The Las Vegas of the 50’s was a very different place than the Las Vegas we know today. When Benny Binion arrived in Nevada, casinos had a much rougher look and feel about them – and so did Las Vegas. But Binion saw beneath the sawdust on the floors to recognize a diamond in the rough.

The U.S. commercial gaming industry generated nearly $72 billion in revenue in 2024, according to the American Gaming Association’s recently released “State of the States 2025.” It marks the fourth consecutive year of record-breaking revenue.

When the castle gates of Excalibur swung open for the first time on June 19, 1990, the medieval-themed megaresort at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip was the largest hotel in the world. Thirty-five years later, the castle still stands, and the casino hotel’s allure continues to resonate with visitors.

Since at least the early 1900s, Las Vegas has been known as Sin City, a place meant to be an adult playground where anything goes. Historically, that playground included a heavy dose of gambling and alcohol, along with all manner of nightlife.

On this episode of The Middle Ground Radio Show, Tom Letizia welcomes Dr. David G. Schwartz — acclaimed author, gaming historian, and UNLV Ombuds — for a deep conversation on the rich history and evolving future of Las Vegas. From his global journey through the origins of gambling in Roll the Bones, to the golden era glamour of At the Sands, and the bold vision of Jay Sarno in Grandissimo, Dr. Schwartz shares powerful insights about what made Las Vegas what it is — and where it might be heading.

A surprising number of alternative facts about the world’s gambling capital continue to resonate across pop culture, with little relevance to reality. The Hoover Dam holds one of the biggest.

“Elaine Wynn was more than a businesswoman and philanthropist; she was a force of nature — a curator of dreams in a city built on aspirations.” So wrote the Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation in announcing her death Tuesday morning at the age of 82, along with a lengthy statement and obituary on her life.

Ninety-four years after gambling was legalized in Las Vegas, the city continues to diversify its economy with sports playing a significant role.