Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to clarify that the second phase of construction, which included the remainder of the casino floor, is now complete and open.
Ellis Island Casino & Hotel is deep into its glow up. The family-owned off-Strip property has completed Phase 2 of its $35 million renovation, opening the remaining sections of the expanded casino floor to the public earlier this month. With the gaming floor now fully online, crews are shifting focus toward the property's restaurants and entertainment spaces. This next phase of work centers on the karaoke lounge, Ellis Island BBQ, and the Village Pub & Café, all while the rest of the operation keeps humming along. It follows a sweeping first phase finished in September that reshaped the street-facing side of the property and added new bars and a sportsbook.
According to KLAS, the expansion has been a multi-stage upgrade plan. While the casino floor is now fully operational, work is starting this month on the dining venues and the karaoke space, which are slated for completion later this year.
Phase 1 and 2 recap
The initial phases nearly doubled the size of the casino floor and installed a new centerpiece bar with 25 seats set under a 50-foot-by-11-foot LED screen, along with a reimagined high-limit area and a permanent Boomer’s Sportsbook, Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The expansion also nudged the building closer to the sidewalk and wrapped the exterior in a digital facade that packs more than 1,200 square feet of LEDs. The most recent completion earlier this month finalized the interior gaming space, including the opening of the full casino floor.
What's Next
The upcoming construction push is aimed at refreshing the Village Pub & Café, Ellis Island BBQ, and the karaoke lounge while keeping other amenities open, according to Ellis Island Casino & Hotel. The property's "Coming Soon" page says those spaces will be updated in a way that preserves its "Old Vegas" character, with completion projected by the end of the year. The Village Pub and The Front Yard beer garden are set to remain in service throughout the renovation work.
Design and what guests will see
Designers leaned on brighter materials and wider sightlines, including marble columns, floor-to-ceiling windows and custom artwork, to give the expanded floor more of a social, bar-and-table vibe, Travel Weekly noted during the Phase 1 debut. Steelman Partners, the project architect, said the goal is to "create energy and connection" while staying approachable for both locals and visitors. The new gaming space also features additional slot machines and a rooftop bar called The Deck that looks out toward the Strip.
Why it matters for locals
Ellis Island's leadership has been clear that the cosmetic upgrades will not come at the expense of its bargain reputation. "It’s in our core values," Christina Ellis-Stalker told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, adding that low drink prices, $5 table games and regular promotions are not going anywhere. For longtime regulars and Strip workers who treat the property as a post-shift hangout, that promise is a key part of why the overhaul matters.
Managers say the phased schedule is meant to keep disruptions in check and allow most of the casino to stay open while work continues. Guests can expect to see the refreshed dining and entertainment venues reopen later this year as the final pieces of the $35 million project come back online.
