by Vaughan Williams

Created on: December 04, 2008   Last Updated: February 09, 2009

Gambling in Las Vegas started primarily as a response to the entertainment needs of the male construction workers from the nearby Boulder Dam (later to become the Hoover Dam). Gambling was legalized in Nevada in 1931 and was organized and regulated, with the first gambling license issued to the Northern Club, the Las Vegas Club and Apache Hotel swiftly following. Close, cheap energy from Hoover Dam enabled each casino to reach new heights of flashing lights and bright signage designed to lure potential gamblers to their establishments.

An air force base was established near Las Vegas in 1941, and soon caused the prohibition of prostitution, which had been legal until that point. However, the influx of soldiers more than made up for any lost revenue, and larger, higher-class hotels began to make an appearance. By 1946, the mob had come to Las Vegas, and Bugsy Siegel built The Flamingo in 1946. In spite of its initial lack of success, other mobsters saw the potential inherent in a mob-run casino, and by organized crime was so tied in with casinos and gambling that federal regulation of the casinos was threatened, though narrowly averted.

Gambling continued unabated throughout the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Industry sprang up to support the casinos: an airport in 1948, a convention center in 1959, and with expansion came more people to work the casinos. Gourmet-class buffets and the hiring of major stars like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin to put on shows guaranteed that gamblers were kept entertained and happy during their stays at the hotels. Howard
Hughes' foray into casino ownership in 1966 set a new standard for a more refined, less Wild West gambling experience, and with desegregation came even more revenue as minorities were allowed to spend their money.

Then came the
megaresorts. Megaresorts are massive, all-inclusive establishments that contain not only lodgings and casinos, but restaurants, shops, shows, and even golf courses and amusement parks. When the International Hotel was built in 1969, it was the largest hotel in the world. To this day, it runs the largest sport and race betting book in the state of Nevada. Megaresorts often have themes that are applied throughout, such as Caesars Hotel (ancient Roman), Excalibur Hotel and Casino (medieval Arthurian), and The Venetian (renaissance Italy).

Currently, the largest hotel and casino in Las Vegas is the MGM Grand Hotel Casino, with over 6,000 guest rooms or suites. It also boasts nine restaurants, 16 restaurants, two food courts, the largest casino in the county, and encapsulated habitats containing live lions. Clearly, Las Vegas is nowhere near ending its reign as the supreme gambling location of the world.

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