Four Queens, Binions Back Up After Slots Outage, Other Systems Affected at Downtown Vegas Casinos

Posted on: March 3, 2020, 06:04h. 

Last updated on: March 3, 2020, 12:39h.

Steve Bittenbender Read More
Expertise: Legislation, Sports Betting, Horse Racing.

Six days after slots were taken down at two downtown Las Vegas casinos, service is apparently resuming. However, it’s still not quite business as usual for either the Four Queens Resort and Casino or Binion’s Gambling Hall, its sister property.

A slot machine at Binion’s Gambling Hall last week indicated it was down. Similar outages took place at its sister location, the Four Queen’s Resort and Casino. Both are located in downtown Vegas. (Image: Fox5Vegas)

The trouble started last Wednesday at Four Queens and Binion’s Gambling Hall, which are catty-corner from each other on Fremont Street in downtown Vegas, when systems apparently shut down. That prompted rows upon rows of video slot machines to display dreaded blue screens, indicating they were out of service.

While games were playable Monday at Four Queens, machines were not printing vouchers, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The paper also reported Monday that service had returned to normal at Binion’s.

A spokesman for the Nevada Gaming Control Board told Casino.org Monday they were aware of the outages.

We are actively monitoring the situation,” the GCB said in a statement. “As this is an ongoing investigation, we have no further comment.”

A message to a Binion’s representative was not returned on Monday.

More Than Slots Affected

Las Vegas Locally reported both casinos were hacked last week. Not only did it affect the slots, but it also took out computers responsible for processing loyalty programs, credit card payments, and hotel reservations. ATM machines were apparently affected as well.

The lack of slot play, and the loud buzzing and ringing that accompany the machines, turned the downtown casinos into near ghost towns. Video posted by Las Vegas Locally showed you could hear music being played inside the gaming halls.

One patron reported on social media they could only pay for their hotel room and security deposit with cash over the weekend.

Even as slot play resumed, web sites for both casinos were still down in the overnight hours Tuesday morning. Neither site had posted a Twitter update since Feb. 26.

Casinos Owned by TLC

The two casinos are owned by TLC Casino Enterprises, which is owned by Terry Caudill. The company also owns Skinny Dugans Casino and Lounge, an off-strip venue that apparently wasn’t affected by the outage.

Within the past year, TLC has invested millions into its downtown properties. Last summer, it opened Whiskey Licker Up, a 6,500-square-foot saloon directly above the Whiskey Liquor saloon located at the southwest corner of the Binion’s property.

The cornerstone attraction to the new bar has a rotating bar as its centerpiece. TLC said in a release at the time that it was a first-of-its-kind attraction in Las Vegas.

Binion’s also celebrated the opening of Hotel Apache, a historic 1930s era hotel TLC renovated. The building includes the first electric elevator in Las Vegas, and the boutique hotel features 81 rooms with décor inspired by the building’s nearly 90-year history.

TLC’s investments downtown have come as others have also looked to attract visitors off the Strip. The Fremont Street Experience invested $32 million to install new panels for its signature Viva Vision light show attraction in the area. Recently, the Downtown Grand topped off construction of its new seven-story tower hotel.

By the end of this year, developer Derek Stevens is expected to open the 777-room Circa Resort and Casino. The nearly $1 billion investment will be the first new construction casino in downtown Vegas in about 40 years.