Top 10 Las Vegas Facts: Uncovering Sin City Secrets

Las Vegas is a city unlike any other. The bright lights, the legendary shows, the chiming of the slots, and the tables’ thrills all help make Vegas such an enticing place to visit.

Las Vegas has earned legendary status for its incredible casinos, fast-track weddings, mob-infused history, incredible fight nights, and world-class restaurants.

You may know a bit about the history of Vegas, and maybe you’ve even visited Sin City, but you probably don’t know everything about it.

Let’s look at ten fascinating gambling facts about Las Vegas that will surely blow your mind.

1. The Largest Win on a Vegas Slot Was $39 Million

One lucky punter won a staggering $39 million on a slot machine at the Excalibur Casino on March 21, 2003, marking the biggest win in a slot game in history.

This incredible win landed on the Megabucks progressive jackpot slot, which has a minimum payout of ten million dollars. 

The game has a minimum bet of three dollars, available across many casinos in Nevada, so the jackpot grows to lottery-sized amounts.

The next time you are in Las Vegas, remember to put aside three dollars for a spin!

2. Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel’s Car Is Buried Under The Flamingo

The legendary mobster once owned the Flamingo Casino, the first casino on the new Las Vegas strip.

The infamous gangster ran Vegas without remorse before his demise when a barrage of bullets went through the window and killed him. 

After his murder in 1947, his beloved car was buried under the casino. This information was kept a secret as the new owners of the Flamingo didn’t want to associate the name with its crime-ridden history.

This could explain why many say that “Bugsy” Siegel’s ghost still haunts the Flamingo to this day.

3. Sports Wagering Accounts for More Than 2% of Nevada’s Income

Although Las Vegas is very much known for its casino floors, plenty of action is happening in the sports betting lobbies. 

The big casinos have huge sports betting lounges with hundreds of screens showing all sorts of sporting events. You can bet on various markets worldwide.

These betting lounges are always busy on game day, fight night, or during the races.

However, if you get in at the right time, you can relax in a comfortable seat, order a drink or two, and place all sorts of sports bets.

4. Las Vegas’ First Telephone Was Installed in 1907

Since 1907, Las Vegas has been a hub of innovation, starting with the first telephone installed in Hotel Nevada, now known as the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino.

It was placed in the office of Charles “Pop” Squires, who was often called the Father of Las Vegas. The model was a 1907 Kellogg with the telephone number “1.”

In October 1980, a plaque marking this technological and communication milestone was unveiled and placed on the sidewalk outside the Golden Gate Casino.

5. There Are Over 50 Wedding Chapels in Vegas

It’s no wonder why so many people get hitched in Las Vegas. The Wedding Capital of the World is home to over 50 chapels, the most famous being the Little White Chapel.

Many quick celebrity weddings have taken place there, including the likes of Frank Sinatra, Britney Spears, Michael Jordan, Judy Garland, and Pamela Anderson.

Many believe that Elvis Presley also got married at the Little White Chapel, but the King of Rock & Roll actually tied the knot in the Aladdin Hotel in Vegas.

Las Vegas is also home to the world’s first drive-thru wedding chapel, so you don’t even have to get out of the car and walk down the aisle.

No other city holds more weddings than Vegas – around 100,000 couples get married there every year.

6. The Biggest Bet on Roulette Was Worth $250,000

Roulette is a game that is synonymous with luck rather than skill. This classic casino game draws players in with its thrills and massive earning potential with little strategy. 

Perhaps nothing exemplifies this more than when one ambitious punter made a whopping $250,000 roulette bet in the Golden Gate casino in 2010.

This wager resulted from a previous bet of $125,000, which he won, but the final $250,000 stake wasn’t so lucky. The punter wanted to place four bets and make one million dollars.

7. More Than 42 Million People Visit Las Vegas Each Year

Most people have a penchant for sinful entertainment, as Las Vegas sees over 42 million visitors frequent the city yearly.

Outside of the dark Covid period, the visitor numbers have been rising each year since 1970 and don’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. 

Around six million of these visitors come to Las Vegas for one of the many conventions, while the rest are there to enjoy some classic Vegas action.

8. The Highest Winning Bet Ever Placed Was Equivalent to $2.31 Million

On September 24, 1980, William Lee Bergstrom entered the Binion’s Horseshoe Casino with a case containing $777,000, around $2.31 million by today’s estimate.

Mr. Bergstrom opted to “roll the dice” and put the total amount on a single craps wager. He won.

Several years later, on March 24, 1984, he returned to Binion’s and bet $538,000 on a single roll of dice. Again, he won.

In November of that same year, the native Texan placed a $1,000,000 bet on the same Don’t Pass wager in craps. This time he lost.

A few months after losing the bet, Mr. Bergstrom was found dead in his motel room in Las Vegas due to an apparent drug overdose.

He was only 33 years old at the time and was heartbroken after the breakup with a man who was ten years younger.

He left a note before his death suggesting he wanted to be remembered as “The Phantom Gambler of the Horseshoe, who Bet $1 Million on November 16, 1984.” 

9. Gambling Makes up Over 43% of Las Vegas Casinos’ Revenue

It’s no surprise that Las Vegas casinos make a lot of revenue. However, to put this into perspective, casino games have a house edge of around four percent, which means the casino makes around four dollars for every $100 wagered. 

The rest of the revenue is made up through many other entertaining things to do in Vegas, such as restaurants, rooms, shows, and everything else.

10. Only 15% of Las Vegas Visitors Go to Gamble

Interestingly, a study found that only 15% of those visiting Las Vegas are there to gamble. Even though 71% of people who go the city do enjoy a good ole’ fashioned bet, gambling is not a priority for most of them, even if it is part of the experience and fun of Sin City.

Now that you know some of the top fun facts about Las Vegas, why not try one of our recommended real-money online casinos?

You can even play some games for free to sharpen your skills before hitting the casino floor. With all the exciting games and rewards, you’ll have a great time and take home some extra cash!

Las Vegas is a city full of surprises! From the iconic hotels and casinos to its amazing food and entertainment, there’s no shortage of things to do and see there. We hope you enjoyed learning some of the most interesting and fun facts about Las Vegas.

You can experience Sin City’s excitement from the comfort of your home with the right online casino.

Whether you’re a high roller or just trying your luck, you can find plenty of action, amazing bonuses, and thrilling games when you play at one of our recommended online casinos.

Don’t wait any longer – head to your favorite site and start playing!