Inside the Back Alley Casino in Missoula

If you’ve ever spent time at the Thomas Meagher Bar (pronounced “Mar,” but don’t worry, nobody gets it right the first time), you know it’s way more than some downtown watering hole. Cold beer, wall-to-wall TVs, a killer menu, and now, a casino.

We’ll come back to the shiny new Back Alley Casino in a moment, but first, the name. Thomas Francis Meagher was more than just some Irish dude with a cool mustache. He was an Irish revolutionary, tossed out by the British, who fled to America, fought in the Civil War, and ultimately became the acting governor of Montana Territory. You know, that’s like if Braveheart was elected mayor of Bozeman. Total legend.

The bar does him proud. Order Irish classics like shepherd’s pie or pasties, or keep it simple with some of the best wings and burgers in town. It’s honestly one of the only places you can still get real Irish pub food and watch the Stanley Cup Final without having to tug on the bartender’s sleeve to switch the channel.

And now? You can stroll to the rear and encounter a full-on casino. It’s called the Back Alley Casino, and yes, it’s actually in the back alley. Clean setup, smooth machines, and a vibe that better says “Missoula grown-up fun” than “weird uncle’s basement.” It fits. And it works.

So now it’s pints, sports, shepherd’s pie, and possibly a lucky spin, all under one roof. Meagher would have raised a glass to that.

Check out the photos of the NEW Back Alley Casino