Is Las Vegas Really The Gambling Capital Of The World?
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If you ask people today where they think the gambling capital of the world is, many will say Las Vegas, which is also often referred to as Sin City. Las Vegas is located in Clark County, Nevada, and since it was founded in 1905, it has become one of the most glamorous cities in the world. Although people are mainly attracted to the city for its world-famous land-based casinos, such as Caesar’s Palace, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Circus Circus, and The Bellagio, there’s more to do than just spend your time at the slots and tables.
Las Vegas also boasts some of the best restaurants in the world, along with the hottest shows, conventions, museums, and theatres. There are plenty of outdoor activities too, plus the city also plays host to major sporting events, such as Boxing, Basketball, NFL, NHL, UFC, and much more. Here are some of the top reasons why Las Vegas is still the gambling capital of the world.
The early days of Las Vegas
Las Vegas was founded in 1905. The city’s founding and subsequent growth was assured after a new railroad was opened that linked Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, and among the first people to settle were farmers. Further expansion of the city didn’t really occur until just after 1931, when construction of the Hoover Dam (formerly the Boulder Dam) began.
New jobs were created, which led to a massive wave of new young men coming to the area to earn a living in construction and building. The influx of workers also saw the population climb from around 5,000 to 25,000 citizens in just a short time. At this point, entertainment venues, such as casinos and theatres, started popping up, and they were largely controlled by shadowy underworld figures, although not every business owner was affiliated to the Mafia.
The huge engineering feat provided enough electricity to power Las Vegas, which led to more buildings, such as hotels, being constructed along the main strip. Gambling was legalized in Las Vegas in 1931 as a way for local businesses to make money, and the city never looked back, growing from strength to strength and rising from nothing to becoming the city it is today.
Overcoming problems
Although Las Vegas has had its fair share of problems throughout its relatively brief history, such as frequent droughts, a mortgage crisis, and a global pandemic, it always manages to bounce back and find a way of recovering, which is why the gambling capital of the world is still regarded by many as being Las Vegas.
Top things to do in Las Vegas
Here are some of the most popular things to do while staying in Vegas. If you’re interested in history, you may want to start by taking an excursion to the Hoover Dam, which took around 21,000 men just five years to complete. There are plenty of guided tours of the dam, or you can just visit the site alone in a hire car and take some fantastic pictures from the iconic bridge above, or from a boat below on Lake Mead. If you enjoy visiting the Hoover Dam, then you may also like to check out the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and the Las Vegas Springs Preserve.
Sports fans who want to take in a little sporting action can watch the NHL’s Las Vegas Golden Knights playing at the T-Mobile Arena, and for those of you with a slightly darker side or morbid curiosity/fascination with the Mafia, there’s The Mob Museum to visit. Speaking of museums, don’t forget to visit the National Atomic Testing Museum. If you’re not too bothered about excursions or guided tours, then you may like to start by checking out the iconic Las Vegas Strip – a 4.2-mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard where most of the city’s casinos and hotels are situated.
While visiting, remember to catch a glimpse of the truly spectacular Fountains of Bellagio, and make sure you check out everything that Caesar’s Palace has to offer, such as the OMNIA disco venue. In addition, you also have the luxurious Venetian Las Vegas to visit, with its impressive entertainment complex and outdoor gondolas. Other top attractions include the Peppermill, the Park Theatre, and the old Fremont Street casino district experience.
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Finally, you have the Spa at the Linq, the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, the Neon Museum, Ferraro’s Restaurant and Bar, the High Roller Observation Wheel, and the Pinball Hall of Fame, to name just a few safe and memorable things to see and do during your stay at the gambling capital of the world.
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