History Main / VivaLasVegas

Contrary to popular belief, prostitution is illegal in Las Vegas, Nevada. By state law, any prostitution outside of a brothel is illegal, and a brothel must possess a state-issued license to operate legally. Every county is allowed a "local option" on whether to allow operations of brothels. However, the law immediately prohibits any county having a population over 400,000 from issuing brothel licenses, which excludes Clark (encompassing Vegas) and Washoe (encompassing Reno) counties. The end result of this is that in Nevada's largest cities, prostitution is illegal by default. From Vegas, one has to drive sixty miles west to Pahrump to find the nearest legal brothel. Of course, this doesn't prevent illegal prostitution from being rampant (much as it is in most other large cities).

Viva Las Vegas consists entirely of casino interiors (with rattling-change sound effects, although modern slots dispense credit slips), the Strip, and possibly Fremont Street. And, of course, every other person you'll meet is an Elvis impersonator who doubles as a clergyman or justice of the peace for quickie, no-questions-asked marriages. These many not be too far away from reality...

* ''VideoGame/DeadRising2'' takes place in a Vegas [[CaptainErsatz analogue]] by the name of Fortune City. The casinos, giant hotels, and malls are all accounted for; in fact, the only easily noticeable difference between Las Vegas and Fortune is the fact that Fortune has be [[ZombieApocalypse overrun by zombies]]. [[spoiler:The prequel establishes that Fortune City was a replacement for Vegas, the real thing having been overrun by the dead and firebombed into oblivion. The BigBad confesses to starting ''that'' outbreak in the main game.]]

* ''VideoGame/DeadRising2'' takes place in a Vegas [[CaptainErsatz analogue]] by the name of Fortune City. Which is very similar to Vegas. The gambling, the giant hotels and malls...In fact, the only easily noticeable difference between Las Vegas and Fortune is the fact that Fortune has be [[ZombieApocalypse overrun by zombies]]. [[spoiler: The prequel establishes that Fortune City was a replacement for Vegas, the real thing having been overrun by the dead and firebombed into oblivion. The BigBad confesses to starting ''that'' outbreak in the main game.]]

* In the ''Series/{{Angel}}'' episode "[[Recap/AngelS04E03TheHouseAlwaysWins The House Always Wins]]", Angel takes the gang to Vegas, where Lorne is doing a very Wayne-Newtonish show. Against his will. It's learned that Angel attended Elvis' Vegas wedding and that only one member of the Blue Man Group is human.

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* In 2017, Las Vegas got its first major league team with the Usefulnotes/NationalHockeyLeague's Vegas Golden Knights. While expansion teams are usually terrible, the Knights basically set a new standard for expansion team performance by making it all the way to Usefulnotes/StanleyCup finalist, and won the most home games... the last part being [[http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/21825994/nhl-vegas-flu-real-golden-knights-stunning-home-success something analysts, players and GMs attributed to this trope]], as visiting teams will underperform after players spend their off-time getting distracted by the Sin City. Vegas would earn their first Stanley Cup in 2023, only six years after their maiden season, and threw a hell of a victory parade.

** In case you were wondering why Vegas got its first major league team ''in 2017''[[note]]For context, the city of Las Vegas was founded and incorporated in, respectively, 1905 and 1911, while professional sports first arrived in the West Coast and American Southwest with the relocation of the UsefulNotes/{{Cleveland}} [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague Rams]] to Los Angeles in 1946[[/note]] while many nearby major American cities (e.g., UsefulNotes/LosAngeles, [[UsefulNotes/{{Arizona}} Phoenix]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Utah}} Salt Lake City]], etc.) have had pro sports teams for decades, this trope was historically the main reason. To wit, the Big Four leagues (the UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague,[[note]]Who would, in 2020, see the Raiders relocate to Vegas from their longtime home UsefulNotes/{{Oakland}} AND award the 2024 Super Bowl to Vegas, likely playing into this trope[[/note]] UsefulNotes/MajorLeagueBaseball,[[note]]Who would, in the 2020s, see the Oakland Athletics (who shared the ''exact'' same stadium with the Raiders for decades) announce their plans to relocate to Las Vegas no earlier than 2025[[/note]] UsefulNotes/NationalBasketballAssociation,[[note]]Who would, in 2023, have Las Vegas host the final and semi-finals of their new In-Season Tournament, playing into this trope[[/note]] and the National Hockey League), for decades, staunchly believed that Vegas' gambling culture would undermine the integrity of the game, and that the casinos (the main tourist attractions) would have offered too much economic competition for pro sports.

** In case you were wondering why Vegas got its first major league team ''in 2017''[[note]]For context, the city of Las Vegas was founded and incorporated in, respectively, 1905 and 1911, while professional sports first arrived in the West Coast and American Southwest with the relocation of the UsefulNotes/{{Cleveland}} [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague Rams]] to Los Angeles in 1946[[/note]] while many nearby major American cities (e.g., UsefulNotes/LosAngeles, [[UsefulNotes/{{Arizona}} Phoenix]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Utah}} Salt Lake City]], etc.) have had pro sports teams for decades, this trope was historically the main reason. To wit, the Big Four leagues (the UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague[[note]]Who would, in 2020, see the Raiders relocate to Vegas from their longtime home UsefulNotes/{{Oakland}} AND award the 2024 Super Bowl to Vegas, likely playing into this trope[[/note]], UsefulNotes/MajorLeagueBaseball[[note]]Who would, in the 2020s, see the Oakland Athletics (who shared the ''exact'' same stadium with the Raiders for decades) make plans to relocate for Las Vegas[[/note]], UsefulNotes/NationalBasketballAssociation, and the National Hockey League), for decades, staunchly believed that Vegas' gambling culture would undermine the integrity of the game, and that the casinos (the main tourist attractions) would have offered too much economic competition for pro sports.

** In case you were wondering why Vegas got its first major league team ''in 2017''[[note]]For context, the city of Las Vegas was founded and incorporated in, respectively, 1905 and 1911, while professional sports first arrived in the West Coast and American Southwest with the relocation of the UsefulNotes/{{Cleveland}} [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague Rams]] to Los Angeles in 1946[[/note]] while many nearby major American cities (e.g., UsefulNotes/LosAngeles, [[UsefulNotes/{{Arizona}} Phoenix]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Utah}} Salt Lake City]], etc.) have had pro sports teams for decades, this trope was historically the main reason. To wit, the Big Four leagues (the UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague[[note]]Who would, in 2020, see the Raiders relocate to Vegas from their longtime home UsefulNotes/{{Oakland}} AND award the 2024 Super Bowl to Vegas, likely playing into this trope[[/note]], [UsefulNotes/MajorLeagueBaseball[[note]]Who would, in the 2020s, see the Oakland Athletics (who shared the ''exact'' same stadium with the Raiders for decades) make plans to relocate for Las Vegas[[/note]], UsefulNotes/NationalBasketballAssociation, and the National Hockey League), for decades, staunchly believed that Vegas' gambling culture would undermine the integrity of the game, and that the casinos (the main tourist attractions) would have offered too much economic competition for pro sports.

** In case you were wondering why Vegas got its first major league team ''in 2017''[[note]]For context, the city of Las Vegas was founded and incorporated in, respectively, 1905 and 1911, while professional sports first arrived in the West Coast and American Southwest with the relocation of the UsefulNotes/{{Cleveland}} [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague Rams]] to Los Angeles in 1946[[/note]] while many nearby major American cities (e.g., UsefulNotes/LosAngeles, [[UsefulNotes/{{Arizona}} Phoenix]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Utah}} Salt Lake City]], etc.) have had pro sports teams for decades, this trope was historically the main reason. To wit, the Big Four leagues (the UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague[[note]]Who would, in 2020, see the Raiders relocate to Vegas from their longtime home UsefulNotes/{{Oakland}} AND award the 2024 Super Bowl to Vegas, likely playing into this trope[[/note]], [[UsefulNotes/MLBTeams Major League Baseball]][[note]]Who would, in the 2020s, see the Oakland Athletics (who shared the ''exact'' same stadium with the Raiders for decades) make plans to relocate for Las Vegas[[/note]], UsefulNotes/NationalBasketballAssociation, and the National Hockey League), for decades, staunchly believed that Vegas' gambling culture would undermine the integrity of the game, and that the casinos (the main tourist attractions) would have offered too much economic competition for pro sports.

* ''Series/TheDrewCareyShow'' had an episode where Drew lost a ton of money then ended up married to a cocktail waitress. This episode was part of a multi-series crossover orchestrated by ABC in which characters from ''Drew Carey'', ''Series/{{Coach}}'', ''Series/{{Ellen}}'' and ''Series/GraceUnderFire''appeared on each other's shows and interacted with each other. Drew was the only one to show up on all four.

* ''Series/ThePretender'', episode "Cold Dick". Wayne Newton appears in the final scene.
** The Season 1 episode "Curious Jarod" also took place in Vegas, but only "Cold Dick" was filmed there.

* Leonard, Raj, and Howard visit Las Vegas in one episode of ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', partly to get Howard's mind off a recent breakup. Leonard and Raj ''do'' wind up hiring a prostitute (willing to roleplay a "Jewish girlfriend") for Howard...but in a nod to reality, she only agrees after confirming that they aren't police.

* ''Series/FullHouse'' has one in season 4, "Viva Las Joey", where Joey has the opportunity to do a stand-up routine before Wayne Newton's concert.
** Also, the season 2 finale "Luck Be a Lady", although set in Lake Tahoe, is more like the traditional "Vegas" episode, where it features Jesse and Rebecca deciding (and later changing their mind) to elope, and the girls playing on the slot machines.

* The ''Series/{{Monk}}'' episode "Mr. Monk Goes to Vegas" has Monk and Natalie go to Vegas to solve a murder at the request of Captain Stottlemeyer (or rather, to help Stottlemeyer remember how he had solved the murder when he was drunk off his ass the night before), while Lieutenant Disher loses his savings at a blackjack table.

''For the actual city in UsefulNotes/{{Nevada}}, see UsefulNotes/LasVegas.''
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'''The principal characters [[RoadTripPlot journey to]] Las Vegas.''' At least one [[TheGamblingAddict has a gambling problem]] and will end up dead broke or winning a ton of money (bonus points if an urgent need for cash is why they go to Vegas). Most likely, one or all end up in jail and/or [[AccidentalMarriage married]]. It's possible that someone might host their friend's StagParty here. Don't be surprised if there's a DrunkenMontage or BingeMontage. Don't be surprised either to see Wayne Newton ([[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed or an thinly-veiled]] {{Expy}} of him), the former teen pop star of the 1950s [[TropeCodifier who popularized the notion]] [[MoneyDearBoy of musicians relocating to Vegas in order to find steady work]] within the city's many high-profile night spots, and continued to perform off-and-on in the city well into the new millennium. If children are involved, expect some harsh MoodWhiplash when they confront adult themes for the first time, and [[HilarityEnsues hilarity may or may not ensue]], although this story element has become obscure past the year 2000. In reality, Las Vegas has actually become much more open to people who do ''not'' gamble and [=/=] or who have kids, and they even have a ''support group'' people can call if they have a gambling problem!

''For the actual city in UsefulNotes/{{Nevada}}, see UsefulNotes/LasVegas.''

* ''Film/VegasVacation'' concerns the Griswolds taking a vacation in the city; Clark receives the gambling addiction subplot, Ellen draws the WayneNewton subplot.

* ''Film/VegasVacation'' concerns the Griswolds taking a vacation in the city; Clark receives the gambling addiction subplot, Ellen draws the Creator/WayneNewton subplot.

* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' spent a year in Vegas when the Hulk worked as a mob enforcer. Whenever the Grey Hulk (a.k.a. "Joe Fixit") is dominant, expect him to head back to Sin City at the first opportunity.

** In case you were wondering why Vegas got its first major league team ''in 2017''[[note]]For context, the city of Las Vegas was founded and incorporated in, respectively, 1905 and 1911, while professional sports first arrived in the West Coast and American Southwest with the relocation of the UsefulNotes/{{Cleveland}} [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague Rams]] to Los Angeles in 1946[[/note]] while many nearby major American cities (e.g., UsefulNotes/LosAngeles, [[UsefulNotes/{{Arizona}} Phoenix]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Utah}} Salt Lake City]], etc.) have had pro sports teams for decades, this trope was historically the main reason. To wit, the Big Four leagues (the UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague[[note]]Who would, in 2020, see the Raiders relocate to Vegas from their longtime home UsefulNotes/{{Oakland}} AND award the 2024 Super Bowl to Vegas, likely playing into this trope[[/note]], [[UsefulNotes/MLBTeams Major League Baseball]], UsefulNotes/NationalBasketballAssociation, and the National Hockey League), for decades, staunchly believed that Vegas' gambling culture would undermine the integrity of the game, and that the casinos (the main tourist attractions) would have offered too much economic competition for pro sports.

* In 2017, Las Vegas got its first major league team with the Usefulnotes/NationalHockeyLeague's Vegas Golden Knights. While expansion teams are usually terrible, the Knights basically set a new standard for expansion team performance by making it all the way to Usefulnotes/StanleyCup finalist, and won the most home games... the last part being [[http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/21825994/nhl-vegas-flu-real-golden-knights-stunning-home-success something analysts, players and GMs attributed to this trope]], as visiting teams will underperform after players spend their off-time getting distracted by the Sin City.

** The main cast travels to Vegas at pivotal moments in their careers: aspiring singer Bambi needs her Vegas show to do well if she doesn't want to get dropped by her label (and her agent Jenny needs it to go well as well or she'll be forced to close her talent agency), Remora and Thomas need to find jobs to support their newborn (especially complicated for Remora since she's temporarily {{Mode Lock}}ed in her 'mermaid classic' form), and Don and Dave are competing in the NBA Summer League to try to get contracts for the regular season. [[spoiler: Bambi's career is resurrected after five encores convince the label to keep her, Thomas's trapezing skills get him hired by Cirque du Soleil, which allows Remora to be a stay at home mom, Don gets a contract with the Havens Fastracks (formerly the Seattle Supersonics), and while Dave failed to do the same, an Italian basketball team offered him one instead. Oh, and Jenny and Luis eloped, but the others don't find that out until Jenny starts having MorningSickness a few months later.]]

* The main cast of ''ComicStrip/SafeHavens'' travel to Vegas at pivotal moments in their careers: aspiring singer Bambi needs her Vegas show to do well if she doesn't want to get dropped by her label (and her agent Jenny needs it to go well as well or she'll be forced to close her talent agency), Remora and Thomas need to find jobs to support their newborn (especially complicated for Remora since she's temporarily {{Mode Lock}}ed in her 'mermaid classic' form), and Don and Dave are competing in the NBA Summer League to try to get contracts for the regular season. [[spoiler: Bambi's career is resurrected after five encores convince the label to keep her, Thomas's trapezing skills get him hired by Cirque du Soleil, which allows Remora to be a stay at home mom, Don gets a contract with the Havens Fastracks (formerly the Seattle Supersonics), and while Dave failed to do the same, an Italian basketball team offered him one instead. Oh, and Jenny and Luis eloped, but the others don't find that out until Jenny starts having MorningSickness a few months later.]]

* The main cast of ''ComicStrip/SafeHavens'' travel to Vegas at pivotal moments in their careers: aspiring singer Bambi needs her Vegas show to do well if she doesn't want to get dropped by her label (and her agent Jenny needs it to go well as well or she'll be forced to close her talent agency), Remora and Thomas need to find jobs to support their newborn (especially complicated for Remora since she's temporarily {{Mode Lock}}ed in her 'mermaid classic' form), and Don and Dave are competing in the NBA Summer League to try to get contracts for the regular season. [[spoiler: Bambi's career is resurrected after five encores convince the label to keep her, Thomas's trapezing skills get him hired by Cirque du Soleil, which allows Remora to be a stay at home mom, Don gets a contract with the Havens Fastracks (formerly the Seattle Supersonics), and while Dave failed to do the same, an Italian basketball team offered him one instead. Oh, and Jenny and Luis eloped, but they don't find that out until Jenny starts having MorningSickness a few months later.]]

* The main cast of ''ComicStrip/SafeHavens'' travel to Vegas at pivotal moments in their careers: aspiring singer Bambi needs her Vegas show to do well if she doesn't want to get dropped by her label (and her agent Jenny needs it to go well as well or she'll be forced to close her talent agency), Remora and Thomas need to find jobs to support their newborn (especially complicated for Remora since she's temporarily {{Mode Lock}}ed in her 'mermaid classic' form), and Don and Dave are competing in the NBA Summer League to try to get contracts for the regular season. [[spoiler: Bambi's career is resurrected after five encores convince the label to keep her, Thomas's trapezing skills get him hired by Cirque du Soleil, which allows Remora to be a stay at home mom, Don gets a contract with the Havens Fastracks (formerly the Seattle Supersonics), and while Dave failed to do the same, an Italian basketball team offered him one instead. Oh, and Jenny and Luis eloped, but they don't find that out until Jenny starts having MorningSickness a few hours later.]]

* ''LightNovel/KyoKaraMaoh'': Yuuri and his harem visit their [[FantasyCounterpartCulture world version]] of Vegas and bring down a man who runs a crooked casino.