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- Even More Nicknames For Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada. Many people think of casinos, lights, parties, nightlife, and unique places to explore (like Fremont Street with its quirky attractions). Overall, it's a hot, desert city that is open 24/7. Based on these first-impression sites, Las Vegas has acquired several nicknames throughout the years that have stuck for a long time. The nicknames for Las Vegas are interesting and fitting for this amazing city but don't judge the place solely on its handles because there is there's so much more to Sin City than casinos and everything for which it is synonymous.
Before beginning, let's explain what "Las Vegas" actually means. Las Vegas was named in 1829 by Rafael Rivera, a Spanish trader traveling to California. At the time, the city had natural springs and wild desert grasses. "Las Vegas" is literally translated to "The Meadows," which at the time of its naming made sense.
Here are 13 nicknames for Las Vegas, why it has gained that name, some fun facts, and other interesting points.
UPDATE: 2023/06/12 17:04 EST BY AARON SPRAY
Even More Nicknames For Las Vegas
Las Vegas has become one of the most famous cities in the world (especially for a city of that relatively small size). It is known for a great many things - from being one of the world's greatest Sin Cities to being a favored wedding destination. Of course, Nevada's best city has built up a number of nicknames over the years, and there are plenty of other names of Las Vegas. This list was updated and expanded with more Las Vegas nicknames to learn.
14 The Glitter Gulch
Among the other names for Vegas is Glitter Gulch. The "Glitter Gulch" area is located on the well-known crowded Fremont Street. The street features various shops and fascinating lights for visitors to delight in. Downtown Las Vegas earned the name Glitter Gulch in the 1940s due to the electricity produced by the Hoover Dam.
According to Vegas.com, there is a plethora of entertainment in the Glitter Gulch, from restaurants and bars to unique nightlife and delicious desserts. Glitter Gulch is just one of the nicknames of Las Vegas.
13 The City Of Second Chances
Visit Vegas boasts several reasons Las Vegas is the City of Second Chances, from getting a second chance at rebuilding your life in an affordable manner to experiencing life the way one wished when they were younger.
Blogger Kyla Sawyer reveals the second chance she had at life when moving to Las Vegas from Los Angeles. Her exhausting experience with blowing money and wasting her nights at bars after a traumatic breakup with her boyfriend may be relatable to many. When deciding to live a better life, she followed her parents to The City of Second Chances. And this entertainment capital became more than what everyone considers it to be. She found a new life to live, a second chance at life.
Movoto Real Estate shares interesting facts about The City of Second Chances.
- The Excalibur slots experienced a massive win thanks to an ambitious 25-year-old who gambled $100 and won $39 million.
- The CEO of FedEx, Frederick W. Smith, took FedEx’s last $5,000 to The City of Second Chances and won $27,000 playing blackjack, which went directly to their $24,000 fuel bill.
12 The City That Never Sleeps
New York City isn't the only city that never sleeps. Las Vegas is known for never turning off its lights, any clocks in its casinos, and the 24-hour restaurants on The Strip. There is so much going on, many forms of entertainment, and a lot to explore, from special events to the best shows in Vegas that take place weekly.
What's interesting is that the Las Vegas moniker was the complete opposite in the past: The Sleepy Little Town in the Desert. Las Vegas was known as a quiet railway town. It was a place for travelers on their way to California to get some rest.
11 The Marriage Capital Of The World
Elope City would be a good one, but the Marriage Capital of the World is another nickname for Las Vegas. This doesn't come as a surprise. Want to run away and get married? Everyone would say, "Let's go to Vegas." However, Istanbul, Turkey, is the number one city for weddings. It has 166,000 a year.
Vegas comes in second, though. There are over 300 weddings a day in Las Vegas. It is the top wedding destination in the US.
10 The City Of Lost Wages
Out of all the other names for Las Vegas, this one is perhaps the most unappealing. According to a study released in 2022 analyzing Las Vegas visitors from 2009-2021, a mean of 75% of visitors gambled when staying in Las Vegas.
The average person loses about $500 when gambling in the City of Lost Wages (if their trip is 3-4 days long). The best tip to not losing money is planning ahead and having self-control. Determining the amount of money to bring to Las Vegas and sticking to a budget is ideal.
Here are a few facts:
- Casinos on The Strip are usually pricier.
- Playing for too long equals more potential losses.
- Slots have a very low winning probability.
Make sure to budget. The average person gambles for 4-8 hours. Visitors will spend money on food and drinks. If they are losing more than they intended, visitors should take a break. Think of it as paying for entertainment instead of paying to feel bad one lost. If winning, put the money aside. Consider it as "untouchable money."
9 The Boneyard
The Boneyard refers to the acres-wide area where 'retired' neon signs are preserved. This is home to the Neon Museum, where visitors can say 'Oo' and 'Ah' to nearly two dozen re-illuminated signs and other iconic lights.
The museum has over 150 recognizable signs, such as the big Hard Rock Cafe guitar, that can be viewed alone or with a guide. For more information about visiting, check out the Vegas official site.
8 Adult Disneyland
This name is pretty obvious. Disneyland is where children experience excitement and fun. This city is basically the place to be for adults wanting to enjoy different experiences and feel a sense of awe and wonder (with unique attractions like Area15 in Las Vegas being a good example). These are some experiences for adults in Vegas:
- Fine dining
- Gambling
- Luxury shopping
- Nightclubs
- Gondola rides
- The lights on The Strip
- Stunning architecture
- Adult shows
- Theme parks
7 Gluttony Central
Among the funny names for Las Vegas is GLuttony Central, and it's certaily befitting. Las Vegas can be all glitz-and-glamour, but that doesn't only apply to the beauty people see. The food can be very addicting (kind of like gambling).
Interesting facts about food in Vegas:
- In a restaurant where diners over 350 pounds eat free, a man ironically (or not) had a heart attack eating at Vegas’ Heart Attack Grill.
- Nowhere in the US matches the shrimp consumption in Las Vegas. It is over 60,000 pounds per day.
6 The Neon City
Las Vegas lights can be seen from space. Nasa has provided images to confirm this fact. Visitors can take a nighttime helicopter ride to view The Neon City from above.
At a glimpse down The Strip, and it isn't much of a surprise why one of the nicknames of Las Vegas is Neon City, with its beaming colorful lights.
5 Sin City (The Top Las Vegas Nickname)
Of course, the most famous nickname for Las Vegas is "Sin City." It almost sounds taboo, rebellious, and dare-devil-like. That's pretty much the vibe that many have of Las Vegas: "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas."
Although Las Vegas has family attractions, it is mainly considered an "adult" city. Sin City has booze, strip clubs, casinos, and other things that may be thought of as "sinful."
- A documentary television series called Cheating Vegas revealed the scandalous ways people hacked the gambling industry in Las Vegas.
- Prostitution in Las Vegas is illegal. But it is legal in the state of Nevada.
- Sin City is a place where many people decide to let go and act in ways they would not if they were in their hometown.
4 The Divorce Capital Of America
The Las Vegas nickname, Divorce Capital of America, is sort of the counterpart to Sin City. It should come as little surprise that the city famous for being one of the great Sin Cities of the world is also a place where marriages come to an end. Some of the 'Sin' in Sin City is not conducive to a healthy relationship (as is the expression 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas').
Not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and when it becomes known, it may be a nail in the coffin for a marriage.
3 The Gambling Capital Of The World
The most famous vice of Las Vegas must be gambling, so it should be expected for Las Vegas to have a nickname relating to gambling. The Strip is dominated by some of the largest and most famous mega-casino hotels in the world. It needs no explanation how Las Vegas came to be the Gambling Capital of the World. Visitors come for the thrill of gambling, but they should be careful not to blow all their money on the tables.
As the Gambling Capital of the World, visitors are spoiled for choice of which casino-hotel to stay at (e.g., consider staying at Caesars' Palace or the all-new Resorts World).
2 The Desert Oasis
Indeed, Las Vegas is pretty much a bustling metropolis in the desert. So it's no surprise it would have a nickname befitting of its location in one of the barren and driest cities in the US.
Desert Oasis says it as it is; it is a thriving oasis in the Nevada desert where life (and a whole lot more) flourishes. Although many people know that Vegas boasts some of the most famous casinos in the world, such as Bellagio and MGM Grand, what many aren't aware of is that its population is over two million. What's more, the city's median household income is $100,000. Not bad for a desert oasis.
- Las Vegas Population: Over 2 million
- Median Household Income: $100,000
1 The Entertainment Capital Of The World
Las Vegas really is one of the destinations with seemingly endless opportunities for entertainment. Las Vegas is also known as an entertainment mecca, and so one of Las Vegas' other names is the Entertainment Capital of the World. Vegas is a place with everything from adult entertainment to family-friendly entertainment. Las Vegas is famous for its many excellent shows. Choose from magician shows, adult shows, family-friendly comedy shows, and much more.
Besides the shows, Las Vegas has endless shopping, great hiking out of the city (such as at the Valley of Fire), day trips to the Grand Canyon, ATV riding in the desert, and much more.