So you're planning a trip to Reno and keep seeing the Best Western Plus Boomtown Casino pop up in searches. Is it actually worth the drive, or just another roadside stop with stiff beds and tight slots? Here's the honest rundown: this isn't a Strip property, and it doesn't try to be. It's a hybrid hotel-casino about seven miles west of downtown Reno that relies heavily on locals and savvy travelers looking for better video poker odds than the tourist traps. If you're the type who gets annoyed watching tourists pump $20 bills into penny slots with 85% RTP, this place might be your speed.
Let's cut to what actually matters—the gambling. The casino floor at Boomtown is smaller than the mega-resorts, but that's part of the appeal. You won't walk three miles to find a bathroom or get lost trying to locate the exit. The gaming space covers about 40,000 square feet, which sounds large until you've wandered the corridors of Peppermill or Grand Sierra. What you get instead is a focused selection of machines and tables without the theatrical chaos.
Video poker players are the real target audience here. Boomtown has built a reputation among Northern Nevada locals for offering decent pay tables on games like Double Double Bonus and Deuces Wild. We're talking 9/6 Jacks or Better at higher denominations, not the 6/5 trash you'll find up the road at properties catering to bus tourists. If you don't know what that means, you're probably not the target demographic—but suffice it to say, the house edge on these machines is genuinely beatable with optimal play and a players card that returns a meaningful percentage in cashback.
Table games run the standard spread: blackjack, craps, roulette, and Three Card Poker. Minimums hover around $5-$10 depending on the night, which is refreshing when downtown Reno properties push $15 on weekend evenings. The blackjack rules vary by table, but you'll find some 3:2 games if you ask—avoid the 6:5 tables entirely unless you enjoy donating extra edge to the house.
The Best Western Plus branding sets expectations appropriately. This is a mid-tier hotel attached to a casino, not a luxury resort. Rooms are clean, updated enough that they don't feel like a time capsule, and quiet—which is saying something for a casino property where soundproofing often feels like an afterthought. The property completed renovations in recent years, and it shows in the furnishings and bathroom fixtures.
Rates fluctuate dramatically based on what's happening in Reno. Weeknights in the off-season can see rooms drop to $50-$70, which is genuinely cheap for a branded hotel with casino access. Weekend rates spike when events hit town, but even then, you're often paying less than the downtown properties. The value proposition is straightforward: you trade the convenience of walking distance to other casinos for a quieter room and a lower nightly rate. For players planning to spend most of their time at the tables or machines anyway, that tradeoff makes sense.
One underrated perk: parking is abundant and free. Downtown Reno properties have started charging for parking or making it a hassle with validation systems. At Boomtown, you pull in, park close to the entrance, and walk in. That simplicity matters when you're carrying luggage or just want to grab the car without navigating a parking garage designed by someone who clearly hates drivers.
Casino dining has a reputation for being an afterthought—overpriced mediocrity that exists because you don't want to leave the building. Boomtown does better than that. The property has leaned into having fewer but higher-quality options rather than spreading thin across multiple concepts.
The Steak House is the anchor restaurant, and it's legitimately good. Not Vegas steakhouse good with the accompanying price tag, but solid prime rib, decent cuts, and sides that don't taste like they came from a Sysco bag. Prices land in the $30-$50 entree range, which feels fair for the quality. It's the kind of place where you can actually have a conversation without shouting over slot machine noise.
Casual dining centers on the Country Kitchen Cafe, which handles breakfast well and serves as the late-night option when everything else closes. The food is standard American diner fare—burgers, sandwiches, breakfast served all day. It won't change your life, but after a few hours at the craps table, a decent burger at 2 AM hits different. The food court area has seen various tenants over the years; check what's currently operating if you want quick options like pizza or Asian fusion.
Boomtown's players club ties into the larger Best Western casino network, which means points earned here can be used at sister properties. The immediate value depends on your play level. Slot players earn points at a competitive rate, and the mailers for regular players include decent room discounts and some free play. Video poker players earn points more slowly—the standard tradeoff for playing games with lower house edge—but the cashback rates remain competitive with other local properties.
Promotions run the usual gamut: hot seat drawings, tournament entries, and multiplier days. The property has historically done better with these than many larger casinos because they need to actively attract players to a location that doesn't have foot traffic from tourists just wandering by. This works to your advantage if you're willing to time visits around promotion schedules.
One specific thing worth noting: new member sign-up bonuses tend to be more generous than downtown properties. Casinos fighting for market share usually are. If you've never played at a Best Western casino property before, the initial offer is genuinely worth the few minutes it takes to sign up.
The location is either a feature or a bug depending on your priorities. Boomtown sits in Verdi, about seven miles west of downtown Reno, right off Interstate 80. If you're driving in from California, you hit it before you hit downtown—which makes it a convenient first stop or last stop depending on your direction. If you want to bar-hop between multiple casinos, it's a terrible base. If you want a place to park yourself for a weekend of focused play, the isolation becomes an advantage.
Transportation options are limited. Rideshare services operate here, but expect longer wait times and higher fares than downtown properties. A rental car or your own vehicle is the practical choice. The good news: the location means you're closer to outdoor recreation if that's part of your trip—Lake Tahoe is about 40 minutes away, and the Truckee River runs nearby for fishing or walking.
Context matters. If you're choosing between Boomtown and properties on South Virginia Street (Peppermill, Atlantis, Grand Sierra), you're choosing between a local-focused property with better gambling conditions and full-service resorts with more amenities. Peppermill has better restaurants overall. Atlantis has a better spa. Grand Sierra has more entertainment options. Boomtown has better video poker pay tables and lower table minimums. Your priorities determine the right choice.
Against downtown properties (Eldorado, Silver Legacy, Circus Circus), the comparison shifts. Downtown offers walkability between casinos and proximity to the Riverwalk district. Boomtown offers easier parking, quieter rooms, and gambling conditions that don't feel designed to extract maximum value from tourists who won't know the difference. If you're a serious player, the decision is obvious. If you're in Reno for a weekend of partying, stay downtown.
| Property | Best For | Table Minimums | VP Pay Tables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Western Plus Boomtown | Video poker, value players | $5-$10 | 9/6 available |
| Peppermill | Dining, resort experience | $10-$25 | Varies by machine |
| Eldorado (downtown) | Walkability, nightlife | $10-$15 | Limited good games |
| Grand Sierra | Entertainment, spa | $10-$25 | Poor on floors |
Technically it's in Verdi, Nevada, about seven miles west of downtown Reno. It's close enough that most people consider it part of the greater Reno gambling scene, but you'll need a car to get between Boomtown and downtown properties.
Yes, practically speaking. Rideshare services are available but wait times can be long and fares add up quickly. The property is designed for drive-in visitors, with abundant free parking right outside the entrance.
"Looser" isn't quite the right term, but Boomtown does offer better video poker pay tables than most downtown properties. For slot players, the difference is marginal—slot payback percentages in Nevada are publicly reported and cluster tightly within each region.
No. The property is isolated off Interstate 80 with no other casinos within walking distance. If you want to casino-hop, this isn't the right base. If you want to focus your play in one place with better conditions, that isolation is an advantage.
Yes, all restaurants are open to the public. The Steak House doesn't require reservations but they're recommended on busy weekends. It's become a destination restaurant for locals, which says something about the quality.