Las Vegas is well known as the gambling and entertainment capital of the world, with its neon lights, extravagant hotels, and numerous casinos. Gambling was legalized in Nevada in 1931, but Las Vegas did not see its first casino until 1941 with the opening of the El Rancho Vegas resort. This resort featured a casino, showroom, restaurants, and swimming pools, setting the standard for future Las Vegas hotels.
In 1946, the Flamingo Hotel opened, founded by mobster Bugsy Siegel. While initially unsuccessful, it paved the way for opulent casino-hotels like the Sahara, Sands, and Dunes that opened in the early 1950s. These new hotels attracted high rollers and entertainment acts like Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. Las Vegas began marketing itself as an entertainment destination in addition to a gambling locale.
The 1960s brought conglomerate corporations that bought multiple hotels and casinos, shifting focus away from the mobster ties of earlier resorts. In 1966, entrepreneur Howard Hughes spent over $300 million to acquire numerous hotel-casinos along the Las Vegas Strip. Corporations like Kirk Kerkorian’s International Leisure built mega-resorts like the original MGM Grand (now Bally’s) in 1973. This ushered in an era of extravagant, themed casino-hotels on the Strip.
Current Number of Casinos in Las Vegas
Today there are over 65 casino resorts spread along the 4.2 mile stretch of the Las Vegas Strip alone.
In total, there are around 160 licensed casino gaming properties in the greater Las Vegas area. Aside from the Strip casinos, downtown Las Vegas features vintage properties like the Golden Nugget, Plaza, and Four Queens in the Fremont Street district. Smaller neighborhood casinos dot the surrounding metro region as well.
Competition for gambling dollars is fierce, with casino companies building lavish new resorts regularly. Recent additions include the $4.3 billion Resorts World Las Vegas in 2021 and the $2.2 billion Circa Las Vegas downtown in 2020. Casinos continuously modernize with new themes, attractions and technology to attract visitors. This pushes the total number of casinos in Las Vegas ever higher.
Notable Casinos in Las Vegas
With over 160 casinos in the area, Las Vegas is home to some of the largest and most spectacular casino resorts in the world. A few of the most iconic include:
- Caesars Palace – This Roman Empire-themed property opened in 1966 and launched the era of themed casinos. It features lavish details like marble statues and fountains alongside 100,000 square feet of casino space.
- Bellagio – The Bellagio’s dancing fountains and art gallery with works by Picasso and Warhol make it one of the Strip’s most luxurious resorts. Its poker room regularly hosts tournaments like the World Poker Tour.
- MGM Grand – One of the largest hotels in the world with over 6,000 rooms, it has one of the biggest gaming floors in Las Vegas spanning 171,500 square feet. The MGM Grand Garden Arena hosts premier concerts and events.
- The Venetian – This hotel brings the allure of Venice to the Strip. Its 120,000 square foot casino features sunlit canals and gondola rides indoors. The adjacent Palazzo brings the total gaming space to nearly 200,000 square feet.
- Wynn/Encore – Steve Wynn’s dual bronze glass towers opened in 2005 and feature high-end shopping, dining, nightclubs, a lake, golf course and opulent casino spaces. Encore also offers an elite poker room.
- The Strat – This 1,150 foot tall tower is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the US and features thrill rides at the top. It also offers a 80,000 square foot casino with an iconic, relaxed downtown vibe.
Las Vegas casinos continuously vie to break records and attract visitors with unique themes, amenities and attractions. These over-the-top properties exemplify the glamour and excitement that makes Las Vegas a globally renowned entertainment destination.
The Economic Impact of Las Vegas Casinos
The casinos of Las Vegas drives its tourism-focused economy. Pre-pandemic figures from 2019 show that tourism supported over 450,000 jobs, contributed $67 billion in tourism revenue statewide, and provided $16 billion in local, state and federal taxes. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority reported over 42 million visitors that year.
Gambling is a major draw, but non-gaming offerings entice visitors too. Lavish accommodation, dining, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, spas and more provide a comprehensive resort experience. Still, Nevada casinos reported a gambling revenue win of $12 billion in 2019, making up over a quarter of the national total. Slot machines alone accounted for $7.8 billion in gambler losses.
While the Covid-19 pandemic caused Las Vegas visitor numbers to plunge in 2020, recovery is now underway. Casino win revenue exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 5.4% in 2021, signaling an industry rebound. Las Vegas casinos continue to drive tourism, create jobs, and generate significant tax income for public services. Their unique attractions endure to draw over 40 million visitors a year. So while the exact number of casinos in Las Vegas fluctuates, their overall economic contribution remains vital to the city. The evolution of lavish mega-resorts has transformed Las Vegas into an iconic global destination for gambling as well as world-class entertainment and amenities. Yet casinos also face increasing competition from expanding US gambling markets nationwide. Las Vegas will certainly continue to innovate its blend of hospitality, casinos and attractions to maintain its status as the world’s top entertainment city for decades to come.