Las Vegas, Spanish for ‘The Meadows,’ was named for its spring-fed water. Recognized in 1905, it became an oasis for the Union Pacific Railroad. The city celebrated its centennial in 2005, though it always loves a party.
Incorporated in 1911, Las Vegas increased during the Great Depression. The construction of the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River attracted thousands of workers.
The state of Nevada was the pioneer in legalizing gambling. Las Vegas’s gaming industry began in 1931. A downtown club in Clark County was granted a gaming license for three months. The famous Strip, south of downtown, started as a dusty road.
The Strip is outside city limits and under Clark County’s jurisdiction. The Flamingo resort opened there in 1946. It was funded by mobsters Benjamin Siegel (‘Bugsy’) and Meyer Lansky.
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The Golden Age of Las Vegas: From Unregulated Fun to Iconic Resorts
In the early days, Las Vegas had few restrictions:
- There is no state speed limit.
- No state income or sales tax.
- There is no waiting period for marriage licenses.
- Unregulated gambling
People gambled with silver dollars, later replaced by plastic chips.
The 1950s saw a boom, with Elvis, the Rat Pack, and Liberace making Vegas a vacation hotspot.
In the 1960s, coin slot machines turned into computerized dollar slots. This allowed for larger bets and payouts. The payouts reached millions in progressive jackpots. Original resorts like The Flamingo, Riviera, and The Tropicana still operate today. The iconic showgirl cabarets began at Minsky’s Follies at the Dunes Resort in 1957. They became a key part of Las Vegas casinos.
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The Rise of Las Vegas Shows and Mega-Resorts
The Convention Center opened in 1959 to keep rooms filled during slow months. Now, it has 1.5 million square feet of exhibit space. It hosts over 5.5 million convention-goers each year.
In the 1960s, well-known casinos like Caesars Palace opened. Older resorts kept their traditional charm, while newer ones followed current trends.
Las Vegas has always undergone significant transformations. It went from spots for families to hotspots for adults and convention goers. In the 1990s, old resorts imploded. They made way for massive resorts like The Stratosphere. It was also for Bellagio, Venetian, Mandalay Bay, and Wynn.
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The “New Vegas”
Giant casinos now rule the Strip, transforming it from a dusty road into a bustling attraction. People praise Steve Wynn. He designed and developed the most famous, luxurious Las Vegas hotels. Each new addition is fancier than the last. The focus has changed from gambling to being upscale.
Wynn’s changes began downtown. He sold The Golden Nugget to build The Mirage, Treasure Island, and Bellagio. With his latest hotels, he created new luxuries. They were mainly expensive, and each was an unbelievable success story. He also imported the Cirque du Soleil acrobatic show from Canada. He brought it to his Treasure Island resort. After almost two decades, the shows, now recognized as ‘Mystere,’ are ongoing. Since then, seven Cirque du Soleil shows have played. They were big hits.
In 2000, the MGM Grand Corporation added Mirage, Treasure Island, and Bellagio to its portfolio. After this, Wynn focused on a new 50-story, $2.7 billion project. In 2005, it transformed Desert Inn into Wynn Las Vegas, which was now known as the most luxurious resort in the city. Wynn pursued further development near his esteemed hotel by introducing his Encore Resort in 2010.
Wynn’s expansions did not stay local. In 1997, Macau (once Portuguese) became one of two new regions in China. In an instant, an opportunity came into being. Portuguese government officials had legalized gambling back in 1850. China decided to continue this policy. ‘Wynn Macau’ opened its doors in 2006, expanding to dozens of casinos. 2007 marked a unique event. Macau overtook Las Vegas in generating gaming
