Las
Vegas ... the "Gambler's Mecca". The casino capital of the world.
Just say Las Vegas and images of glitz, excess, and kitsch pour
into one's head. Born a gambler's paradise in the 1950's, the land
of neon and spectacle has transformed itself into a family vacation
spot. In fact, it's now second only to Walt Disney World as the
top vacation destination in the United States.
On the famous Las Vegas Strip, you have all the gigantic theme Las
Vegas casinos working hard to entertain you while taking your money.
There are elaborate shows (from Broadway-style productions to the
inescapable Siegfried and Roy), thrill rides high in the air, theme
parks, laser shows, and arcades for kids. There are also upscale
malls and shopping centers. And through it all are the themes that
define each hotel and turn Vegas into one big ball of unrealistic
kitsch: Egyptian, Roman, South Seas, pirates, New York, circuses
even South America.
And
there seems no end in sight for the growth, expansion and popularity.
Las Vegas casinos are as popular as ever before. The first in the
new wave of mega-resorts is the Bellagio, Steve Wynn's $1.6 billion
dream child. It boasts a $300 million collection of fine art featuring
the works of Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, and Picasso. To complement
this high brow simulation, there are 2,600 slot machines standing
by for tired art appreciators, some of them high-limit slots including
$1,000 machines.
Then comes Mandalay Bay (cost: $900 million, 3,700 rooms); the Venetian
($1.2 billion, 3,036 rooms) with a second phase that will bring
the cost up to $2.5 billion; Paris ($760 million, 2,900 rooms),
Aladdin ($1 billion, 2,600 rooms). All of these big Las Vegas casinos
will also have major upscale shopping facilities. So you see there
is a lot happening with Las Vegas casinos.
Las Vegas casinos are and always will be the lifeblood of Las Vegas.
According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, almost
90% of 1997 visitors to the city gambled, spending an average of
more than $500 in their pursuit of the big win. Much more is on
the horizon for Las Vegas casinos. In the next few years, 20,000
new rooms will be added to Las Vegas hotel casinos. That will bring
the grand total up over 130,000. Does excess lead to excess? We
shall see.
Downtown Las Vegas, which is a few miles north of the Strip, offers
less glitzy casinos that cater to local clientele. These casinos
are not known as mega-resorts, but as places to find more favourable
playing conditions. Reno, in northern Nevada, is a small, scenic
city that, like the Las Vegas casinos has also made gambling its
reason for existence.
The bottom line: you won't find another place on Earth that has
the quality and quantity of casinos than the Las Vegas casinos -
and all of Nevada - has. It will embrace the highest and lowest
rollers; competition is the key. Check out Online
Vegas Casino.
And
there seems no end in sight for the growth, expansion and popularity.
Las Vegas casinos are as popular as ever before. The first in the
new wave of mega-resorts is the Bellagio, Steve Wynn's $1.6 billion
dream child. It boasts a $300 million collection of fine art featuring
the works of Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, and Picasso. To complement
this high brow simulation, there are 2,600 slot machines standing
by for tired art appreciators, some of them high-limit slots including
$1,000 machines.