Las Vegas was officially established as a city in 1905. Shortly after, in 1911, it was incorporated as part of the newly founded Clark County, Nevada. Before this, during the 1800s, the city of Las Vegas was simply used as a stopover for people travelling between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. Ols Mormon Fort was built as the first permanent settlement. It provided travellers with a pit stop en route so they could take a break and get some rest before continuing their travels. It also provided them with fresh water that was piped into the settlement. Therefore, it attracted many people on the move, mainly farmers during this time.
It wasn’t until 1930 that the urbanization of Las Vegas really took off. The rapid urbanization of Las Vegas took place when work started on Hoover Dam (also known as Boulder Dam or Boulder Canyon Dam). Which lead to an influx of young male workers. Therefore, many theatres and casinos were built to keep these workers entertained. The majority of the first casinos were built by the mafia and were not yet illegal. However, these attractions grew increasingly popular and started to attract tourists from all over. The rest is history!
Let’s take a look at some more interesting facts about gambling in Las Vegas…
When was gambling legalised in Las Vegas?
Gambling became legal soon after the rapid urbanization in Las Vegas, on Marth 19th, 1931. Not just in Las Vegas, but the whole of Nevada! Governor Fred Balzar signed Assembly Bill 98 to legalised all forms of gambling in an attempt to boost the countries morale after the Great Depression that began in 1929. The gaming industry rose quickly and many casinos were built.
What was the first casino built in Las Vegas?
Golden Gate Hotel & Casino (previously Hotel Nevada) was built in 1906 by John F. Miller. It’s said that its legacy from when they first opened the doors was the birth of Las Vegas. It’s located at 1 E Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101 and is a must-visit if you’re in the United States. It’s oozing with history and will undoubtedly give you the best Las Vegas gambling experience.
What was the most popular game in Las Vegas casinos upon opening?
The most popular casino game was the still extremely popular table game – poker! In early Las Vegas days, many players would gather with whiskey around wooden tables and play for hours. Not much has changed, but the poker tables are much bigger and modern. People loved it for its social aspect and it was the perfect game for tournaments or an activity to do with friends.
What other games could you find in Las Vegas Casinos during the first decade of opening?
When the casinos first opened you could find many of the classic table games that are still very much popular today. Including poker, blackjack, baccarat and roulette. Of course, over the years, many variations of these games are being created to keep players satisfied and entertained. But the basic rules of each remain the same. You could also find old fruity slot machines, that were created in 1894!
Since this time, the industry has evolved, we can even now play at home with a selection of the best online casinos.
