13 Facts You Didn't Know About Las Vegas Casinos
Las Vegas is the most popular gambling destination in the world. Often called "Sin City", it's located in a desert and really doesn't promote much sin beyond gambling. I guess some people consider drinking and eating too much sinful. But you don't have to go to Las Vegas to do either of those.
If you're planning your first trip to Vegas here's a few things you might want to know:
1 – Prostitution Isn't Legal In Las Vegas Casinos.
Prostitution is illegal in the city of Las Vegas—even in the casinos.
Prostitutes are available, but you have to travel well out of town to find a place where you can legally hire a prostitute. The closest place with legal prostitution is located in Pahrump, a little over an hour from Las Vegas.
Be careful if you try to get a prostitute in Las Vegas. Fliers for working girls are everywhere. And you can find girls in many bars. But you can be arrested for solicitation in Las Vegas.
Also, since the workers aren't working within the law, you have no idea what you're getting into.
2 – Las Vegas Casinos on the Strip Form the Brightest Spot on Earth When Seen From Space.
Las Vegas has so many casinos, hotels, and other entertainment venues packed into such a small place that it's no wonder it is the brightest area on the earth when viewed from space.
I can't imagine the millions of dollars in electric charges paid in Vegas every month. I read an estimate that just the light shining out of the top of the pyramid at Luxor costs over $50 an hour in electricity.
3 – A Third of Cheating and Thefts in Casinos in Las Vegas are Committed by Staff, Not Guests.
Believe it or not, many businesses around the world have the same issues. Employees steal a large percentage of merchandise that comes up missing in most businesses.
If you could calculate the time the average employee steals every year by watching television, playing on the computer or anything else they do on the clock while avoiding work, the percentage of what they steal would probably push well over 50%.
Most people think of the guests stealing things from the hotel rooms and degenerate gamblers stealing chips from the casino, but they don't account for it all. While two thirds is a lot, I'm guessing most people would have predicted the number would be much higher.
4 – The Stratosphere Is the Tallest Free Standing Observation Tower in the United States.
If you can stand heights, visit the Stratosphere. The view is unbelievable.
One of the best meals I've had the pleasure of eating was served in the restaurant in the top of the Stratosphere.
The restaurant rotates 360 degrees every hour so during your meal you can see the entire city. If you're lucky enough to have a reservation while the sun is setting the view is even better as the lights start shining.
5 – The Sphinx at the Luxor is Bigger than the Original It's Modeled After.
This is a perfect example of how big and over the top everything about Las Vegas is.
It wasn't good enough to build a replica of the Sphinx close to the original size or the same size. They had to build one bigger than the original.
6 – Different Slot Machines Offer Different Payouts.
It's hard to find out which slot machines have better pay outs, but casinos are notorious for placing the most profitable machines (for the casino) in high traffic areas.
If you want to improve your chances of finding higher paying slots look for machines that aren't in the busiest areas of the casino floor.
7 – All Video Poker Pay Charts Aren't the Same.
If you know how to access the information you can find out the exact pay back percentages for video poker machines based on the pay table and using the correct strategy while playing.
Learn the best paying video poker machines and the best pay tables before your trip to Las Vegas and you'll be able to know the best games when you see them.
Hint: Read about 9 / 6 Jacks or Better and Not So Ugly Ducks Deuces Wild. And while you're at it, look up the correct strategy for each game.
8 – The Highest Rollers Have Access to Secret Hotels, High Roller Rooms, and Other Special Perks.
Most of us will never bet enough to be considered a high roller, but if you do you can have access to things everyone else misses out on.
From secret hotels to private gambling rooms to special entertainment, gambling at high stakes can really pay off in Vegas, even if you don't win at the tables.
9 – Roulette Tables Aren't All Equal.
Most roulette wheels in Las Vegas have a zero and a double zero on the wheels. If you can find a wheel with only a single zero, you cut the house edge in half. Wheels with two zeros have a house edge of over 5%, and single zero wheels hold a house edge of less than 3%.
10 – Blackjack Tables Offer Different House Edges Depending on the Rules.
If you plan to play blackjack during your trip to Vegas learn which rules help you and which ones hurt. You only want to play on tables that pay 3 to 2 for a blackjack and find as many of the following rules as possible.
- Can double on any two cards
- Can double after split
- Can split any pair
- Dealer stands on soft 17
- Can surrender
- Can surrender late
11 – What Happens in Vegas Doesn't Always Stay in Vegas.
I know the famous saying goes "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas".
But it just isn't true.
If you do something stupid, get arrested, or cause some other kinds of trouble it could easily follow you home.
If you get wasted and end up hurting yourself it most certainly will follow you home.
Everyone wants to have a good time on a trip to Las Vegas, but keep a little common sense present and stay safe.
12 – It's Usually Brutally Hot Outside, but Nice and Cool Inside.
If you plan to go anywhere on foot outside while you're in Las Vegas, you need to plan on doing it early in the morning or late in the evening. Walking outside during daylight hours can be beastly hot and wear you down quickly.
As a side note, Las Vegas is fairly safe, but there are some places you shouldn't go, especially after dark. If you plan to wander too far from the casino areas take some time to learn about where you plan to visit and the safety of the area.
13 - It's Always Daytime in the Casino.
Casinos are designed so players forget about the outside while playing. You aren't supposed to know if it's day or night outside, and most casinos do a good job of helping you forget.
It isn't necessarily bad, but try to keep track of time enough so you get adequate rest during your trip.
Conclusion
Use the facts listed above to help enjoy your trip to Las Vegas. Plan ahead and use your common sense and you're sure to have a great time in sin city.
