Even in the midst of one of the harshest economic slowdowns the world has ever seen poker and casino fans still flock to Las Vegas in search of fame and fortune. But what is it about Las Vegas which attracts millions of visitors a year and sees many walk home with literally only their shirts on their backs?
Las Vegas (or to be more accurate the Las Vegas Strip) has been at the centre of the US entertainment, casino and film industry since the early 1900s. Las Vegas only officially became a city in 1911 and was quickly associated with the mob, gangsters and gambling which to this day dominates the reputation of this very popular US city.
Many will find it surprising to learn that gambling was actually legalised back in March 1931 although when you consider the US government's current standing on online gambling you would think we have returned to the dark old days. The focal point of the Las Vegas trip is the massive Mirage casino development which offers more than just gambling with headline entertainment acts commonplace.
It seems as though the casino industry has become so successful in the area due to a very business oriented tax regime which has attracted the biggest names in the industry to Las Vegas and literally hundreds of millions of tourists from all over the world.
Even in the midst of one of the harshest economic slowdowns the world has ever seen poker and casino fans still flock to Las Vegas in search of fame and fortune. But what is it about Las Vegas which attracts millions of visitors a year and sees many walk home with literally only their shirts on their backs?