Las Vegas Tales: Taxi Drivers Reveal the City's Wild History

Las Vegas is a city of extremes, and its taxi drivers have stories to match. One driver recalls shooting a nail into his own stomach while working as a carpenter, a job he had before becoming a taxi driver. The city's history is as wild as its current reputation, with tales of injury and resilience.

The extravagance of Las Vegas is evident in its casinos. The opening ceremony of the Bellagio casino in 1998 cost a staggering 88 million dollars. The Encore casino project, opened at the end of 2008, cost over 2 billion dollars, showcasing the city's penchant for grandeur.

The history of Las Vegas is closely tied to the mob. Bugsy Siegel, a classic American gangster, opened the Flamingo Hotel in the 1940s, marking the beginning of the city's mafia era. The mob's control was so strong that casinos reportedly brought in tens of millions of dollars daily, with a significant portion going straight into the gangsters' pockets. This era of lawlessness continued until the late 1960s when Howard Hughes began buying up casinos, marking the transition from mob rule to state control.

Despite the changes, Las Vegas retains unique laws. While quick marriages are allowed, prostitution is banned within city limits. The World Series of Poker, held at the Rio casino since 2005, is a major event that attracts players from around the world. Russian players, in particular, have made a significant impact, with names like Vitaly Lunkin, Max Lykov, Lika Gerasimova, and Sergey Ryabinov becoming notable figures in the poker community.