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This little local’s casino seems misplaced. Most places with the kind of good gambling and decent deals offered here are so far off the strip that we need a car or bus to get to them. We can walk to Ellis Island.It is not a fancy place, but it gives good value.The bargain gambling starts with free bingo every weekday morning at 9am. Players must bring their own bingo markers or buy one there. No sharing. Cash prizes are small, but it is free. Often my gambling buddy Wild Bill and I have a side bet on the bingo to see who buys breakfast.The food at Ellis Island is classic diner food and well prepared. 24/7 there is a legendary off-the -menu special steak dinner that comes with salad and a pile of garlic buttered green beans as well as potato and either a large microbrew or a homemade root beer. All for under $8. The beef is not one of those thin, rather tough bits on most diner specials. It is thick, cooked to order, tender and juicy with enough thickness to make medium rare mean something.In the evening the barbecue is open with other taste specials. It gets good ratings. In some weather, diners can eat outside.The American Casino Guide can be paid for with just the value of the coupons for Ellis Island. There is one that acts as a $10 slots matchplay, one that gives four free drinks, and a 2 for 1 menu item (not for the unadvertised steak special) for the cafe. I recommend the prime rib. And solo diners can get 50% off a menu item.Microbrews are good and inexpensive. I best like a seasonal Octoberfest brew the best but any ale will do.On some days there are specials on some meals or perhaps specials for seniors.Gambling includes 9/6 JOB in quarters and Ellis is the closest place to the strip to find this pay table in quarters.Evenings Karaoke happens in the main bar.There is no live poker and rarely is there a craps game. Blackjack and 21 tables are usually open. Since this casino serves locals, it is hard to imagine that its slots are as tight as those just down the street on the strip. That is always a tough thing to calculate, but my bet is the slots pay off much better here.Next to Ellis is a Super 8 which has the distinction of offering the most amenities of any strip area hotel, but offering them free without resort fees. These include a free shuttle to and from the airport, free wifi, a coin laundromat (wifi there as well), free coffee maker in the room and a free coffee machine in the lobby with specialty tastes, HBO and TCM on television, free small but heated pool open 24 hours, and Wyndham Rewards credits if you book directly. There are some rooms that allow pets as well. I have stayed in the small rooms there and been very comfortable. I liked having the Ellis Island food so close by.The desk clerks take good care of customers. I overheard them extend the stay of a large German group at the same rate they had booked when the group had some plane difficulties, When I mixed up my reservations once, they took care to see I had enough nights. Often I see airline pilots and stewardesses staying there. Whenever I have to really pay full price for a room, I pick this spot. Weekend prices do not go up as much as they do in casino hotels so a week there might be less than a week at Gold Coast, for example. However, when booking online, you do have to watch the cancellation rules. On some of their rate structures there is no refund whatsoever once you have booked. For some odd reason, another and sometimes cheaper rate schedule will give the standard liberal cancellation times. Just read carefully before you book. Call too. I often find they can give me just as good a price over the phone for AARP rates.It is a ten minute walk to the strip. However, there is a bus across Flamingo that will take you there or to the Gold Coast, Rio and Palms and coming back by bus is easy as well. There is also a bus directly in front of the Super 8 that will take you to the Fashion Show Mall. Check these schedules after September 2011 as some may change.I once hosted a meet of some discussion board friends at Ellis and about six of us met with our coupons for drinks and talk. The more upscale, enclosed bar does not take all coupons, but they let us carry our coupon drinks in to sit at a quiet table there for a fine meetup. In the evening this would be hard, but in the afternoon on a weekday it was no trouble.
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