Beginning October 6, 2025, the historic El Cortez Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas has kicked off a new contest: one daring ghost hunter will be awarded $5,000 to spend a weekend investigating alleged paranormal activity in America’s “Old Vegas.”
The challenge invites applicants to roam the hotel’s most haunted corners using gear like EMF meters, EVP recorders, and thermal sensors.
As the city’s oldest continuously operated casino (dating back to 1941), El Cortez sits on Fremont Street, formerly dubbed the “Old Strip.”
How to participate
Over its long history, the venue has been tied to mob tales, murders, and ghost sightings — making it a magnetic spot for the supernatural.
Contest hopefuls who are selected must check in for a December weekend stay and document any eerie findings via photos, video, and a written report. They’ll prowl the casino floor, hallways, and secretive corners under cover of night, following a guided ghost-hunting protocol.
The competition runs from October 6 through October 31, 2025, and the event is positioned as a promotional draw at a time when Vegas visitor costs are notoriously steep.
You can read the Terms and Conditions here. Only US applicants (21+) can apply. You can submit your application on this page.
Discover the Old Las Vegas
Fremont Street, often called “Old Las Vegas”, is where the city’s legend truly began. Long before the neon lights of the Strip, Fremont was the heart of the original Las Vegas, home to its first casinos, hotels, and the city’s earliest electric lights.
Today, it has reinvented itself as a walkable, open-air experience, combining vintage charm with modern spectacle. While the Strip draws luxury-seekers, Fremont attracts those who want the authentic soul of Vegas — street performers, glowing neon, live music, and a sense of history that still feels alive.
Top 5 must-see attractions in Old Las Vegas (Fremont Street):
- Fremont Street Experience – a massive LED canopy with nightly light-and-sound shows.
- Neon Museum – an outdoor gallery preserving Las Vegas’s iconic vintage signs.
- Mob Museum – immersive exhibits on organized crime and law enforcement history.
- Golden Nugget Casino – the oldest continuously operating casino downtown.
- SlotZilla Zipline – a thrilling ride across Fremont’s canopy, flying over the crowd.
Source: NY Post.