The Nevada state tax on gambling revenues is 6.25% (this is what the casinos pay).
The Flamingo Hilton was originally the Flamingo — built by infamous mobster Bugsy Siegel, and the first official “carpet joint” on the strip.
MGM Mirage, after the recent acquisition of Mandalay Resort Group, now owns The Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio, the Golden Nugget, the MGM Grand, New York New York, all three properties at the Nevada-California border (Whisky Pete’s, Primm Valley, and Buffalo Bill’s), Circus Circus, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Monte Carlo and both casinos in Jean near the Nevada-California border (Nevada Landing and Gold Strike).
The MGM Grand is the nation’s largest hotel with over 5000 rooms.
The Western wing of the MGM Grand is actually the old Marina Hotel and Casino. It was renovated and connected with the new building instead of being torn down.
The Stardust was the first hotel to add a sports book to its casino.
Steve Wynn’s first Las Vegas investment was a large parking lot next to Caesars Palace. He announced plans to build a hotel on the lot; Caesars Palace got nervous and paid Wynn a handsome premium for the property.
Park Place Entertainment is Hilton’s gaming division. They own the Las Vegas Hilton, Caesar’s Palace, the Flamingo Hilton, Paris Las Vegas, Bally’s, and O’Shea’s.
The vacant lot across from the Sahara has been empty since the original El Rancho Vegas burned down on that site 40 years ago. It was one of the first resorts on the strip.
Elvis and Priscilla Presley were married at the original Aladdin hotel, which was torn down in 1998, rebuilt in 2000, bankrupt in 2001, then sold to OpBiz in 2003.
In the early days of the strip, slot machines were initially a diversion for the women companions of male gamblers who were busy at the tables. Now slot machines typically earn 60% or more of a casino’s take.
The first place Frank Sinatra played in Las Vegas was the Desert Inn.
Howard Hughes stayed at the Desert Inn so long, the owners asked him to leave. He offered to buy the hotel and the owners sold, thus beginning his casino buying spree. He is often credited with bringing corporate legitimacy to gaming interests.
The Golden Gate hotel and casino in downtown is the oldest hotel in Las Vegas (1906).
The Riviera was the first high-rise hotel on the Strip when it arrived in 1955.
The casino scenes in the movie Casino (Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci) were filmed in the Riviera, probably because it had not changed much since the 70s – the era that the film depicted.
