Las Vegas: where it all began
The Las Vegas story, like many great stories, began with an accident. In 1829, a caravan heading to Los Angeles lost its way. Several volunteers managed to find an oasis in the desert. Then they could not even imagine how grandiose their discovery was.
Las Vegas. The name of the city itself translated from Spanish means “floodplain meadows”. In the mid-19th century, the first settlements began to form around this living piece of land. It was the time of the Industrial Revolution, thanks to which railroads were laid through the oasis, giving it more and more importance. The official founding date of the city is 1905, although by that time it already had a half-century history.
Even before Las Vegas was recognized as a city, it was full of saloons and gambling houses. The state of Nevada, where Vegas was located, did not have the most decent reputation even in those days. It hosted quick weddings, immoral by those standards, and brutal battles. In Vegas itself, the intensity of passions in a fit of excitement often resulted not only in squabbles, but even in shootings. All this could not go unnoticed by the authorities, who tried to ban gambling. However, nothing could stop people who had tasted all the delights of the gambling life. The gambling business continued to flourish, but now underground. It was then that the authorities realized that only they suffered from the imposed restrictions. Therefore, the government relaxed its conditions and declared card games legal in 1911.
The next turning point in the city's history came in 1931, when all bans on gambling were completely lifted. It was from this time that the set of games that we are accustomed to today began to take shape. As part of the adopted laws, a special taxation system for gambling houses was developed. The height of the Great Depression had a detrimental effect on the economy, and the gambling business became the most profitable item of municipal income.
Las Vegas was growing, and nothing could stop this process. Hotels began to occupy their niche in the gambling business and began offering gambling entertainment to their guests. From that moment on, it was no longer the authorities who played a decisive role in the development of the city. Enterprising businessmen took their place. One of the most famous entrepreneurs was Benjamin Segal, popularly known as the gangster “Handsome Bugsy.” His goal was to create the most luxurious casino in Las Vegas. Already in 1946, the fabulous Flamingo hotel-casino appeared, surpassing its predecessors in all respects. Even today it remains a popular and profitable establishment.
In the 50s, a real construction boom began on the Strip gambling street. In 1952, the magnificent Sands Hotel was built and brought life to Las Vegas. The hotel became famous for its visits to the legendary "Rat Pack". Since that time, Vegas has established itself not only as a city of gambling, but also as a place for world premiere new products.
Every year the number of hotel-casinos continuously increased. This trend continues to this day. Countless gambling houses and magnificent hotels have transformed the Las Vegas Valley beyond recognition and turned it into a real paradise for tourists.
