical tax-inclusive symposium rate | The 2025 event listing offered all rooms at $77.18 per night, including tax. |
| Four Sevens Motel: Historical symposium comparison rates | The same event page listed a single queen or single king at $80.70 per night and a double queen at $86.83 per night; the page states its rates include tax. |
| Hotel Nevada: Historical tax-inclusive symposium comparison rates | The same event page listed a single queen at $101.13, a single king at $106.24, a double room with two full beds at $108.28, and a mini suite at $106.24 per night, including tax. |
| Jailhouse Casino Motel: Historical discounted-rate booking channel | The symposium discount required calling the hotel directly rather than using an online booking system. |
| Jailhouse Motel and Casino on Trip.com: Check-in, check-out, and reception schedule | Trip.com lists check-in after 3:30 p.m., check-out before 11 a.m., and a 24/7 front desk. These lodging schedules do not establish casino or restaurant hours. |
| Jailhouse Motel and Casino on Trip.com: Deposit amount and accepted deposit payment method | Trip.com lists a required fixed deposit of $250.00 paid by credit card; confirm whether this applies to the selected reservation. |
| Jailhouse Motel and Casino on Trip.com: Deposit refund timing | The booking listing says the deposit returns to the original payment account within seven days after check-out. |
| Jailhouse Motel and Casino on Trip.com: Parking price and reservation policy | Trip.com lists free on-site public parking with no reservation required; it describes the parking as available to nonguests as well. |
| Jailhouse Motel and Casino on Trip.com: Published pet policy | Trip.com’s policy section says pets are not allowed. Travelers should confirm directly before bringing an animal. |
| Jailhouse Motel and Casino on Trip.com: Minimum age for the primary guest | Trip.com lists a minimum check-in age of 21 for the main guest; this is a lodging policy, not a source for Nevada gambling-age rules. |
| Jailhouse Motel and Casino on Trip.com: Children, cribs, and extra beds | The listing welcomes children of all ages and allows ages 0–17 to stay free without an extra bed, but says cribs and extra beds cannot be added. |
| Jailhouse Motel and Casino on Trip.com: Breakfast availability | The listing says the property does not provide breakfast, so visitors should not assume an included morning meal. |
| Jailhouse Motel and Casino on Trip.com: Cancellation policy | Cancellation terms depend on the selected room type and booking terms rather than a single property-wide deadline. |
| Jailhouse Motel and Casino on Trip.com: Airport transfer policy | Trip.com says airport transfers are not provided; visitors arriving without a vehicle should arrange transportation separately. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Historical 2025 symposium nightly-price comparison: Hotel Nevada queen room versus Jailhouse | $23.95 per night | Jailhouse was the lower-priced option in this published event-rate comparison. These expired group rates are historical context, not current booking quotes. |
| Historical 2025 symposium nightly-price comparison: Four Sevens queen or king room versus Jailhouse | $3.52 per night | Jailhouse also had a lower published event rate than Four Sevens. Use the comparison only to describe the historical symposium offer. |
| Illustrative three-night stay using Jailhouse’s historical 2025 symposium rate | $231.54 for lodging, including published room tax | This illustrates a lodging-only budget under the expired event offer; meals, gambling, and other charges are not included. |
| Illustrative room payment plus Trip.com’s listed refundable deposit | $350.00 in initial payment or credit availability | If this listed deposit applies to your reservation, allow for it separately from the room price. A refundable deposit is not an additional permanent lodging cost; confirm collection and refund terms before booking. |
Research references: elynevada.net, gaming.nv.gov, 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.
The useful takeaway is the size of the trade-off. Jailhouse had a meaningful price gap against one option, but only a small gap against another. I would compare today’s complete quotes and room requirements before deciding that the lowest advertised rate is the best value.
Restaurants, bar, and amenities
The booking description lists an on-site restaurant and the Casino Sports Bar. Call about the restaurant’s current name, menu, and hours before planning dinner around it.
The Cellblock name and jail-themed dining are associated with Jailhouse’s identity, but older references need caution. Ely City Council minutes from November 9, 2023 record public commenter George Chachas reporting that the Cell Block Restaurant had closed on October 31, 2023. That historical report does not establish today’s dining options.
Dining feedback is too limited for a confident restaurant verdict. One July 2024 guest complained about food and prices while describing a management change; that older account is not a review of today’s kitchen.
The listed fitness center is a useful extra, but I would not choose Jailhouse for a recreation-heavy resort stay. References to golf, hiking, or skiing should not be read as meaning those activities are on the motel grounds.
Parking, transportation, smoking, and pets
- Parking: The booking listing describes free on-site public parking without a reservation requirement. Ask about space and maneuvering room for trailers, RVs, or large vehicles.
- Transportation: A car is the practical starting point for an eastern Nevada itinerary. Airport transfers are not listed as available, so arrange transportation separately and do not depend on an unconfirmed rideshare.
- Smoking: The July 2026 hallway smoke-odor complaint is one guest’s experience, not an established policy. Smoking-sensitive visitors should ask about room location and shared spaces rather than assume a nonsmoking room means a smoke-free route to it.
- Pets: The booking policy says pets are not allowed, while a June 2024 guest describes receiving a pet-allowed room. That historical account does not establish today’s policy. Get a direct answer before booking.
For other gambling options around the state, see our Nevada casinos guide.
Rewards and gambling budget
Ask before playing whether a player card or current promotion applies to your machine. Check eligible games, redemption rules, and time limits rather than assuming a broader loyalty program is available.
Keep gambling money separate from the room and meal budget. A perk is not a bargain if you spend more than intended trying to earn it.
Our take: who Jail House suits best
Jail House makes the most sense for road-trippers and convention visitors who want an Ely base with slots, video poker, a bar, and listed free parking rather than a resort vacation. Some guests describe clean, reasonable rooms and kind staff, but conflicting cleanliness and service reports, plus recurring hot-water complaints, make the overnight decision less straightforward. I would consider it for a casual casino stop; travelers prioritizing dependable room comfort should compare another motel or hotel before committing.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Jail House Motel & Casino?
It is at 211 5th Street in Ely, in eastern Nevada, not in Las Vegas or on the Strip.
How old do you have to be to gamble?
You must be at least 21. Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
Does Jail House have a poker room or sportsbook?
No. It has neither a dedicated poker room nor an on-property retail sportsbook. It offers video poker, and a sports bar is listed.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
The booking listing gives check-in after 3:30 p.m. and check-out before 11 a.m. Confirm your reservation’s times and late-arrival arrangements. A listed 24-hour front desk does not establish casino or restaurant hours.
Is Wi-Fi available?
Free room Wi-Fi is listed, although a guest account reports performance problems. Travelers relying on internet access should ask about current service.
What is the cancellation policy?
It depends on the room and rate purchased. Read the terms attached to your reservation rather than relying on a general cancellation deadline.
Sources and information date
Information date: October 14, 2026. Sources are linked at their relevant uses above. The 2025 conference rates are historical comparisons only. Guest accounts describe individual experiences, not a representative survey; room conditions, booking policies, and venue schedules can change.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no dedicated poker room or on-site sportsbook.