The Mob
The city that began as a Mormon outcrop got a glitzy facelift when the Mob set up shop in the mid-1900s. Famous gangster Bugsy Siegel is often referred to as the "man who made Las Vegas," setting up the first casino, The Flamingo, in 1946. The reign of organized crime only lasted a few decades, since in the 1970s and 1980s, legislation made it possible for corporations to own casinos and the mafia dons were bought out. However, that doesn't mean you can't experience a slice of old-time Vegas. Several tours and production shows are dedicated to Sin City's seedy past.

VIP Tips
Mobsters used to make up Vegas' V.I.P. elite, but nowadays, almost anyone can have a posh Las Vegas experience, if they know how. The quickest and easiest way to get treated like someone special is to sign up for a frequent-visitor or high-roller card with a hotel, which rewards customers for their loyalty by letting them have first dibs at restaurant reservations or hopping the velvet rope at nightclubs. But bottom line: If you want something, just ask. Your room a tad too small? Ask for an upgrade. Want tickets to a sold-out event? Check with the concierge.

Casino Secrets
When you're not enjoying your new, bigger room or placing high-stakes bets, there are plenty of attractions to keep you occupied, but have you ever wondered how they actually work? What's the deal with the Bellagio Fountains? How does the New York - New York roller coaster work? You'll know what happens in Vegas, if you read on.