Las Vegas is the home of gambling in the US. It’s one of the most famous cities in the world, thanks to its bright lights, shows and activities.
The games here are among the biggest in the world too. You can find games that play at any stakes and also different variations of them so you can play your favorites.
But while most people know that Vegas is mostly about gambling, there is a lot about Sin City that people don’t know about it, from gambling not being legal in Vegas at one point in time, to insane amounts of food being eaten by gamblers on a daily basis.
Here are 8 incredible facts about Las Vegas gambling.
1. Gambling Used To Be Illegal In Las Vegas
Considering how it’s made its name, it hasn’t always been legal to gamble in Las Vegas. The city was originally founded in 1905 but in 1910, federal law made it illegal to gamble here.
However, this didn’t stop the activity as people went underground to make their bets. This continued until 1931 when Nevada made gambling legal again. It has remained this way ever since, with Vegas growing to become the phenomenon that it is today.
Interestingly though, there is no lottery allowed in Nevada. As per Article IV, Sec. 24 of the state constitution, “No lottery shall be authorized by this state, nor shall the sale of lottery tickets be allowed.”
There have been many attempts to make the lottery legal in Nevada but all have failed to date. Saying that, certain things like church raffles and fundraisers for charity are now allowed in Nevada.
2. The Strip Isn’t Actually In Las Vegas
This is one of the craziest facts on the list. The Strip in Las Vegas Boulevard, home to properties like the MGM Grand and the Bellagio, is not actually located in Las Vegas.
The city of Las Vegas extends as far as Sahara Avenue. However, the 6.8km Strip goes beyond that and into Winchester and Paradise, whose counties are in Clark County.
This means that some properties are as much as a mile away from Las Vegas Boulevard!
3. Las Vegas Has 130,000+ Hotel Rooms
If you ever want to stay in Las Vegas while you gamble, there are over 130,000 hotel rooms to enjoy, ranging from the standard to the most luxurious on Earth.
Interestingly, if you combine the total number of hotel rooms in MGM Grand, Tropicana, Excalibur and New York-New York, you end up with more hotel rooms than the entire city of San Francisco.
And these rooms aren’t just for show either. In fact, the best hotels in Las Vegas have a 90% occupancy rate, meaning that it remains a popular destination all year round.
4. Slots Are The Most Popular Games
They are synonymous with Las Vegas for a reason. One-armed bandits are the most popular games in the city, taking more than 60% of a casino’s earnings.
Considering that slots are supposed to pay out an average of 75%, this just goes to show how much people love spinning the reels and hoping to win the jackpot.
As explained by Lucian Marinescu, partner at OnlineCasinoGems, the typical slot machine used in Vegas is Charles Fey’s Liberty Bell model. While it’s more than 100 years old, it still gives people all kinds of thrill and excitement.
5. The Biggest Win In Las Vegas Is $21.6 Million
Some people get extremely lucky in Las Vegas, taking up huge sums of money. But no one has ever won as much as a veteran named Elmer Sherwin.
This man won not one, but two massive jackpots!
His first came just 10 hours after the Mirage opened its doors for the first time. Sherwin won a $4.6 million Megabucks jackpot which he used to travel the world.
This win didn’t stop him from playing and he continued on the slots a couple of times a week, hoping to become the first person to win twice.
Sherwin made good on this when 16 years later, he won a $21.6 million jackpot in the same game.
6. ‘The Run’ Was Made In Las Vegas
Archie Karas set the record for the longest and biggest winning streak in gambling history. It was so great that it earned the nickname ‘The Run’.
Between December 1992 and May 1995, Karas managed to turn $10,000 into over $40 million. He made his money playing poker and craps, playing the highest stakes and against other professional players.
The Run lasted for two and a half years, with Karas’ story going on to become legend in the gambling industry.
Nothing like this had ever been done before and no one has come close since.
7. Vegas Is Home To The Brightest Light In The World
The Luxor Hotel in Vegas is designed just as the ancient Egyptians would have approved. Thanks to the bronze-colored glass, it’s very eye-catching and full of glamor. There’s even a Sphinx and obelisk to marvel at.
But the most interesting thing about this casino is that its spotlight is the brightest in the world. It shoots up from the top of the pyramid into the night sky.
There have been claims that you can see the beam from more than 100 miles away too. If you ever go out of the city, just follow the beam and you’ll get back to the tables in no time.
8. Gamblers Eat More Than 60,000 Pounds Of Shrimp A Day
Gambling in Vegas can certainly work up an appetite.
While some of the best restaurants in the world can be found in Las Vegas, the casinos offer some food for free to keep guests happy and playing at the tables.
To put into context how much food is eaten every day, more than 60,000 pounds of shrimp are consumed every day in Las Vegas. This is more than what the entire US consumes on a typical day.