Red Garter Casino, Las Vegas, Triblend Tee

Venue History

The Red Garter Casino, tucked into the heart of downtown Las Vegas on Fremont Street, opened on May 23, 1972 and operated until February 17, 1975. Located in a compact footprint just steps from the iconic neon steep of “Glitter Gulch,” it represented the smaller, independent-casino era of downtown gaming in the early 1970s. Initially licensed for a full complement of games—slots, 21, craps, bingo and poker—it was operated by Anthony Antonacci, who held 100% ownership when the license was approved in 1972. Underneath the noisy bustle of Fremont’s neon and spectacle, Red Garter staked a claim by appealing to the everyday gambler seeking a more approachable play experience than the large resorts. Inside, the casino floor was modest but lively: a dense array of slot machines, a handful of table games, and a bar/lounge providing drinks and cheap eats. One of its trademark promotions was the giveaway of actual red garters as souvenirs—an early example of marketing gimmicks used by downtown casinos to stand out. Despite the effort, the Red Garter struggled in a rapidly shifting marketplace. The mid-1970s saw downtown Las Vegas under pressure: mega-resorts on the Strip were starting to dominate, tourism tastes were evolving, and the compact independents found it harder to compete. According to the Fuller Index, the Red Garter’s license expired in early 1975 and the building was soon incorporated into the expansion of the adjacent Fremont Hotel & Casino. Today, the physical building that housed the Red Garter is gone, subsumed by later redevelopment of the Fremont area. But its memory lingers among collectors of Las Vegas history—vintage matchbooks, slot-glass souvenirs and photos capture a brief, colorful chapter. In many ways, the Red Garter Casino symbolizes the transitional moment in downtown Las Vegas—a time when small independent operators still carved out space amid giants, before the age of mega-resorts and corporate consolidation. While the Red Garter never reached legendary status, its story is a meaningful reminder of Las Vegas’s layered past: the gritty, entrepreneurial gambling halls that once dotted Fremont Street’s neon canyons and helped shape the city’s unique spirit. Today, Red Garter Casino’s former property at 234 Fremont Street is a part of the famed Fremont Street Experience.