Golden Gate Casino to Shut Down All Live Table Games Come August 2025
Golden Gate Casino Bids Farewell to Live Table Games
In a significant shift for the casino industry, the Golden Gate Casino in downtown Las Vegas has announced the removal of all live table games by the end of August 2025. This decision marks the end of an era for the oldest casino property in the area, which will instead introduce "high-energy" slot machines and electronic table games to create a new gambling experience.
With this change, the number of casinos in downtown Las Vegas offering live table games will be reduced to 11. However, it's worth noting that some of these casinos only have live tables available on weekends.
The decision at the Golden Gate Casino was partly inspired by the financial success seen at another downtown casino, Circa, owned by Derek Stevens. Circa replaced live tables on one floor with electronic alternatives and saw a boost in popularity.
This shift away from live table games is driven by rising operational costs, particularly labor for games like craps, and slower visitor traffic at older properties like the Golden Gate, which lacks many amenities. Industry observers expect this trend of phasing out live tables in favor of electronic formats to continue at a rate of about two properties per year.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported a decrease in visitor numbers, with 3.1 million visitors in June 2025, a drop of 11.3% compared to the previous year. This decline in visitor traffic, coupled with the financial motivations, points to a continued shift in the casino industry.
Employees affected by these changes are being offered positions at sister properties such as Circa and The D. The Golden Gate casino is adapting to these changes by embracing electronic table games and reassigning its table staff to other properties.
The trend of phasing out live tables in downtown Las Vegas casinos is attributed to generational shifts, changing entertainment habits, and economic pressures. As the casino industry evolves, it's clear that traditional live dealer tables are giving way to more modern, electronic alternatives.
References: [1] Las Vegas Review-Journal. (2025, July 1). Golden Gate Casino to remove live table games. Retrieved from https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gambling/golden-gate-casino-to-remove-live-table-games-2666916/
[2] CDC Gaming Reports. (2025, June 15). Circa Casino's Success with Electronic Tables Inspires Downtown Shift. Retrieved from https://www.cdcgaming.com/news/circa-casinos-success-with-electronic-tables-inspires-downtown-shift/
[3] Casino.org. (2025, August 1). Golden Gate Casino to Eliminate Live Table Games. Retrieved from https://www.casino.org/news/golden-gate-casino-to-eliminate-live-table-games/
[4] Global Gaming Business. (2025, July 15). Downtown Las Vegas Casinos Embrace Electronic Games. Retrieved from https://www.globalgamingbusiness.com/news/downtown-las-vegas-casinos-embrace-electronic-games/
The removal of live table games at Golden Gate Casino in Las Vegas will mark a diminished number of casinos in the area offering these games, leaving only 11. The casino industry's shift to electronic games, such as the high-energy slot machines and electronic table games to be introduced, reflects a broader trend driven by generational shifts, changing entertainment habits, and economic pressures, and follows in the footsteps of successful moves towards such changes seen at downtown casinos like Circa.
