Penthouse orgies fueled by pill-pushing hotel employees. A drug house stocked with sex slaves. Hidden homeless encampments underneath the casinos. A shockingly personal investigation shows the real Sin City is even seedier than you imagined.Except, it's not. The "real" Las Vegas that is.
Just as any one part of your town is not the entirety of the "real" your hometown.
But, this is certainly a part of Las Vegas, possibly even a not insignificant one. And that is why you should read the story because it's well told and provides a good, thorough, inside look at how Las Vegas is handled by both the very rich and extremely poor.
Long Story Short: Not all that well.
Short Story Long: Las Vegas is a place where significant amounts of money can buy you anything. And, if you read the article I do mean anything. We've all known this, and the city doesn't try to hide it, nor does anyone really seem to care.
As you can see, you have to try to get arrested in Las Vegas if you're a tourist. Those who do are either a.) stoned, drunk, high out of their minds or b.) acting a jerk or c.) both. Pretty much if you toe the line, act cool, and don't make a fuss you're not going to run into a lot of trouble.
But that's why you should read this story.
Because going to Las Vegas doesn't mean a crazy, drug-filled orgy for most. In fact, I would argue that the crazy, drug-filled orgy crowd is an exception to the rule and not the exception that proves the rule.
Most of the 40 Million people that visit Las Vegas never stay in a suite, never buy drugs, a prostitute or even sit in a pool-side cabana. To most, the homeless that line the bridges, walkways and casino entrances are just part of the scenery. Sure, if you have leftovers from a restaurant and your hotel room doesn't have a refrigerator you probably hand them to one of the panhandlers so they have a meal (guilty) and not money to spend on booze or to gamble away but, for the most part, you just ignore them.
You also see the partiers, but you don't imagine that you would ever want to attend their parties. I know that I don't.
That's why all of this is not as shocking as they try to make it out to be.
Because every town has drugs, and crime, and homeless and prostitutes and escorts and people like the guy in an "open marriage" trying to regain some control over his helpless existence.
You go on vacation to get away from all of that.
Which is why Las Vegas is still the best place to visit.
