Housed in the bottom floor of a beautifully restored Victorian hotel, the Wooden Nickel is a small, somewhat low-key casino that exudes character and charm. Located right in the heart of Main Street in downtown Deadwood, it’s just minutes away from many of the major tourist attractions and entertainment venues. To learn more about the casino, the hotel, and more, look no further than our complete Wooden Nickel Casino review.
If you’ve been searching online for a complete and totally honest review of the Wooden Nickel Casino, you’ve come to the right place. In the sections to follow, we’ll be breaking down each individual aspect of the casino and offering a fair assessment at the end. If you’d like to skip ahead and look at some questions we often get asked by our readers, feel free to refer to the FAQ section at the end.
Wooden Nickel Casino: What to Expect
Contents
As briefly mentioned earlier, the Wooden Nickel is quite a modest casino when compared to some of the other all-purpose gambling complexes in Deadwood. However, what it lacks in gaming it makes up for in history and charm. The adjoining hotel, the Martin Mason, boasts Victorian decor, period antiques, and a famous 1898 Victorian Ballroom that hosts memorable events. To learn more about the hotel or any other topic that interests you, use the content navigation tool shown above.
Wooden Nickel Casino Games
It would be fair to say that the Wooden Nickel Casino games collection is probably not its strongest talking point. In total, there are 80 slot machines on the gaming floor, which is small compared to some of the larger gaming complexes in Deadwood. However, the slots that are here are quite varied: players can choose from traditional slots, video slots, and slots that simulate live table games.
Unfortunately, due to its Class II license, there are no live table games here at the Wooden Nickel. This means that favorite classics such as poker, blackjack, roulette, and craps are not available here. However, because of the venue’s prime location, there are plenty of alternative options just a short walk away. Before we offer recommendations, take a look at the complete games list below.
- Traditional Slots
- Video Slots
- Progressive Jackpot Slots
- Video Poker
As can be seen above, the Wooden Nickel Casino games catalog is limited to the 80 slot machines on the gaming floor. If you’re a fan of the reels, great: there’s plenty here to keep you entertained. Card sharks and dice chancers are best advised to look elsewhere. The Silverado Franklin, which is arguably the best casino in town, is just across the road and has a complete games list that includes poker, craps, roulette and bingo.
No Online Games at Present
Online gaming in exchange for real money is not currently permitted in South Dakota (S.D). This is due to strict laws and regulations currently in operation. While these laws have been in place for some time, recent debate in the state legislature gives us reason to believe there may be an amendment to the law towards the end of the year, so we may see online betting introduced sooner than we think. To avoid missing out on news updates, check back here regularly. If there is a breakthrough, we’ll be among the first to know!
No Promotions
Unfortunately, you won’t find any Wooden Nickel Casino promotions here when you visit. This is in part due to the limited casino facilities; however, it would be nice to see just a couple of promotions perhaps for the restaurant or bar. As a result, we are forced to say that we are quite disappointed with the lack of incentives for visitors here.
However, because the venue is so well placed, you’re never far away from top promotions here in Deadwood. A venue with a very solid range of promotions is the First Gold Gaming Resort. It’s a bit further up Main Street towards Whitewood Creek, so it’s set in some really nice natural surroundings. The promotions range includes cash and prize giveaways, food deals, and more.
No Loyalty Program
Much the same as with promotions, there are no loyalty benefits for regular players here at the Wooden Nickel. If you’re making a road trip through the state and happen to pass by the Flandreau Reservation, we recommend you drop into the Royal River for a stay. This exciting, newly renovated venue boasts loads of games, entertainment facilities, and a great loyalty program for returning players. Collect and redeem points on a wide range of services at the venue, or exchange them for cash!
No Sports Betting
Much like online betting, strict rules and regulations currently in operation means that sports betting is severely restricted in S.D. There are a handful of casinos that will take bets on a small selection of horse racing events, but the overall offering is extremely limited. However, as the state is preparing to vote on whether sports betting is to become a fully licensed and regulated enterprise, it is possible the law will be amended in the coming months. To avoid missing out on the latest updates, be sure to check back here regularly.
Explore Historic Deadwood
With a reputation as a real gambler’s haven in S.D, visitors to Deadwood often find themselves wandering from casino to casino to make the most of the outstanding facilities here. However, in addition to the plentiful, top quality casinos around town, there are lots of historic and natural attractions to explore. To learn more about some of these, as well as about the Martin Mason Hotel, continue down to the following sections.
The Martin Mason Hotel
| Hotel Rooms | 5 rooms + 3 suites |
|---|---|
| Price per Night: | $99 – $150 |
| Pool: | Not available |
| Room Service: | Not available |
| Gym/Fitness Studio: | Not available |
| Address: | 33 Deadwood St, Deadwood, SD 57732 |
The famous Martin Mason Hotel is housed upstairs from the Wooden Nickel Casino. It’s a hugely popular venue for out-of-towners looking for an authentic, historic experience in Deadwood. It’s a small venue with just 5 rooms and 3 suites and rates are quite high, so it’s more suited to visitors traveling on a high budget. Also, there aren’t any leisure facilities here such as a pool, fitness suite or spa.
The hotel is located right in the heart of downtown, so not only is it easy to find, it serves as a perfect stepping stone to lots of cool events and attractions around Deadwood. If you’re flying in, the nearest airport is in Rapid City, which is about 40 miles away. If you’re traveling by car, the Interstate 90 — the largest interstate highway in the nation — is the best connection.
The 1898 Ballroom & Outside Attractions
Probably the most impressive non-gambling related attraction here is the 1898 Ballroom. Take a step back in time and experience the venue just as it was in the gold rush era. The period decor and antique furnishings make it a popular choice for weddings, balls, receptions, historic workshops, and other events of the sort. Outside the venue there are plenty more historic monuments, art galleries, museums, and saloon style bars. In addition, Deadwood is surrounded by the scenic Black Hills — explore nearby nature trials and even go skiing during the winter months!
General Company Info
| Owner: | Wooden Nickel |
|---|---|
| Phone Number: | +1 605-722-3456 |
| Gaming License Class: | Class II |
| Number of Games: | 80 |
| Hours: | 24/7 |
| Opened: | 1995 |
| Website: | Mason Martin Hotel |
| Social Media: |
The Wooden Nickel Casino is housed in one of oldest buildings in Deadwood, making it an important historic landmark. It’s located in the former railroad district, which is now the most happening area in Deadwood. Its remarkable restorations, both inside and out, have made it a popular tourist destination — it also helped that the venue appeared on the popular TV dating show, The Bachelor, in 2015!
As we’ve mentioned, the Wooden Nickel Casino is not really renowned for its casino and games facilities. It has a Class II license, so the casino offering is limited to the 80 slot machines on the gaming floor. The gambling floor is, however, open 24 hours and there is food and drink available on site. Learn more about upcoming events, new games, and more via the official Facebook page, which can be accessed using the link in the table above.
Historic Landmark with Limited Gaming
To round up, the Wooden Nickel Casino can’t really compete with the best gaming complexes in Deadwood. While the selection of games is quite varied, there are only 80 slots in total, and there are no live table games, so if you’re a keen gambler looking for a complete gaming experience, you’re probably best advised to go elsewhere. However, if you’d like an authentic, historic experience, or perhaps looking for a unique events space, it’s a perfect match. If you enjoyed reading our Wooden Nickel Casino review, discover more like it on the homepage!
Frequently Asked Questions
Thanks for reading our Wooden Nickel Casino review! We hope we’ve done a good job and provided a balanced, honest review of the venue and all it has to offer. If you have more questions, take a look at the FAQ section below. If, at the end, you still have queries, reach out to us directly using the contact tab.
Are there any dining options?
Yes. The Wooden Nickel serves hot meals and drinks in an area close to the games room. Alternatively, the Lee Street Station Cafe is known far and wide for having one of the best breakfast and lunch menus around. It’s housed in the same building but on the Lee Street Side. To learn more about other non-gambling related activities, skip back up to the attractions paragraph.
Are there promotions here?
Unfortunately, no. Visitors won’t find any Wooden Nickel Casino promotions on arrival — this applies to the casino, hotel, bar, and restaurant. If you’re after promotions, skip back up to our dedicated paragraph where we provide recommendations on where to find the best promotions in town.
What is the hotel here like?
The hotel here is called the Martin Mason. It’s housed above the casino on the upper floors of the building and boasts stunning, Victorian decor and other period furnishings and antiques, making it a great place to host Wooden Nickel Casino events. To learn more about the accommodation arrangements, head back up to our paragraph about the hotel.
Are there any loyalty benefits?
Unfortunately, no. Similar to promotions, there are no perks or benefits for regular visitors at the Wooden Nickel. However, if this is your thing, read our loyalty program paragraph. We provide advice on where to find some of the best loyalty programs in the state.
What kind of license does the Wooden Nickel have?
The Wooden Nickel currently operates with a Class II license. As a result, the games selection is limited to the 80 slot machines on the gaming floor. If you’re after a venue with a more complete games list, why not try the Silverado Franklin? It’s just across the road and has one of the best collections of casino games in town!