SolveYourProblem.com
Article Series: Las Vegas
What Must I See In Las Vegas?
Las
Vegas Casinos - The History
Las Vegas used to be pit stop for travelers
traversing the treacherous countryside that was the Old
Spanish Trail. This trade route took weary pack trains through
the high mountains, the hot deserts, and the cold canyons.
Las Vegas was considered the high point of the journey simply
because of its artesian wells that would supply man and beast
with much needed water. The lush grass was a favorite of grazing
animals, and it is not surprising that sooner rather than later
settlers
claimed this beautiful spot on the map for homesteading.
The
year 1931 saw the legalization of gambling and from then
on, the city of Las Vegas was flush with casinos. They
started out small, like the Pair o Dice Club,
which was the talk of the town in the 1930s. Al Capone was
rumored to have a hand in this casino, and it is not surprising
that mobsters soon smelled money. El Rancho was soon added
to the mix. In the 1940s the mob decided to cash in on
the action, and infamous Bugsy Siegel was given the nod
to build the Flamingo. Unfortunately for Siegel, too many
people had their hands in the till, and the shortfall of
funds soon alerted the mob that there were money problems
and possibly problems with reliability of their golden
boy. Bugsy Siegel died in mob hit following the opening
of the Flamingo.
Yet
the idea of hotels with attached casinos was there to stay
and it did not take long for legendary real estate developer
Kirk Kerkorian to ensure that Vegas
would be flush with casinos for now and the future. Beginning
his stellar career with the famous Caesar’s Palace, he
continued on with the International Hotel – known today
as the Las Vegas Hilton – and the MGM Grand. Whenever he
sold one of the companies it continued to bring in a profit,
and today the Bellagio, Mirage, Treasure Island, and New
York New York are casinos that may thank Mr. Kerkorian
for his vision and business acumen.
While
in the old days Las Vegas was the most coveted show stop
for entertainers, nowadays gambling has come more to the
forefront of the operation. Perhaps this is due to the
changing of societal norms which no longer see gambling
as an activity reserved for those on precarious moral ground,
but instead everyone of age now engages in this activity.
This of course furthered the building of casinos and lessened
the focus on showrooms. While shows are still a big draw,
they are no longer the attraction that will make a casino
rise or fall. With more and more people flocking to the
casinos to spend their ever ready cash, the casino developers
have begun to expand the casinos to fit in ever more slot
machines and poker tables. Additionally, real estate up
and down the Las Vegas Strip is being gobbled up in order
to erect more casinos. At this point in time there is no
end to the construction and expansion of casinos in sight,
but instead they are providing a reliable source of income
to the city of Las Vegas, the state of Nevada, and of course
the individual developers.
So
go ahead and visit the city that is flush with casinos,
and be amazed at the imagination of the interior decorators,
the ambience that is created, and do not hesitate to be
taken in by the intoxicating mood of wins, high rollers,
and the ever present din of the slot machines. Even if
you do not gamble you will want to visit this city that
is so famous that everyone in the world has heard of it.
You will be glad to have taken the time to do so.
#
# # # #
SolveYourProblem.com
: 2008
> Home
Page > Las Vegas / Sin City:
Main Page
|
