I was searching around the web yesterday and came across a few facts and tidbits that even I didn’t know about Las Vegas. I’ve taken some of these for granted, myself. Las Vegas is quite a unique place and some of the things on this list I take for granted.
Provided by Wikipedia
Carrying open containers on the street is legal on the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Freemont Street (which technically isn’t a street). This is something I’ve definitely not realized when vacationing in other places, even attempting to carry a bottle of wine home without a cork had proved to be a bad move on my part.
Your children are not allowed to hang out with or around you while you drink or gamble. Las Vegas isn’t really a “kid friendly” vacation destination. Chances are they will get bored very quickly. It is illegal for any minor under the age of 21 to loiter in an area or casino where there is gaming or alcohol being served. This rule is strictly enforced in all major casinos and hotels. At the same time you’re children must be supervised at all times so asking them to go stand in a corner while you finish playing your hand doesn’t usually work. In some cases, you may even be asked to leave the casino if you ignore this rule. While there are things for your kids to do in Vegas and most casinos have arcades it really isn’t the best destination for anyone with children.
Prostitution is legal in Nevada but illegal in Las Vegas, Clark County and other rural areas. According to Wikipedia, there are two states in the U.S. that have legalized prostitution: Nevada and Rhode Island. Although prostitution is legal in Nevada current laws only legalize it in counties with a population less than 400,000. At this time, 8 of 16 Nevada counties have legalized prostitution.
Bellagio fountains at Sunset
Cell phones cannot be used in or near the race and sports books. This includes any technological device that could be seen as suspicious communication including computers and other hand-held devices. Cell phones are primarily used to make bets for others and check the lines, both are illegal. Cell phone use is also prohibited at the blackjack table. We’ve all seen the movie 21, or I hope you have, so this one shouldn’t come as surprise.
You will not find clocks in the casino so always wear a watch. Casinos don’t want you to know what time it is or how long you’ve been playing so they do not place clocks anywhere near the gaming areas. This can be rather annoying when you need to know what time it is. Always wear a watch when going to the casino. Casinos are usually devoid of water fountains as well because they want you to buy a drink from the bar, restaurant, cocktail waitress or the gift shop.
There is no last call in Vegas. You can drink, gamble and party 24 hours a day, every day of the week in Vegas. This is something a Vegas native, like myself, has taken for granted. No matter what you want to do in Vegas, if you’re bored, you can surely find something to do. Usually casinos only have one or two bars open during the early morning hours but slot machines are always available and open. Cocktails are served all day and all night. I am constantly shocked when I make my way to the corner star at 2 or 3 in the morning only to find loads of people there playing the slot machines.
Nothing is as close as it seems. The Las Vegas strip is almost 4 miles long. When you’re standing at Treasure Island watching the pirate show and look down the way and see the Luxor pyramid never assume that it is close enough to walk there. I, personally, have made the mistake of walking the entire Las Vegas strip, and while it is possible it not only takes forever but is very tiresome especially during mid summer when the temperatures are likely to reach 120 degrees.
Cabs drivers are not allowed to pick up or drop off customers on the street. You are wasting your time if you try to flag down a taxi while standing on the street. Las Vegas has designated taxi stops, almost all of which are at hotels and casinos. This is the only place a cab driver is legally allowed to pick up a customer or drop one off. Occasionally, you may see one break the law but it is rare. Don’t even waste your time!
Phone camera, video camera and still camera use is prohibited inside the casino. A lot of people break this rule as it isn’t a law but something that casinos don’t allow. There are a number of different reasons why you wouldn’t want someone using a camera inside a casino. Each casino has different rules about the policy, video cameras are almost never allowed and others may choose to allow the use of film or digital still cameras. One reason why casinos don’t want guest to bring cameras is privacy, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Some may try to use video cameras to record the casino layout for harmful purposes.
Pedestrians do not always have the right of way. Las Vegas is a unique place and any area that allows intoxicated individuals to roam the streets freely is bound to have accidents. Vegas is most definitely on the list of most dangerous city for pedestrians. It is easy to get distracted in Vegas and ignore the traffic laws, even foot traffic laws. Be safe, don’t jay walk or try to cross the street when the light turns red. You will often see hoards of people doing this, think twice and always look both ways.
This will be great photography practice for me as I don’t think I spent over $1,000 on a camera just to let it collect dust on my book shelf.
