Vegas Facts

Las Vegas Facts

• In 2007, Sheldon Adelson, casino mogul (Sands) was America’s 3rd richest man. Recession brought him to 26th by 12/09.
• Vegas Vic is the largest mechanical neon sign in the world. http://tweetphoto.com/9255414
• Difficult to identify exact number of Starbucks. Based on Starbucks website, 154 locations. Top 3 per capita.
• MGM Mirage’s City Center is the most expensive privately funded construction project in history.1st phase-$7.4billion.
• In 2007, Las Vegas received the City Cultural Diversity Award presented by the National League of Cities.
• As of 2008, Vegas had a total of 149,529 hotel rooms. It would take 409 years to stay in every room for a night.
• The approximate 200,000 working slot machines in Las Vegas account for approx 70% of most casinos’ gaming revenue.
• The Stratosphere is the tallest building west of the Mississippi and the 5th tallest building in the US.
• Vegas has the most strip clubs per capita(5.85 per 100k). Surprisingly, also the most churches per capita.
• Casinos generated $873.2mil in Nov 09. Up 4.4% from Nov 08. 1st increase seen in two years.
• Casinos pump fragrances through their ventilation systems. Mandalay-tropical. Venetian-musky scent called seduction.
• Average number of pillowcases washed daily at the MGM Grand = 15,000.
• The Wynn and Rio Casinos do not have floors that begin with the #4 because it is unlucky in the Chinese culture.
• The light beam from the Luxor is 1 of 2 man-made objects that can be seen from space. Other-Great Wall of China.
• Las Vegas was the 2nd most visited city in the world in 2009. New York reclaimed the title for the 1st time since 91.
• 21 of the 30 biggest hotels in the world are in Vegas. I’ve stayed in 5 of them.
• Shrimp consumption in Las Vegas is more than 60,000 pounds a day. Higher than the rest of the country combined.
• The real mob boss in the 40s/50s was Sal “Lucky” Luciano. Even after being deported, he controlled Vegas mob form Cuba.
• Hymen Roth(The Godfather) was based on Meyer Lansky who may have actually said about mob, “we’re bigger than US Steel.”
• Billionaire Howard Hughes bought 17 hotels in Las Vegas in the ’60s forcing the mob owners out…temporarily.
• Frank Sinatra had a 9% share in The Sands owned by mobsters
• Deniro’s “Casino” chracter Sam “Ace” Rothstein was based on Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal.Arguably best handicapper all-time. Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal brought the sports book& women Black Jack dealers to Vegas. If he could see PH’s Pleasure Pit.
• Approx $10million “borrowed” from mob controlled Teamsters pension fund helped build Vegas. Thx Jimmy Hoffa
• 1946 mobster Bugsy Siegel &partner Meyer Lansky open first mafia financed resort- The Flamingo. Mob arrives.
• 1905, 1st Hotel, canvas-topped Las Vegas Hotel had 30 rooms. Present day, MGM Grand has 5,034 rooms.
• In 2007, Sheldon Adelson, casino mogul (Sands) was America’s 3rd richest man. Recession brought him to 26th by 12/09.  
• Vegas Vic is the largest mechanical neon sign in the world.
• Difficult to identify exact number of Starbucks. Based on Starbucks website, 154 locations. Top 3 per capita.
• MGM Mirage’s City Center is the most expensive privately funded construction project in history.1st phase-$7.4billion.
• After successful summer shows, Beyonce talking contracting shows with Wynn | Billboard.com: http://bit.ly/5Lrerb 6:53 PM Mar 22nd
• Tiger Woods went from off the board to being favored to win the Masters (9/2) in the Vegas’ sports books.
• M Resort generated 7% of NV’s total wagering on Super Bowl. New technology allows bettors to bet mid-game. http://bit.ly/c7jXpy
• Atlantic City will have a little less Vegas. MGM/Mirage sells it’s shares of The Borgotta. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/gaming/
• There are 2 different time zones along the Hoover dam the AZ side& the NV side-hour time diff within a half mile
• Wynn’s odds maker Johnny Avello has Avatar (even odds) favored for best picture.(Hurt Locker at 7-5)Wynn’s website has the rest.
• Betting non-sport events like Oscars, is against NV law.Yet casinos may set odds for entertainment purposes. http://bit.ly/aMllQq
• Alcohol sales up but few comp drinks. This year, I had 9 free beers my last night in Vegas! http://bit.ly/diz7Ji
• Great bbq,country music, &line dancing @Harry‘s(in TX) last nt. T.Keith’s I lv this Bar&Grill is 1 of strip’s few country bars.
• According to one of my High School classmates & former Vegas resident, UNLV’s nickname is U Never Leave Vegas
• UNLV has 28K students, 17k per year for tuition, room, and board. I wonder how crazy Thursday nights get there…
• Spending a few days at TX A&M and thinking about colleges in Vegas. UNLV is just about a mile from the Strip.
• Clark County ranks 25th among the most linguistically diverse counties in the nation, according to Census 2000. LA is#1
• The Beatles only performed once in Vegas(8/20/64).Since, several shows have been based on The Beatles including “Love”&”Fab Four.”
• The 45-foot-tall lion that stands outside the MGM Grand weighs 90,000 pounds and is the world’s largest bronze statue of an animal.
• For those who have been to Freemont Street Experience, there are 12.5 million, LED bulbs in the Fremont Street Experience canopy.
• Casinos in Asia can affect Vegas rates. Interesting article about rates &competition btwn MGM Mirage& Sands- http://bit.ly/9mKgeh
• Not on the menu, Luckys (Hard Rock) offers one of the best late night specials. 10oz steak, shrimp, baked potato &salad for 7.77
• In CT’s capital city. Wondering why the best cities (NY, New Haven, Philly) aren’t capitals. Carson City is NV’s capital.
• Had Subway in Hartford tonight w/ @Bri2x @mlou2787 & @cutecarolyn. Strip’s best coupon book &Subway is located@ Casino Royale.
• Strip casinos reported a gross win of $502.1mil in December, a gain of 5.8 percent &the 2nd straight month of increases.
• The record for snowfall in Las Vegas is 9 inches on January 4-5, 1974. New Haven has recieved approx 6 inches this week.
• According to my wife, Bellagio’s Cafe’ Gelato has best gelato in Vegas.Bellagio is also home to world’s largest chocolate fountain
• By most counts, Vegas hosts more weddings a year than any other city at approx114,000 a year. Istanbul, Turkey is #2
• I’m@ the biggest US casino &3rd largest in world-Foxwoods. MGM is Vegas’ biggest& 7th in world. Venetian in Mucua, China is #1.
• In Vegas during Olympics? Don’t bother trying to bet on US. Since 08, betting on games is illegal in NV. http://bit.ly/bipfYH
• Every day casinos give away estimated $3 mil of freebies-over $1billion per year.(Casino Royale has the best coupon book!)
• Sports books record $6.8 million profit on Super Bowl wagers. Nevada’s 182 sports books took in $82,726,367 in wagers
• Elvis married Priscilla on 5/1/67 at (old)Aladdin Hotel. Elvis requested the word ‘obey’ be removed from wedding vows.
• Elvis Presley performed in 837 consecutive sold out shows in Vegas
• Today’s over/under is the highest all-time at 56.5. Previous highest was in 08 for Pats &Giants at 55 &that game ended 17-14
• Most bet on SuperBowl last 10yrs, 96.4mil in 06. http://bit.ly/9Q0L7D Super Bowl betting expected to increase this year.
• The first casino gaming license was issued in 1931.
• On average there are about 3750 conventions held in Vegas each year.
• Not really a fact, just some news. Pres Obama makes “anti Vegas” remarks. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama_las_vegas
• Highest slot jackpot in Vegas history-$39,713,982 on an Excalibur Megabucks slot won by a 25yo software engineer.
• Shrimp consumption in Las Vegas is more than 60,000 pounds a day. Higher than the rest of the country combined.
• The real mob boss in the 40s/50s was Sal “Lucky” Luciano. Even after being deported, he controlled Vegas mob from Cuba.
• Hymen Roth(The Godfather) was based on Meyer Lansky who may have actually said about mob, “we’re bigger than US Steel.”
• Only @ariaLV & @MO_LASVEGAS nominated for Virtuoso Awards in 2010. Congratulations! I’m staying @AriaLV in 18 days! http://bit.ly/dDmMsk
• According to Priceline.com, Las Vegas fell from the #2 July 4th holiday destination to #9 primarly due to higher flight costs.