Casinos in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, considered by many to be the world’s capital of gambling and entertainment, boasts an impressive number of over 150 casinos. From the most famous and luxurious ones, like the Bellagio, Venetian, and Caesars Palace, to the lesser-known ones, they offer tons of fun to the players. Find out which Las Vegas casino is the best!
A brief history of casinos in Las Vegas
Interestingly enough, Las Vegas is far from the first place where casinos started popping up. The city itself is very young on a global timescale – it was founded just over 100 years ago, in 1905. What might be particularly curious is the fact that gambling wasn’t even legal there for over two decades!
A major turning point in the history of Las Vegas was the construction of the Hoover Dam. The project brought many workers to the city, with its population quickly growing from 5,000 to 25,000. Most of them were young men, who looked for ways to have fun after work. This caused the then-illegal casino industry to grow rapidly, which was soon noticed: the State of Nevada decided to legalise gambling in 1931. After that, both the population and the number of casinos exploded, quickly making Vegas the most exciting destination for gamblers not only in the United States but all over the globe. The city also hosts world-famous events like the World Series of Poker, as well as many exciting shows from the biggest artists.
Las Vegas casino – which one is the right spot for you?
There are thousands of ways to have fun in Vegas, with casinos still being the biggest draw. You can relax in various resorts, enjoy the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip, or join in on the fun going on in tens of casinos all over the city. Check out our list of places that are particularly worth visiting.
Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino
Previously part of the Hilton franchise, this Las Vegas casino is located right next to a country club and the convention centre – an exciting combination of many fun and interesting activities. With an area of almost 9 thousand(!) square metres, any gambler should find something to do there! The Westgate Las Vegas Hotel & Casino also includes the best-rated Vegas restaurant called the Edge Steakhouse. It’s a particularly popular place among sports bettors.
Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
A curious option for lovers of exotic animals, the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino has a six-acre wilderness area right next to it, populated mostly by flamingos. What’s more, it’s the oldest Vegas casino on the Strip that’s still in operation. The building also appeared in several movies, including ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ – you should consider a visit there!
Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel & Casino focuses on providing the guests with a lot of activities, not just gambling. You can visit the massive shopping centre, enjoy the outdoor pool in the lovely Nevada sun, or stay in shape even on holiday thanks to the fitness facilities. It’s currently going through a renovation and rebranding project – soon Bally’s will be known as Horseshoe Las Vegas Casino, providing new and exciting offers to the visitors.
Golden Nugget Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
While much smaller than many of the other Vegas hotspots, this downtown Vegas casino is famous for its level of comfort in the rooms and customer service. It’s located three miles from the Strip, and provides a lounge area and an outdoor pool with a bar, along with slots and tables in the casino.
The Venetian – one of the most luxurious experiences you can have in Vegas
Of all the various spots in the city, this Las Vegas casino is one of the most well-known. The world’s second-largest hotel, a massive casino with an area of 11 thousand square metres, a design inspired by Venice (including canals and gondola rides), and all the table games you can imagine – what’s not to love? You can also visit the second-best-rated nightclub in the United States, called TAO. There are a lot of good reasons why the Venetian constantly draws a ton of visitors – it’s definitely worth checking out for yourself. Does the history of Venetians start in Europe? Let’s dig together into an article about gambling cities in Europe.
Bellagio – a symbol of Las Vegas
Even though it’s a somewhat young casino, being built only in 1998, Bellagio has quickly risen to the status of being one of Las Vegas’s most recognisable locations. There are almost 4 thousand rooms for guests, as well as a 14,500 square metre casino. The total cost of construction was a massive 1.6 billion dollars, but the result is breathtaking. In the front of the hotel, you can see a beautiful artificial lake with the world-famous Fountains of Bellagio.
Wynn Las Vegas Casino – the best-rated casino in Vegas
The Wynn boasts several rewards from organisations such as the American Automobile Association, Forbes, and Michelin. From the beginning, this Vegas casino had a unique approach of including many innovative solutions in the building and its offer for the visitors. For example, you can find a Ferrari and Maserati dealership on the premises – with some luck at the casino, you might just leave the hotel in your dream car! The casino itself uses a lot of technology to make playing more fun for the players like RFID chips to prevent counterfeiting or voice-controlled lighting systems.
El Cortez: classic Vegas casino experience
Operating from 1941 and located in the downtown, El Cortez provides an interesting contrast to the Wynn. While the Wynn Casino focuses on high-tech solutions, El Cortez sticks to the classics. It’s truly a vintage experience – a lot of the machines still work on coins, and the overall aura is reminiscent of 50s and 60s America. It’s also one of the few places where you can still play blackjack with just one or two decks, which keeps the house edge a lot lower and provides you with more opportunity for winning.
ARIA – enjoy the wide selection of games
With almost two thousand slot machines and 150 table games, ARIA at Las Vegas Boulevard is a great option for serious players. Poker lovers will be especially fond of this place – there’s a tournament played every day, where you can test your skills against the best of the best.
The D with the Dancing Dealers
Like many downtown casinos, The D has a long history and a unique vibe. It has its spin on table games – the dealers are also dancers, and they combine these two professions to provide even more fun to the players. What’s more, you can find both modern and vintage games or machines here. If you’re looking for a special, historic spot, it’s a great choice!
Vegas casino online – the fun of gambling from your home
There are also several Vegas-inspired gambling sites, like Royal Vegas Casino, Mr. Vegas Casino, Grande Vegas Casino, and many, many others. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a huge boost in popularity for online gambling – for a long time, Las Vegas casinos had to be closed for visitors. Now they’re available again, but travelling to Nevada is not an option for everyone. If you want to have fun playing poker, blackjack, slots or any other games at home, explore the different options provided by the Internet – a Vegas online casino can make you feel like you’re in the gambling capital of the world!
Enjoy your stay in Nevada with Las Vegas casinos and many other attractions
It’s worth noting that a Vegas casino is not the only place worth visiting in the gambling capital of the world. The name ‘America’s Playground’ definitely fits the city – apart from casinos, you can also visit fascinating buildings, swim in luxurious outdoor pools, take a walk through Fremont Street, zip line, or rent a sports car to drive on a racetrack. There are also quite a few natural landmarks decently close to Vegas, including the Grand Canyon and the Death Valley National Park. One of the most interesting spots is the Hoover Dam – a major aspect of Vegas history. Apart from gambling, you can also indulge in all sorts of fun: visit all the various clubs and bars, check out live entertainment that’s going on all year in Vegas, play golf, watch art shows… The options are quite literally limitless – you can combine a casino experience with other attractions to have an adventure of a lifetime.
FAQ
Las Vegas was founded in 1905, and for its first two decades, gambling wasn’t legal. However, the construction of the Hoover Dam in the 1930s brought an influx of workers to the city. The growing need for entertainment catalyzed the growth of the then-illegal casino industry. Recognizing the potential, the State of Nevada legalized gambling in 1931, leading to a significant rise in both the city’s population and the casino industry.
The answer to this question depends on personal preferences. Wynn Las Vegas Casino has been highly rated for its luxury and innovative features. However, casinos like El Cortez offer a vintage experience, while Aria is popular among serious poker players. Ultimately, every casino has its unique draw.e risk of fraudulent activities.
The most famous casinos in Las Vegas include The Bellagio, The Venetian, Caesars Palace, Wynn Las Vegas Casino, and ARIA.
Absolutely. Casinos in Las Vegas offer more than just gambling. For example, the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino houses a wildlife habitat, and Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino is known for its top-rated restaurant and proximity to a country club. Many casinos also offer luxurious pools, extensive shopping centres, fitness facilities, and live shows.
Known as ‘America’s Playground,’ Las Vegas has plenty to offer beyond casinos. Visitors can explore various clubs and bars, enjoy live shows, take a walk along Fremont Street, visit art exhibitions, indulge in extensive shopping, or even partake in outdoor adventures like zip lining or visiting nearby landmarks like the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam.