Two Las Vegas resorts downtown say under-21 ban is a good thing
Both casino resorts have focused on gaming and bars since the ban.
Both the El Cortez and Circa in downtown Las Vegas have enforced bans for guests who are under 21 years old. Neither resort said it regrets putting under-21 ban in place.
Circa owner Derek Stevens said he is pleased with the decision to push for an adults-only space. The policy has been in effect at Circa since the casino opened in October 2020.
Stevens commented: “It works great for us. That was one thing we wanted to bring into Circa from the beginning. It’s one of the things I may have underestimated, but it’s been a huge, huge success at Circa.”
The El Cortez put the ban in place more recently, with an official policy going into effect on April 1 as part of a two-phase change that will last until the end of this year.
El Cortez General Manager Adam Wiesberg echoed Stevens’ sentiments about prohibiting guests under 21 from entering the resort about and the positive effects the change in policy has had.
Wiesberg said: “The decision to go 21 and older is an easy one with very few, if any, negatives and a whole lot of positives.
“We’re all family people here, we have kids, and we love kids, but when they come into the casino, there’s no pool, there’s no arcade, there’s no food court per se, there’s no shows or any entertainment for anyone under 21, and there’s no real space that isn’t serviced by a bar or gaming in very close proximity. So, when kids enter the property, it’s all challenge and no benefit to us.”
Both Stevens and Wiesberg said they intend to continue focusing on adult-friendly activity in their casinos, with an emphasis on gaming and bars.
Stevens acknowledged incorporating an under-21 ban might not be a good option for every resort. He said that given Circa’s available space and lack of hotel rooms, it was the best option for the resort.
“What I mean by that is we don’t have that many hotel rooms, so when I say we’re giving up all of our business for a hotel for people with minors, remember I’ve got one-tenth the number of rooms MGM Grand has or one-fifth of what the Golden Nugget has,” Stevens said. “So, I figure it really depends on the property. It’s something that differentiates Circa, which I like, but I would certainly say this is not a policy that’s for everyone.”
Wiesberg said the policy change at the El Cortez has opened an opportunity for the staff to concentrate on providing quality customer service.
“We’re laser-focused on the slot floor and providing good odds and a good gamble and then, in the table games, with our liberal games and to support those gamblers, our bars have been expanded over the years to provide the best drink service while you’re playing,” he said. “Everything is focused on gaming and bars here.”
Other Las Vegas casinos are not expected to put a similar ban in place.
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