Las Vegas is known the world over as a gambler’s paradise, so much so that all of its other attractions (not bad by any standards) take a backseat. The most populous city in Nevada, Las Vegas was founded in the first decade of the last century and is an important center for vacations, shopping and gambling. The name Las Vegas is often applied to the unincorporated areas of Clark County, especially the tourist areas on and near the Las Vegas Strip.

It is also known as “The City of Sin” due to the great popularity of legal gambling, the availability of alcoholic beverages at any time, the different forms of adult entertainment, and the legalized prostitution in the nearby counties. Mind you, Nevada doesn’t allow prostitution in counties with populations over 400,000, and it’s illegal in Las Vegas and Clark County. No wonder the local government and tourism promoters wanted the city to be dubbed “The Entertainment Capital of the World.”

At a time when Las Vegas seemed to be losing its importance, the construction of the Hoover Dam gave the city a boost and it never looked back. The rise of tourism and the legalization of games of chance favored the installation of numerous hotel-casinos for which Las Vegas is now famous throughout the world. Las Vegas’s economy is based primarily on tourism, including gambling.

The dazzling Strip, from Mandalay Bay to the Stratosphere, is the heart of Las Vegas, and you’ll find yourself in the middle of the action at the intersection of Flamingo Road. This is where you’ll discover some exciting and exciting destinations like Paris, Bellagio, Caesars’ Palace and Flamingo. From here you can walk to the Mirage, Treasure Island and the Venetian. If you venture north of Wynn, you’ll find the New Frontier, Stardust, Westward Ho, Circus Circus, and the Stratosphere. A drive south will take you to Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, New York-New York, and MGM Grand, where the goings-on are much more hectic.

You won’t be disappointed if you somehow stay off the Strip too. It has its own treasures in the form of the Hard Rock, Palms, and Rio. To keep you off the Strip, they offer great restaurants and nightlife, player-friendly rules, and good casino payouts.

But, all said and done, the action is where the Strip is. The choice is yours!