Las Vegas is a far cry from its humble beginnings, now boasting an incredible population of three million. Casinos and resort complexes have made this sleepy town sparkle with life like no other place on Earth! From dazzling lights to awe-inspiring attractions, Las Vegas has become the spiritual capital of gambling. Travelers can experience this remarkable transformation first-hand when they visit what was once just a forgotten desert town.
Since its inception in 1906, the city of Las Vegas has experienced tremendous growth and perpetual evolution leading to the rise and eventual fall of many prominent casinos. Though these establishments no longer exist today, their legacy still lingers through Sin City’s culture and character. Now, it is known for its flash poker hand ranking and flashy neon signs, but this was not here in the beginning. Let’s dive in to see its journey!
A Railroad Town
In May 1905, the Los Angeles and Salt Lake railroad company sold 110 acres of land, which marked the beginning of Las Vegas. It only took a year for its first casino to appear: Golden Gate–the hotel-casino located at 1 Fremont Street where you could get both room and board for an astonishingly low price–just one dollar!
On June 1, 1911, Las Vegas–which was then nothing more than a railroad town–voted to become incorporated officially. For two decades afterward, it remained somewhat subdued and sleepy; however, 1931 marked the beginning of its journey towards becoming the vibrant metropolis we know today, brandishing great poker rankings due to two significant catalysts. A change in local divorce laws meant anyone who had resided within Las Vegas for six weeks could file for divorce–consequently leading to an influx of “divorce tourists” arriving in the city.
In 1931, the construction of the Hoover Dam just east of Las Vegas initiated an influx of thousands upon thousands to the city. Consequently, casinos and other leisure outlets along Fremont Street were conceived.
The Emergence of The Casino Life
In 1941, the iconic Las Vegas Strip became a legendary destination. The first 온라인카지노사이트 on the Strip–just outside of city limits–was created by Thomas Hull and named El Rancho Vegas. Although the primary purpose of this development project was to provide accommodations for weary travelers, it quickly became an instant hit! High rollers could be seen everywhere, and everyone couldn’t stop talking about poker card rankings. Its success soon motivated others to build their structures along Highway 90, including Bugsy Siegel, who wanted in on this profitable business venture.
When Siegel purchased El Cortez, a casino in Fremont Street, for $600,000, he was met with hostility from law enforcement who were aware of his ties to The Mob. He began seeking potential casinos with great poker hand strength that could be built away from the city limits and eventually came across Billy Wilkerson’s plan for Flamingo–a resort. When Siegel proposed to fund the project under a guise of an honest businessperson, Wilkerson gladly accepted without hesitation.
After acquiring two-thirds of Flamingo from Wilkerson, Siegel ruthlessly intimidated him so much that he had to flee to Paris. With complete control over the project, Siegel faced a daunting cost of $6 million for it to open its doors in 1946, albeit unsuccessfully at first. Nevertheless, other Mob members were determined and reopened the resort more successfully in 1947. Despite being incredibly expensive and difficult to build, The Mob managed something unique: an extravagant hotel-casino offering visitors a “Las Vegas experience” like never before!
The Mob’s Flamingo casino provided an unparalleled experience of luxurious entertainment and high-stakes gambling, earning a remarkable $4 million in profits in 1948. Inspired by their success, the Mob opened other casinos on the Strip, such as Frontier and Sands–furthering Las Vegas’ reputation for offering full experiences to its guests.
Meanwhile, Benny Binion garnered acclaim when he launched his Horseshoe Casino located at Fremont Street in 1951–which became renowned worldwide soon afterward.
Entering an Unprecedented Age of Luxury: Wynn and The Megaresort Era
Although Las Vegas flourished throughout the 50s and 60s, The Mob’s publicized success in investing in early casinos could not stay that way. Along with two recessions (1973-1975 and 1981-1982), this significantly affected its economy, leading to stagnation for the city during the 70s and 80s.
In the late 1970s, Las Vegas was facing a crisis of stagnation; as Resorts International opened its doors in Atlantic City in 1978, many people questioned whether or not Sin City and its poker hand strength would be able to keep up. Enter Steve Wynn–his ambitious plan for The Mirage created an opportunity for revitalization alongside luxury–it cost $630 million and opened on the Strip 10 years later in 1989. With Wynn at the helm, there is no doubt that Las Vegas can continue to thrive long into the future!
The immense complex was the first megaresort to open on the Strip and marked a significant milestone in Las Vegas history, prompting an extensive construction surge throughout the 1990s. Wynn’s own Treasure Island, MGM Grand, Luxor, Bellagio, and Venetian–among many other iconic casino resorts–were opened during this decade due to this pinnacle moment. These grand resorts were designed to give middle-class individuals access to the extravagance at affordable prices while also encouraging families to vacation together.
Decades ago, Las Vegas was infamous for its harsh gambling and raucous entertainment venues. But rather than perpetuate this stereotype of the city, many resorts have taken a different approach to pave the way for Las Vegas in the 21st century–making them some of today’s most iconic landmarks! Now, it’s known for both its sport on poker cards order and amazing landscapes.
Gambling revenue in Macau exceeded that of Las Vegas in 2006, yet Sin City still stands as the most renowned gambling hub worldwide. Thanks to its defining landmarks like The Mirage and subsequent megaresorts, corporate investment poured into the city, initiating a new era with immense financial gains for Nevada’s entertainment capital.
Exploring Vegas in the Digital Age: Discovering What The City of Lights Has To Offer Now and Into the Future
Although the megaresort fervor that gripped Las Vegas in the 90s has not yet lost its vigor, this was made evident with the unveiling of Resorts World Las Vegas–a 3,500-room resort open to all as early as 2021.
With its grand opening, the Resorts World complex in Las Vegas gave us an idea of what we can expect from casinos in the future–and technology will be a significant game-changer. For instance, this megaresort allows cashless betting at slots and tables with their accompanying app that also facilitates all transactions digitally, including food and entertainment!
Although Las Vegas was once known mainly for its gambling and flexing the poker hand hierarchy, it has become a significant tourist destination due to the world-class sports teams, expansive convention centers, and array of restaurants and activities. Traditional casinos still reign in this vibrant city, with more than 150 casinos scattered throughout the area and 31 situated along the iconic Strip.
Nonetheless, one of the most significant changes looming for Las Vegas casinos is the emergence of virtual online gambling. Concerns have been voiced that realistic digital betting experiences with live dealers could reduce visitors to Sin City. Want to get in on the action? You can head over to GGPoker, the world’s largest poker room. Sign up now!
