Key Takeaways
- Oyo Hotel & Casino on Tropicana Avenue stopped selling alcohol at 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, according to signage at the property reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
- It is the second time in about 12 months the off-Strip casino has gone without booze.
- Oyo has not given an official reason. A casino employee told Casino.org’s Vital Vegas it was “an insurance lapse,” but no explanation has been confirmed.
What’s Happening
If you head to Oyo, just east of the Strip at 115 E. Tropicana Ave., this week expecting a drink at the bar or on the casino floor, you won’t get one. Signs posted at the former Hooters Casino Hotel say alcohol sales are temporarily suspended, and the pause took effect Friday morning.
The property has not said why, and Casino.org reports it is not responding to media questions. Besides the insurance explanation an employee gave Vital Vegas, other sources have pointed to possible tax or licensing problems. None of those theories has been independently confirmed, so treat them as unverified for now.
This has happened before. In October 2025, Oyo lost the ability to sell or serve alcohol for about 10 days after it ended its management agreement with hotel operator Highgate, which held the property’s liquor license. According to Casino.org, that split followed a dispute over Highgate’s handling of a January 2025 cyberattack that exposed personal information of roughly 4,700 guests and employees.
It has been a rough year for the property in other ways too. In August, Oyo showed up on Expedia and Booking.com under the names “Palette Las Vegas” and “Collection O Las Vegas,” which drew criticism. Parent company Prism said those listings were tied to planned branding changes and went public before renovations were finished. No rebrand has happened since. Also in August, reports said Fifth Street Gaming was preparing to take over casino operations from longtime operator Paragon Gaming, pending regulatory approval.
What It Means for Las Vegas
A casino without drinks is rare in this town, and comped cocktails are a big part of why people sit down to gamble. For visitors staying at Oyo, it means walking to a neighboring resort or a nearby bar for a drink. For locals who play there, the slots and tables are still open, but the free-drink perk is off the table until sales resume. Hotel guests who booked expecting a full-service bar may want to call ahead.
What to Watch Next
- When alcohol sales come back, and whether Oyo or regulators explain what caused the pause.
- Whether Fifth Street Gaming’s planned takeover of casino operations wins approval and moves forward.
- Any renovation or rebranding announcement from parent company Prism.
Sources
- Casino.org: Oyo Las Vegas Halts Alcohol Sales for Second Time in a Year
- Las Vegas Review-Journal: Off-Strip hotel-casino temporarily suspends alcohol sales for second time in a year
For informational purposes only; not financial, investment or legal advice.