The dark and criminal side of Las Vegas

Las Vegas is not only a world famous gambling metropole. Behind the fascinating glittering façade there is also hidden a lot of suffering and misery. It is a shadowy world of criminals, alcoholics and drug addicts, a world which no one likes to talk about. Ultimately every dark side of this shimmering metropole could be bad for business.

But criminality in the largest city of the US Federal State Nevada has been very high for some years. Las Vegas is connected not only in Germany to luminous slot machines, entertainment shows and adventurous holiday strips. Las Vegas has (unfortunately) much more to offer. Las Vegas still has one of the highest criminal rates per head in all US-States. The danger, of becoming a victim of a violent offence or theft is especially high. One reads very rarely about this in the media.

Las Vegas Strip seems safe

The legendary Las Vegas Strip with its uncountable neon lights and luxurious casino-hotels is the epitome of Las Vegas. In no other city in the world is there such illumination. The several security cameras and the hundreds of security personnel provide a feeling of security for the guests and locals. However appearance deceives. If one had to look behind the facade of the shimmering gambling metropole, one would face the escalated criminality. For this however one has to move further from the representative Strip and go to the small side streets. Here it is not only dominated by drug dealing, but bloody fights, attacks and vandalism is the order of the day.

One could think that in the past years, because of the Corona Pandemic, there would be significantly much less criminal acts in Las Vegas but the opposite seems to be the case. In October we already reported about the allegedly End of a gambling era in Las Vegas because the tourists were staying away.

1,100 Knife stabs in the past year

Las Vegas has had a criminal problem for years. In 2018 for example, statistically seen, 541.1 people from every 100,000 were victims of a violent act. Most recently in the previous year 2020 a clear increase in criminality could be determined. Last year for example, there were 5 % more shootings, 17 % more knife stabs (1,100) and about one third (35 %) more physical assaults. The authorities reacted by increasing the number of police patrols significantly. The Casino operators also carried out bag searches. Compared to the German large cities in Las Vegas there is significantly more and above all more fatal criminal acts. 

Several hundred tourists die every year in Las Vegas

According to rumours, several hundred tourists from all over the world die in the shimmering gambling metropole every year. According to data from forensics in Las Vegas, there are on average 1,100 tourist deaths per year. Prima facie this number may seem to be significant. However when one thinks that Las Vegas is visited by up to 40 million tourists yearly in “normal“ times, it is logical, that at least a small percentage of these visitors die during their stay.

Surprising are however the rumours about the causes of death. According to the forensic doctor, who does not want to be named, two thirds (67 %) of all yearly deaths are caused by tragic accidents. A further 15 % chose to commit suicide in the million metropole. Nearly one in every ten deaths (11 %) was a victim of a violent crime. According to the information the majority of deaths however happen in hotel rooms in the city. It is estimated that these make up around 150,000 deaths.

Drugs and alcohol also belong

The US-Health Ministry leads Nevada since years as the Federal State with the highest drug consumption. Especially in the side streets one finds many drug addicts and drug dealers, among which it often comes to bloody fights. Since years it has already been criticised that one in every ten inhabitants of Las Vegas depends on drugs or alcohol. In Las Vegas only there are around 25 rehab centres.

Conclusion

Las Vegas is not called “Sin City“ without reason. The main source of income of the city was and is gambling, which is found everywhere in Las Vegas. In all there are around 140,000 slot machines here and more than 4,000 gaming tables. Several fatal criminal acts such as knife fights, burglaries and mugging take place in the side streets away from the shimmering Strips. Besides around 1,100 tourists die in the city each year - the majority of these in an accident. Las Vegas is not just a city of adventure and entertainment. The desert metropolis can also relate some dark stories.

Image source: https://pixabay.com/de/photos/las-vegas-stadtbild-stadt-5576025/