My first time at El Cortez was summer of 2008. I was visiting Vegas for 4 weeks. Stayed cheap at a place called Ogden House Motel which was right out the back door of El Cortez and owned by El Cortez. It later was renovated into the Cabana Suites at El Cortez. I paid for the first week. It was August and it was HOT. The AC left something to be desired. But it was cheap. Seemed more like a boarding house with a lot of regular degen gambler types who I am guessing lived there or stayed frequently. Every day I played blackjack at El Cortez. Spreading $25 to $150 at the time. Played 45 minutes each session, sometimes twice a day morning and evening when I returned "home". Despite all the talk of sweaty Spaniard, never received an ounce of heat. My final 3 weeks stay ended up being comped.
A year later, end of 2009 is when I moved to Las Vegas. My spread was a little more by that time, $50-$400, but I toned it down at El Cortez, where I played regularly, to $250 or $300, The double deck game, pen 65-67% was a good game for someone like me that was raised on the Atlantic City 8 deckers. I liked playing there. Hit it several times a month, for a short session.
Throughout my time in Vegas I have played El Cortez regularly. Had one small period where I had some trouble with one pit guy. An Older Italian guy named Maurice. He went by "Mo". He backed me off one day. I stayed away for a couple months and he backed me off again. I returned the next day just to agitate him (not a good idea) and he nearly had a stroke yelling at me in his broken English. He followed me into the Men's room still yelling that I could not play there. I thought my time at El Cortez was finished at that point.
I stayed away for 6 months, then one day went back. Didn't see Maurice and played with no issues. A few more trips and no Maurice. I asked about him and he had retired. I am sure I had nothing to do with it. He was a little old guy. Happy retirement Maurice!
I continued playing at El Cortez regularly until Covid hit. There was a tough Italian Mobster looking pit guy named Paul that looked menacing, but actually seemed to like me. He was originally from New Jersey, so he might have just actually been an old mobster. He really looked the part. After Covid I had to switch up how I played, playing higher stakes mostly on the strip during busier weekend nights. I played that style until this Spring when I went back to playing the "local" type casinos and that included El Cortez. Paul also was no longer there. I have been back to playing downtown and El Cortez probably 3 times a month since March.
That ended this weekend. I tried to buy in for $600 and the dealer counted out 24 green chips, but the pit guy was on the phone and said just a minute. He came over and told the dealer to put the chips away. Just about that time an older guy walks up and introduces himself as the owner and CEO of El Cortez. He tell me they ar not going to allow me to play blackjack anymore. He says I can play any other game, but if I try to play blackjack they will trespass me. I respond "ok". What else could I do? Then he offers to buy me lunch. I decline but he says "come on, let's have lunch". Interesting. Lets see where this is going.
Unfortunately, my favorite El Cortez restaurant closed a few months ago. They are going to open a steak house in September. So my "gift" meal is lunch at a burger joint. Fitting. I order a burger and steak fries, It is ok. The CEO/Owner guy asks my name. I tell him I would rather not give it. He asks why. He says "I am not going to make it hard on you, you just can't play here". Then he says he already knows my name. He says I have been playing there for many years and have done pretty well. I respond "I guess." He asks if this is what I do for a living and I say among other things. He says he is impressed, but I don't think he really was. lol.
At the end of lunch, I thank him, we shake hands and he gives me (2) $25 free play chips. He tells me to play roulette or craps, not blackjack. I laugh. I bet the chips on 2 spins of roulette betting black. Neither wins. I guess THAT is fitting. I head for the door in the corner. The one at 6th and Fremont, for what I guess will be the final time. I sort of miss the place already. I always liked that place and never found it to be the "sweaty Spaniard" until my final day. And even that was kind of classy.
A year later, end of 2009 is when I moved to Las Vegas. My spread was a little more by that time, $50-$400, but I toned it down at El Cortez, where I played regularly, to $250 or $300, The double deck game, pen 65-67% was a good game for someone like me that was raised on the Atlantic City 8 deckers. I liked playing there. Hit it several times a month, for a short session.
Throughout my time in Vegas I have played El Cortez regularly. Had one small period where I had some trouble with one pit guy. An Older Italian guy named Maurice. He went by "Mo". He backed me off one day. I stayed away for a couple months and he backed me off again. I returned the next day just to agitate him (not a good idea) and he nearly had a stroke yelling at me in his broken English. He followed me into the Men's room still yelling that I could not play there. I thought my time at El Cortez was finished at that point.
I stayed away for 6 months, then one day went back. Didn't see Maurice and played with no issues. A few more trips and no Maurice. I asked about him and he had retired. I am sure I had nothing to do with it. He was a little old guy. Happy retirement Maurice!
I continued playing at El Cortez regularly until Covid hit. There was a tough Italian Mobster looking pit guy named Paul that looked menacing, but actually seemed to like me. He was originally from New Jersey, so he might have just actually been an old mobster. He really looked the part. After Covid I had to switch up how I played, playing higher stakes mostly on the strip during busier weekend nights. I played that style until this Spring when I went back to playing the "local" type casinos and that included El Cortez. Paul also was no longer there. I have been back to playing downtown and El Cortez probably 3 times a month since March.
That ended this weekend. I tried to buy in for $600 and the dealer counted out 24 green chips, but the pit guy was on the phone and said just a minute. He came over and told the dealer to put the chips away. Just about that time an older guy walks up and introduces himself as the owner and CEO of El Cortez. He tell me they ar not going to allow me to play blackjack anymore. He says I can play any other game, but if I try to play blackjack they will trespass me. I respond "ok". What else could I do? Then he offers to buy me lunch. I decline but he says "come on, let's have lunch". Interesting. Lets see where this is going.
Unfortunately, my favorite El Cortez restaurant closed a few months ago. They are going to open a steak house in September. So my "gift" meal is lunch at a burger joint. Fitting. I order a burger and steak fries, It is ok. The CEO/Owner guy asks my name. I tell him I would rather not give it. He asks why. He says "I am not going to make it hard on you, you just can't play here". Then he says he already knows my name. He says I have been playing there for many years and have done pretty well. I respond "I guess." He asks if this is what I do for a living and I say among other things. He says he is impressed, but I don't think he really was. lol.
At the end of lunch, I thank him, we shake hands and he gives me (2) $25 free play chips. He tells me to play roulette or craps, not blackjack. I laugh. I bet the chips on 2 spins of roulette betting black. Neither wins. I guess THAT is fitting. I head for the door in the corner. The one at 6th and Fremont, for what I guess will be the final time. I sort of miss the place already. I always liked that place and never found it to be the "sweaty Spaniard" until my final day. And even that was kind of classy.
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