Gambling for the Engineer: A Survival Guide to Las Vegas

摘要

Las Vegas, Nevada, a.k.a. Sin City, The Big Sleazy, Disneyland for Adults, The City of Lost Wages. Why is it such a popular place for conventions? Capacity is one reason No fewer than 16 of the 20 largest hotels in the world are within a three-mile stretch on Las Vegas Boulevard, a street known universally as "The Strip." Bally's Las Vegas, STLE's headquarters for the 2005 Annual Meeting, is currently the 18th largest hotel in the world. Another factor behind Vegas' popularity is cost. Compared to other convention cities, Las Vegas offers the lowest airfares, hotel rooms and meals by far. For example, at Ellis Island (a short walk from Bally's) you can get a complete dinner, including a 10-ounce sirloin steak, salad, potato, vegetable and rolls for USD4.95, about what you would tip for such a meal in most larger convention cities. The restaurant probably loses money on every steak. How they do it is simple. They make it up on the gambling.