Ok, so this isn't your hot and happening hotel/casino in Vegas nor is it located on the strip with all the other hotels, BUT there's a certain charm that I like about this hidden gem in the desert. While it's not on the strip, it's definitely close by the Strip and located right next to the Rio and across the street from the Palms. When me and my boyfriend don't get comp'd or discounted rooms at hotels along the strip, our go to place is the Gold Coast. Defintely, definitely, definitely shell out for the recently remodeled rooms. And by shelling out, I mean an extra $20 or so. Their remodeled rooms almost rival rooms of hotels on the strip :)
The $3 roulette and blackjack tables are a definite plus and if you're not quite in the gambling mood, you can also learn how to salsa in their showroom, bowl in their large bowling alley upstairs or just walk across the street and catch a movie in the Palms movie theater.
The only disappointment was the pool area...extremely small, but other than that this place offers reasonable accomodations for a fraction of the price compared to hotels on the strip.