Emerald Queen Hotel & Casino - Fife

The hotel is close to the conference center, which was the most useful part of my two-night stay. My room was clean but dated, and the smoke coming into my supposed non-smoking room through the HVAC was awful. My eyes burned, my nose got stuffy, and I slept badly. The pool and spa were closed, and the fitness room only had a few cardio machines, no weights. I also ordered a salad to go from Tatoosh Grill. The server seemed bothered by the order, and after more than 30 minutes I asked staff to check. It took seconds to get the food, as if it had been ready but nobody had bothered to bring it out. The stay was mediocre at best, and I wouldn't return after feeling like I'd smoked five packs by the end.

For dinner, we had the family-style Chinese meal for two at Tatoosh Grill. It was a huge amount of food for a very reasonable price, and the nighttime view of I-5 traffic was surprisingly nice. If you're going, use your Player's Club card: you can choose $15 in free play if you give them your email, or $15 to spend in the deli. I also earned a $20 meal voucher. A solid, affordable night out.

The bartenders at Eqc are great, and that's the only reason I occasionally return. The gambling has been the worst I've experienced in Washington. After moving to Tacoma, I went weekly for nearly a year, but the money disappeared fast and the player rewards were lousy. Their free play is laughable and the comps aren't much better. I switched to Muckleshoot, where I get three times the free play and fully comped rooms for less than a third of what I used to gamble at Eqc. My money lasts longer there too. Edit: I’d rate this zero if I could. I learned that starting in 2026, weekly free play can't be redeemed on Sundays. Watch your ticket closely too. People walk around picking up leftovers, and even a 30-second lapse can mean someone takes yours. I've also been asked for money here more than at every other casino I've ever visited combined.

It's a casino, so what do you expect? The Fife EQC was still a good place, with clean rooms, friendly staff, and no one bothering us in our room. If you can afford it, I'd say the newer EQC on Portland Ave in Tacoma is a little nicer, with a brand new hotel. This one isn't bad, it just depends on what you're looking for and what you want to do there.