When the Fertitta family started their chain of casinos dedicated to locals, they opened the first, interestingly enough, as close as possible to the Strip. In business since 1976, but known then as simply “the Casino,” Palace Station has stood proud over I-15 near Sahara as a reminder to those hotels on Las Vegas Boulevard that the locals have a stake in this town, too. And we’re happy to announce that a 2018 facelift has brought the hotel’s style into the 21st century. Before, the rooms were simply adequate, clean, and comfortable; now they’re worthy of using #highroller as a hashtag on your selfies. The upgraded rooms, in the 21-floor Luxury Tower, are done in earth tones and feature leather-padded headboards, pillow-top mattresses, 55-inch flatscreen TVs, and great views of the Strip.

Palace Station is a required stop for serious players who want to get their money’s worth out of a night of gambling, with lower limits than those a few blocks away on the Strip. More than 100,000 square feet of casino hold the most baccarat and pai gow tile games off the Strip, and an always-busy Asian gaming section. There are more than 1,700 one-armed bandits and video poker machines to chunk your change into (just kidding, machines don’t take or give coins anymore), 44 table games, and a 307-seat bingo hall—the closest to the Strip—that runs from 9am to 11pm 7 days a week.

The beloved the Oyster Bar remains. In fact, it seems that everything else in the newly redesigned casino shifted around the popular eatery. The 10-seat bar still has long lines of hungry regulars who are there for dozens of raw, plump oysters and giant, seafood-filled pan roasts. This spot, like the rest of Palace Station, is no-frills Las Vegas, but will fill you up.