the place was looking really good (it looks even better now) and the employee moral was sky-high.
The security guard that walked me around told me that when the renovation team pulled out the old ventilation system, it had NEVER been cleaned in 30+ years and the "crud" was 4 inches thick in the duct system interior. Instead of trying to clean the crud out, the entire ventilation system was torn out and replaced. And yes, I could tell 5 feet into the doorway that the air system was much, much better.
The guard also told me that the previous owners were so cheap that they would not spend a dime anywhere in the Spike. He told me that the ex-owners would not even buy the employees pens to do their work with. So employees either brought pens from home or had to sometimes run to the Fitz or Fremont and beg a few pens from the slot club. He said that other casino employees would feel sorry for the Spike employees and would occasionally bring them handfuls of pens, paper, paper clips, etc when they got off work at other downtown casinos.
One thing that brought a HUGE grin to the guard's face was although the rooms have not been fully renovated yet, supposedly they have been thoroughly cleaned and brightened up (new bed spreads, towels, etc). He was super-happy that the Spike's new owners told the staff that if icky people show up with bedrolls (ie: homeless with a few bucks looking for a cheap room) that the staff is to "turn them away".
I don't know about the hookers, etc after dark. I only went during the day (before the new owners) and found the patrons to be mostly elderly downtown residents playing penny video poker, sitting at the old bar, etc. Nothing scary about any of them.
All in all, I wish the Spike much success...if only for the employees - they've been through enough!