What's up, folks! I'm Robert Reinhold, coming at you with a scoop from the heart of where all the magic happens – Vegas, baby!

So here's the lowdown: Sin City’s brighter than ever and the casino cash registers are ka-chinging like there's no tomorrow. But get this - Vegas is playing a whole new game these days. It’s no longer just about the high stakes and the all-night benders. Nah, they're rolling out the red carpet for the whole fam now. Imagine that! You can slap down some chips and still be Parent of the Year. Who would've thought?

Take a look at the Gold Coast Casino. It’s like Disneyland meets Vegas! They’ve got everything under one roof: a whopping 72 bowling lanes, cinemas showing the latest flicks, and get this – a daycare that’d make Mary Poppins proud. I mean, where else can you drop off the kids with some sweet old ladies in sunny smocks while you're out there trying to hit the jackpot? They've got an arcade's worth of video poker and slots, tables where blackjack and keno are the name of the game, and monitors playing horse races from across the nation. It's insane!

Michael Gaughan, part-owner of the joint and a Vegas old-timer, puts it like this: "We are dealing more with the masses of people now." His fam’s been in the casino biz since ’51. Back then, slots were just a sideshow for the ladies while the gents hit the tables. Times sure have changed, huh?

Even with gambling popping up all over the country, Vegas ain’t breaking a sweat. The Strip is on fire, and not even Atlantic City or the bazillions states with lotteries can slow it down. Last year, a crazy 17.2 million folks swarmed to Vegas. That’s a jump of nearly 50% since '82. The cash flow's been nuts too – the county's casino revenues are hogging a bigger chunk of the American gambling pie than ever before.

Behind closed doors, you’ve got casino bosses biting their nails, wondering if this hot streak will last. But for now, they’re raking it in. And it’s all thanks to the U.S. finally shaking off its prude vibes about gambling. Vegas, the clever devil, has rebranded itself as a hotspot for conventions, sports, entertainment, and yeah, a family vacay spot too. It's the go-to desert escape now, offering way more than just a chance to win big.

Bill Eadington, a top dog in gaming research, says Vegas is nailing it with the new gambling crowd. These folks aren't the die-hard gamblers of yesteryears. Nah, they’re cool with gambling being just one slice of their chill-out pie, which might also include some time on the water at Lake Mead.

Inside the casinos, it's all about the digital age. Those fancy computerized slots and poker machines are muscling out traditional table games. Why? 'Cause the younger crowd grew up blasting aliens on video games. They're all about the screens, not so much about getting the stink-eye from a dealer whenever they goof up. "Society has become much more computer-oriented," says John V. Giovenco, head honcho at Hilton Nevada.

And let's talk about the holiday crowd – like Richard and Sandy Huisman, this adorable couple from Rexdale, Ontario. "We just play the slots - the other stuff is out of our league," says 25-year-old Richard. They're also down for catching some shows and soaking up some rays.

To keep up with all those state lotteries, tons of Nevada casinos have linked up their slot machines to create this colossal "Megabucks" jackpot that can climb up to a wild $6 million. Sports betting? It's a whole thing now, with swanky parlors and giant screens pulling crowds for big-time races. And let’s not forget pai gow poker – it's the latest craze among the growing squad of Asian gamblers.

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Yo, have you seen what's going down in Vegas lately? There's a construction frenzy like nothing before, straight down the Strip just south of downtown. It's got folks buzzing and all, but some local big shots are getting the jitters. They're sweating bullets over Nevada's bankroll being all tied up in the casino biz, which is already raking in a whopping 45% of the state's dough. They're scrambling to mix it up, economy-wise, but it's like trying to teach an old dog new tricks.

There's trouble brewing on the horizon, too. New gambling hotspots are popping up everywhere—state lotteries, Native American casinos thanks to those chill federal laws, not to mention the action in Atlantic City, Puerto Rico, our neighbors up north in Canada, and those swanky cruise ship casinos. California's got legal card clubs, and now there's talk of full-on casinos in South Dakota, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio. It’s like a gold rush, but for gamblers!

Truth be told, the Vegas boom’s kinda stuck to the Strip, and Nevada's head honchos are stressing that their 58-year reign over the gambling kingdom is getting shaky. While the Strip is lit with cash flow and new digs, places like Reno, South Lake Tahoe, and old-school downtown Vegas are feeling the pinch. Only the Strip and Laughlin, this gem of a town on the Arizona border that's also all about that resort life, are truly thriving.

But Vegas? Vegas ain't sweating it. They're serving up a full platter of entertainment, services, crazy good transportation, and a crew of pros that took decades to build up. Sig Rogich, Vegas' ad wizard who's flipping the script on how people see Vegas, says it best, "Folks ain't gonna trek to Gary, Ind., or Deadwood, S.D., just for the thrill of the bet." He's got a point.

Vegas is going all in, crafting over 11,000 hotel rooms with another 34,000 on the drawing board. By '92, Vegas will be flexing with six of the world's biggest hotels. With a whopping 61,000 rooms already, it’s throwing elbows with the likes of New York and San Francisco for those big-shot conventions. We're talking title fights, golf, rodeos, a splash at the Wet 'n' Wild for the kiddos, and swank new spots for the retirement crowd.

And check this—four major hotels have swung open their doors, no casinos attached. The Alexis Park Hotel kicked it off with 500 rooms, pitching peace and quiet, and a sweet desert vibe with acres of green, swimming pools, and tennis courts up the wazoo.

But let's keep it real, gambling is the main event. Rising from one end of the Strip is the colossal Excalibur hotel and casino. Picture this—a modern-day medieval castle with towers soaring 28 stories high on a sprawling 117 acres—it's gonna be the biggest hotel on the planet.

The masterminds behind the Excalibur are the Circus Circus Enterprises crew. They knew what's up, catering to the folks who aren’t rolling in the dough at their Circus Circus casino, which—no joke—is one of the most cashed-up. They've got an RV park and cater to the SoCal masses. Dudes in work gear and ladies in summer wear throw down nickels and dimes while the kiddies get a kick out of circus acts. It's a scene, man.

Circus Circus might be hitting that budget-friendly sweet spot, but don't get it twisted—other big-time casinos are pulling out all the stops to get folks through the door. Caesar's Palace, Flamingo Hilton, Riviera, the Dunes, Bally's—they're all beefing up big time.

Golden Nugget Inc., known for rolling out the red carpet for the high-flyers at The Golden Nugget, is dipping its toes into the mainstream. Wait till you see the Mirage, a 30-story, 3,000-room behemoth set to open up shop this December, and it’s all about that theme life. Think South Seas paradise with a fake volcano, lush gardens, waterfalls, and even a pad for white tigers that star in the Siegfried & Roy magic extravaganza. They're not playing around.

The Slots' Reign and the Decline of the Dice

The game's changed, folks. Thanks to some nifty tech, slots have taken over. Used to be, table games ruled, but now it’s all about those flashy electronic game machines—over 122,000 of them in Nevada alone. Last year, slot machines were all the rage, making up 46% of the Strip's action, a stark climb from just 20% back in '76. Craps, which had the World War II generation all over it, is now old news.

Once cold-shouldered by the casino bigwigs, regular slot players are now getting the VIP treatment. Slot hosts are dishing out free drinks and keeping tabs on players’ details. Jackpots are through the roof, and games like "Megabucks" and "Quartermania" have machines all over the state linked up, fighting for a jackpot that's like hitting the lottery.

Casinos are bending over backwards to make newbies feel at home, training dealers to go easy on them. Most spots offer up free gambling classes. The Las Vegas Hilton takes the cake with a blackjack "learning center" where a fiver is all you need to play, and the dealer’s got your back, letting you know when you've goofed.

The Convention and Visitors Authority is the muscle behind making Vegas a spot for the whole fam. They're plastering it all over TV and newspapers, and even pushing for theme parks near the Strip for the little tykes. According to the main man, Frank C. Sain, family fun has doubled in the last five years.

The Shadow of Doubt and the Image Hustle

But it ain't all sunshine and rainbows. There’s a creeping fear that the casino and tourism wave might crash. Douglas R. Bell from the Clark County Community and Economic Development Department is like, "We gotta find balance, or we'll end up like Texas when the oil scene tanked." And let's not forget, Vegas has had to shake off some sketchy vibes from back in the day with the mob and all that jazz.

Marketing low costs, no income taxes, being close to SoCal, solid transport, laid-back unions, sweet weather, and fun times is starting to pay off. The Nevada Development Authority, led by former New Yorker Dennis H. Stein, is luring in businesses left and right. Ocean Spray's setting up shop, Citibank's running a tight credit card gig with a thousand-plus workforce, and they're loving it.

But Vegas is still duking it out with its rep, which ain't helped by some pretty grim stats showing Nevada's dark side. But hey, as Bell says, "Image is the big kahuna we gotta tackle."

For real though, the almighty dollar in Vegas is still all about gambling and tourism, no matter how hard they push for more variety.

Dennis L. Amerine from the Nevada Gaming Control Board is straight up, "Gaming is king here and it ain't going anywhere fast. Diversifying is cool and all, but it's not making a dent in the cash flow. Gambling's here to stay."

But deep down, everyone in Vegas knows they've got an ace up their sleeve, or they better find one fast. California's just a breath away from jumping on the gambling train with casinos or video lotto machines with instant payoffs. The million-dollar question is how Vegas will play its hand to keep the crowds coming when the whole country's getting a taste of the action.