There has always been an abundance of pageantry in Las Vegas. From the days of lounge singers and glitzy neon lights in casinos to big productions, social media, and games on the phone, there has always been something to watch for in Vegas for many years.
In the past 10 years, some of the most drastic changes have occurred. While the Strip remains glamorous, Las Vegas no longer has to stay contained within the city limits or even within the confines of the casino.
Sinatra Made Vegas Cool
It wasn’t long ago that the town had an entirely unique reputation. Frank Sinatra, Rat Pack shows, lavish nightclubs, and gambling floors helped make Las Vegas synonymous with nightlife and entertainment. Movies and television added more weight to the already created image. Las Vegas had become synonymous with light, grand shows and a touch of mystery. One didn’t have to be there to know what the look was like.
That image of Las Vegas remains relevant, yet it isn’t the only one anymore. In the past ten years, the city hasn’t stopped growing and developing entertainment opportunities, at the same time reinventing the classic Las Vegas image.
The Strip Became an Entertainment Machine
The modern Vegas is not just about the goings-on in the gaming area anymore. Concerts, residencies, eateries, sports games, and attraction venues are now important elements of a visit to the Strip. This has transformed the nature of the vacation that can be enjoyed there. One person will plan their weekend in Vegas entirely around the performer of their choice, while for someone else the emphasis may lie on food, nightlife, attractions, or sports events.
Vegas has essentially transformed into one huge entertainment playground, where the casino culture is embedded into it rather than ruling it. And then the entertainment industry has changed again.
Vegas Followed Us Onto Our Phones
The smartphone has revolutionized the consumption process of nearly all products. Streaming movies, downloading video games and social media turning a mundane moment into a global event are just a few examples. Casino gaming has evolved in the same fashion within the states that allow online casino gaming. BetMGM's online casino is an excellent example of that evolution, taking a classic casino name and bringing it to the mobile screen.
There is a peculiar link between the two eras. The physical casino would need atmosphere, recognizable games and over-the-top showmanship. The online venue has the ability to bring some of these elements and put them all onto a small screen. It might not be the same experience as entering one of the Las Vegas resorts, but it reflects well on the evolution of casino gaming culture.
Social Media Turned Vegas Into Content
Vegas has always been visually appealing on camera. However, now it is different because practically everyone is carrying a camera in his or her pocket. Just a few years back, people would either watch a film or a TV news report to see how things worked in Vegas. But now, one can share his or her experience by uploading a video of the show, restaurant or anything related to the Strip, and thousands will see it right away.
The culture of Vegas has become a lot more immediate, for that matter. One can check out attractions through short films, find out what is going on in the city and get introduced to the newest trend even before making any travel plans. Vegas has got another stage, which operates 24/7.
Old-School Vegas Still Has Its Fans
Regardless of all the changes that occurred, Las Vegas has not thrown away its heritage. Quite the contrary, some of the design features that identify this city are actually inspired by its heritage. Vintage-style signs, traditional casino symbols, and references to various periods in Vegas' history are used side by side with modern casinos and massive entertainment shows.
It is one of the things that make Las Vegas interesting to see. Las Vegas does not need to choose between its heritage and its future, because one can be perfectly combined with the other. It can be said that while the old city was built on the foundation of the glory of Sinatra, now it can become a part of someone's entertainment feed right from their living room.
From Neon Signs to App Icons
Probably the most significant difference between the present situation and that of the previous decade is the physical gap that developed between Vegas and its patrons. While one can visit the state of Nevada to see firsthand the attractions that the city of Las Vegas offers, there is also a possibility of experiencing the Vegas culture without even leaving home, via a mobile device, online streaming service, social networking site or game application.
This way, Vegas has evolved from a destination for tourism into an entertainment brand that can be encountered everywhere. One of the most obvious cases of this transformation is mobile gaming. This new genre of games was conceived using an old concept – the one of casino culture, whose main goal was always to engage the consumer.
Vegas Keeps Reinventing Itself
One could easily think that the rise of mobile entertainment would lead to the decline of traditional Las Vegas tourism. However, the two concepts coexist. On one hand, tourists continue to visit the Strip in search of the classic Vegas experience. On the other hand, online entertainment is capable of delivering some features of casino culture to people living outside of the city.
What social media has done is make the city a non-stop source of entertainment for audiences all over the world. In other words, any Las Vegas show, hotel, attraction or casino may become the object of social media posts in a matter of minutes. This ability to constantly change itself while keeping the same identity was always a Las Vegas strength.
Final Thoughts
Vegas culture has certainly evolved since the days of Sinatra, but the legacy has never fully faded away. The glitz and gambling that have always been synonymous with the city have only shifted locations. Today, Vegas can be found on the Strip, on social media and on mobile phones. The technology may have advanced considerably from the lounge clubs of the past, but the core concept has remained relatively unchanged: create experiences that can be seen, played and talked about. Ten years later, Vegas is no less recognizable because it has found more means to express itself.