From its forbidden-fruit beginnings to its mobster adolescence to its starring role in a few hit TV shows, Vegas exudes a frenetic energy that makes the city a unique place in American pop culture. And Vegas takes full advantage of its iconic position. New hotel/casino complexes continue to rise from the desert floor at an astounding pace. As of 2021, half of the ten biggest hotels in the world were located within a few miles of each other on the Las Vegas Strip.
The city is still primarily known for its gambling — after all, where else can you expect to find slot machines in grocery stores and airports? But in the late 1990s — for the first time in its history — gambling money amounted to less than half of the total revenue brought in by the Vegas casino industry. And that change means people from around the world are seeing the city as a resort (or convention) destination first and a place to gamble second.
If you’re eager to learn more about Las Vegas, check out Las Vegas For Dummies by Mary Herczog (Wiley).
Tahoe and Reno: Quieter cousins
Before Las Vegas rose to prominence, Reno was the epicenter of gambling in the United States, and casinos around Lake Tahoe frequently hosted celebrities, such as Frank Sinatra and his buddies. Now, their southern Nevada competitor easily eclipses both Tahoe and Reno, but these two intriguing cities remain good alternatives for visitors that don’t care for the Vegas speed-of-light pace.
As “the biggest little city in the world,” Reno’s Wild West frontier spirit and gambling accessibility appeal to many travelers. Tahoe also boasts gambling opportunities on the Nevada side of the border while promising superb skiing in winter, a wealth of lake activities in summer, and spectacular mountain scenery year-round.
Atlantic City: Vegas of the east
In the late 1970s, New Jersey took the bold step of legalizing gambling to revitalize Atlantic City. The transformation hasn’t always gone smoothly, but today, Atlantic City’s casino industry is healthy. As one of the biggest gambling spots in the United States, it sees billions of dollars in wagers every year.
Although the Atlantic City Boardwalk can’t rival the Vegas Strip, it does offer a unique blend of glitz and glamour in a carnival atmosphere and a seaside setting. More importantly, the location means convenience for people on the East Coast — they no longer have to fly cross-country just to play blackjack.
Connecticut: Betting with the Yankees
The Constitution State legalized tribal gaming in the early 1990s, and the state hasn’t looked back since. With its proximity to Boston, New York City, and other lesser megalopolises of the northeast, Connecticut spent many years as the only alternative to Atlantic City. While it can’t compete with the size of New Jersey’s gaming industry, Connecticut hosts two of the three largest casinos in the United States: the Foxwoods and the Mohegan Sun resorts.
Diving into on-the-water gambling
Some people may not understand why gambling can be legal on the water but illegal on land. Nevertheless, if your state has a river running through it or you live on the coast, you’re likely to find a casino within driving distance. (Of course, take your motion-sickness pills and be prepared to walk the plank.)
Riverboat casinos: A piece of the past
New laws and regulations have revived an icon from America’s colorful past — riverboat casinos. Although these contemporary vessels bear little resemblance to the fabled paddleboats that plied the Mississippi, gambling fun is still rollin’ on the river.
Most casino voyages are “cruises to nowhere” that last one to three hours. Some floating casinos don’t even leave the dock, but they’re in compliance with state gambling laws because they’re on the water. Typically, these casinos are smaller than the big boys in Vegas and aren’t always open 24 hours, but they usually offer most of the same games.
Cruise ships: Sailing for international waters
What could be finer than cruising off the coast of Carolina? Okay, maybe cruise ships don’t hit those waters often, but they do sail nearly everywhere in the world, including hot spots (like the Caribbean and the Panama Canal) and scenic destinations (like Alaska and Mexico).
Nearly every cruise line takes advantage of international waters (where gambling is legal) by offering casinos onboard their ships (open only during certain hours and only when the ship is in international waters). These casinos have most of the same games and similar odds as regular land-based casinos (with a few differences), so if you don’t mind your dice rolling funny when a big wave hits, cruising may be just the ticket for you.
Tribal gaming: Cashing in on less bling
A 1988 law paved the way for tribes to legalize gaming inside states that otherwise had no casino presence. Since then, a cascade of reservation-based casinos have opened and dramatically changed the landscape of casino gambling across the country. Today, 30 states have some form of tribal gaming. Oklahoma and California have dozens of casinos, ranging from full-service megaresorts to truck stops with slot machines. Most major cities in the United States are a short drive away from a tribal gambling location.
Tribal gaming generates billions of dollars in revenues every year and provides significant competition for more traditional gambling destinations. In fact, the combined gaming revenue of all tribal casinos constitutes about half of all gaming revenue in the U.S.
Native American casinos typically offer the same machines and table games that other gambling capitals have. However, many don’t allow alcohol consumption and have betting limits that are lower than you’d expect in Las Vegas or Chicago. Nevertheless, the success of tribal gaming speaks volumes about the quality of the casinos. So, if you can live without exploding volcanoes, fancy fountains, and cocktails, you’re bound to enjoy the friendly, less spectacular tribal casinos (see Chapter 19).
Beyond the borders: Gambling abroad
If you feel stuck in a gambling rut, traveling abroad for gaming may just be the adrenalin shot you need. Most foreign casinos offer the same or similar games as casinos in the United States, with little twists and bits of flare that just might prompt you to write a postcard to a friend about it. Canada and the Bahamas have some of the best casinos on this continent. Or, if you’re looking for something more exotic, check out Macao or the South of France.
Betting on the Internet
Gambling and cyberspace seem to be made for each other. Through the conduit of the Internet, casinos and gaming companies can invite themselves directly into the homes of gamblers. People can play anonymously and comfortably, without ever leaving the house.
Considered the last frontier for gaming, cyberspace has now been settled — if not fully tamed. Online gaming (check out Chapter 17) represents a multibillion-dollar industry worldwide that continues to grow exponentially every year. In spite of its convenience and fun, however, online gambling has two serious drawbacks.