The Western was the lowest rung of Jackie Gaughan's low-roller casino empire that included the Las Vegas Club, The Plaza, the Gold Spike and El Cortez.

At the time, the AP said about the property, "On a stretch of despair that tourists in Las Vegas seldom see, the Western Hotel-Casino stands out as a beacon for the broke and nearly broken".

[4] In 2005, The Tamares Group acquired total control of the hotel and casino through a lease from Barrick.

On November 15, 2011, the Tamares Group announced that "due to decreased demand at this location", The Western would close on January 16, 2012.

[5] In March 2013, the property was purchased for $14 million by a company affiliated with Tony Hsieh's Downtown Project, a campaign to revitalize the Fremont Street area.