Over the past few decades, Las Vegas has become known as the gambling capital of the world. Each year, about 40 million people travel from all over the world to experience the famed city of sin.
Despite its fame, there remains a lot about Las Vegas that people don’t know. Read on to find out 30 interesting facts about Las Vegas you probably didn’t know…
The Biggest Winner
In 2003, then 25-year-old Ethan Miller claimed the biggest ever win in Las Vegas history. While playing a slot machine at the Excalibur casino, he won $39.7 million.
Home Of The King
Elvis Presley performed at the International Hotel from 1969 until his death in 1977. He played over 1,000 shows. 837 of those shows sold out consecutively.
FedEx’s Second Chance
FedEd founder Fred Smith was about to declare bankruptcy but used the company’s last $5,000 to play blackjack in Las Vegas. He ended up winning and walking away with $27,000, which was enough to pay back debts and continue the business.
Killer Restaurants
Las Vegas is home to the Heart Attack Grill. The controversial restaurant serves an 8,000-calorie burger and is actually proud that customers have died in the restaurant while eating the mammoth dish.
A Superstitious City
In many Las Vegas hotels, there is no fourth floor as the number four is considered to be unlucky in many Asian cultures. Many more hotels in the city also don’t have a 13th floor.
A Piece Of Berlin
At the Main Street Station Casino, the men’s toilets include a real section of the Berlin Wall. It was transported there after the wall’s destruction in 1990.
Crossing A Line
In 1980, workers at a Las Vegas hospital were suspended for betting on when patients would die. One nurse was actually accused of killing a patient so she would win her bet.
Overflowing With Shrimp
People in Las Vegas consume over 60,000 pounds of shrimp every single day. That’s more than the rest of the country combined.
Grey-Water
Water structures like fountains and man-made lakes in Vegas used recycled water called grey-water. It comes from water from sinks, bathtubs, and showers.
The Tunnel People
Under the streets of Las Vegas there is a 200-mile maze of tunnels that were built as storm drains. An estimated 1000 people live in the tunnels.
The Sphinx
The Luxor Las Vegas’ Sphinx was made to be a replica of the Great Sphinx of Giza. However, Las Vegas’ Sphinx is actually 101 feet tall, which is almost twice the size of the real thing.
Surrounded By Neon
On The Strip and in downtown Las Vegas, there are more than 15,000 miles of neon tube lights. If straightened and placed end to end, they would stretch more than halfway around the planet.
Skyrocketing Energy Use
Neon signs, indoor lights, and air conditioning run all day long in Las Vegas. Each day, the city averages about 8,000 megawatts of energy consumption. That’s enough to power eight million homes.
Seen From Space
According to astronauts, Las Vegas is the brightest city in the world. Thanks to the millions of light bulbs that are almost always lit, the city can actually be seen from space.
A Beam Of Light
The Luxor Hotel and Casino is home to the Luxor Sky Beam. It is the strongest light beam in the world at 42.3 candela/lumen. It costs $51 every hour to run.
The Bronze King Of The Jungle
A bronze lion sits outside the MGM Grand Hotel. It weighs a staggering 50 tons and is the largest bronze sculpture in the country.
The Moneymaker
Surprisingly, the biggest money maker for Las Vegas casinos are the slot machines. From 2015 to 2016, slot machines earned casinos $7,066,306,000.
The Cheaters
A staggering 34 percent of theft and cheating in Las Vegas casinos is actually committed by their own staff.
Real Gold
The Mirage Hotel’s golden windows were made with real gold dust.
A Grand Hotel
The MGM Grand Hotel has over 5,000 rooms. With that many rooms, it is easily the largest hotel in the United States.
Inspired By A Showgirl
Gangster Bugsy Segal built The Flamingo casino. He allegedly named the casino after a showgirl whose long legs earned her the nickname: Flamingo.
The Black List
There is actually a black list where players who have been caught cheating are recorded. If your name ends up on the list, you will be banned from playing any games in Las Vegas for life.
Nuclear Entertainment
In the 1950s, nuclear testing was being done in the Nevada Desert. Visitors would often gather and watch mushroom clouds form in the distant sky as atomic bombs were set off.
Top Accommodations
Of the top 25 hotels in the world, 15 are located in Las Vegas.
The Real Odds
The Nevada Gaming Commission highly regulates slot machines in Las Vegas. Legally, all slot machines should be set to a payout rate of no less than 75 percent.
The City Of Love
While it’s known as the city of sin, Las Vegas is also the city of love. Each day, there is an average of 315 weddings performed in the city’s chapels.
A First For Women
The Silver Slipper was the first casino located on The Strip that hired female card dealers.
The Welcome Sign
The iconic “Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada” sign isn’t actually inside the city limits of Las Vegas. Technically, it’s located south of the city in a suburb called Paradise.
The Clark County Strip
Most of The Strip is actually outside the city limits of Las Vegas as well. In reality, most of the strip is in an area called Clark County.
Overflowing With Rooms
There are about 150,000 hotel rooms in the Las Vegas area. It would take a single person 409 years to stay a night in every single room.
