You might not have thought it, but just over 100 hundred years ago, Las Vegas was not the glorious gambling capital of the world that we label it as today. In fact, the only reason for many to even go there was because it had become a popular water stop for railroad and wagon trains.
Fast forward a century and a bit, and the world knows Las Vegas as a massively popular tourist vacation full of food, entertainment, shows, and, of course, gambling. Technically, Las Vegas no longer holds the title of the gambling capital of the world, as Macau actually pulls in far greater revenues from gambling. However, that label has stuck with Nevada despite this, even if it is for more romantic reasons.
The most populous city in the state of Nevada, Las Vegas, relies heavily on the money it pulls in from gambling. Not only through the many illustrious brick and mortar casinos, but also online casinos and sportsbooks, since internet gambling laws were liberalised. This is not the only state that now allows online gambling in the US, As you will see from the list of the best online casinos US from estafa.info.
Las Vegas at the Start of the 20th Century
Located in a harsh desert environment, the fact Las Vegas even exists is an accomplishment in itself. It only grew once water was piped into it back in the early 1900s. However, that water allowed the city to flourish quickly as it became a popular water stop.
Another big reason for Las Vegas becoming what we see of it today is gambling. While illegal in the state until 1931, this was about to change thanks to the construction of the Hoover Dam. The construction of this iconic dam attracted 25,000 workers who would work tirelessly over the next four years. However, so many workers in one place require entertainment during downtime. Illegal gambling grew at a massive rate, at which point Nevada sensed an opportunity to make increased revenue, so legalised gambling. Three casinos quickly opened and although most workers returned home once they completed the dam, the city was now attracting tourists that wanted to see the epic construction whilst also attending legal casinos.
The Mob Years
The city would rather we forgot about this period, but mobsters built a lot of Las Vegas. Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky were the first gangsters that used their ill-gotten gains to open a casino when they built the Flamengo. Attracted by the revenue gambling was bringing in throughout Las Vegas, many other mobsters followed suit. People were literally walking and cycling to Las Vegas to enjoy the nightlife and casinos.
Funded by gangsters’ money, nine more casinos sprang up around Las Vegas. That included Binion’s Horseshoe, Sands, and the Sahara.
Ridding the city of gangsters was down to one man initially, as Howard Hughes made it his mission to clean up the city. Because of him, new laws emerged so that people known to or as the mafia could no longer buy into casinos or resorts. Eventually, through purchasing many properties himself, Hughes drove the mafia out of town. Even once he had left himself and the mafia tried to return, the FBI worked hard to ensure this did not happen.
Another Boom in the 1990s and Early 2000s
At this point, Las Vegas had already been the Gambling Capital of the World for many years, but in the early 90s, this was compounded further. Many new casinos were built first in the 1990s. Big names include the MGM Grand, the Bellagio, and the Venetian. After the turn of the millennium, this growth continued with the addition of the Palms, Wynn, Cosmopolitan, and Planet Hollywood, among several others.
Las Vegas had now cemented itself as the prime location for anyone that enjoyed gambling. This was not only down to the many casinos, but also the shows, restaurants, and entertainment that the city could offer. No other city in the world could offer quite what Las Vegas was. Even today, the city attracts the world’s biggest stars and shows. Adele planned to hold a concert series in the city before it was called off because of COVID and the 2022 Grammy Awards will take place in Las Vegas in April.
The city may fall behind Macau in terms of gambling revenues pulled in, but when you factor in everything about what Las Vegas stands for, you can understand why so many still call it the Gambling Capital of the World. The overall experience, the glitz and glamour, and the entertainment means that this title is unlikely to be associated with any other city in the world.
If you’re yet to taste the charms of Las Vegas, it should sit right at the top of your bucket list!
