The old mantra, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” makes it easy to assume anything goes in “Sin City.” But, like every city in the US, you are subject to the same rules and laws.
If you’re planning a trip to America’s Playground, it’s essential to know what you can’t do in Vegas:
Cheating in Casinos
After numerous films based on scamming Las Vegas casinos, some people may wonder whether they can get away with cheating at the tables. However, cheating is not allowed and is even illegal in some cases.
If caught using equipment such as an automated card counting device or working with someone in the casino, legal charges may be filed, your winnings confiscated, and you may be permanently banned from the casino.
Mental card counting is also frowned upon but is harder to prove. If suspected of card counting, you likely will be asked to surrender your winnings and leave the casino.
Renting Houses for Parties and Events
Las Vegas is one of the party capitals of the world, but surprisingly, the places you can be rowdy are limited to specific venues. If you are staying in one of the many hotels on the Strip, you can likely keep the party going at any hour as long as you’re following the particular hotel’s rules.
However, if you’re renting a house, you are not allowed to host a party or event in the rental. Rules for rental sites like AirBnB and ordinances in Las Vegas cap the number of people allowed in rentals. Anyone found holding a party in their Las Vegas rental home could be fined more than $29,000.
Feeding Pigeons
It might seem like an odd rule, but feeding pigeons was banned in Vegas in 2017. It’s not the only big city that has banned bird feeding, as San Francisco and Los Angeles have similar laws.
The local government was concerned about hygiene and aesthetics, wanting to reduce bird droppings on statues and local monuments. While a warning is more likely, you can be fined $1,000 or get up to six months in jail for feeding the birds.
Crossing the Street Wherever You Want
Jaywalking is illegal everywhere in Las Vegas but is an especially serious offense on the Strip and Downtown. Due to the high volume of street traffic and pedestrian fatalities, raised crosswalks were built at numerous intersections on the Strip for pedestrian safety.
The crosswalks have helped reduce accidents involving pedestrians and conveniently allow people to cross the street anytime. The raised crosswalks are also handicap accessible, with escalators and elevators leading up to them.
Getting a Lap Dance
As peculiar as it might sound, lap dances are technically illegal in Las Vegas, with the Nevada Supreme Court heavily regulating such strip club activities in 2006. While lap dances are still allowed throughout the city, they can not include any form of physical contact between the dancer and the customer.
These rulings make Las Vegas lap dances more conservative compared to other cities. However, the law is rarely enforced and is often flagrantly disregarded.
Smoking Indoors
You can’t smoke cigarettes and cigars indoors other than in casinos and bars/lounges where minors are not allowed. If you go into Park MGM, you can’t smoke anywhere.
Hailing for Taxis / Rideshares
You can’t hail taxis or get rideshare anywhere you want when you are on the Strip. You have to go to designated pickup points, which are found in every Strip resort and other places such as The Fashion Show Mall or convention centers.
What Can’t You Do in Vegas?
While many believe Las Vegas is more lenient on laws and policies, visitors still have to abide by federal and state laws. Even with a few rules, Vegas offers one-of-a-kind facilities and experiences that set it apart from the rest.
As long as you follow the rules in Las Vegas, you’re bound to have an unforgettable vacation.
