Number 1 for fun
Much has been said about WalletHub’s recent finding that Las Vegas is the most entertaining city in the United States. While those who “get” Vegas wholeheartedly agree, people in some places like Orlando, Florida or Atlanta, Georgia don’t.
Which is understandable. It’s their city and they’ll shout loudly if they want. What this top 5 compilation aims to prove is that Las Vegas has become not only the gambling mecca of the world, but also the entertainment capital.
Sure, there’s no Big Sur or Disneyworld, but not everyone likes sand or mice. And what’s not to like – and love – about Las Vegas in 2023?
From pure Formula 1 fantasy, a poker tournament our David Lappin described as “paradise”, to major casino-resort renovations, a revitalized gaming expo and stars like U2 (and reportedly Beyoncé), the The Sphere make it shine, VegasSlotsOnline news presents five events in 2023 that more than back up WalletHub’s claim that Sin City is the number one place for fun.
1. Formula 1 returns after 40 years
Despite its controversy, November’s Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix showed the world what it had been missing for the last 40 years. The effort began back in November 2022, when US Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson shared a video of a Red Bull F1 race car driving through Wynn Las Vegas:
Formula 1 won an award for this stunt, but it was nothing compared to the real thing. Everything about the Las Vegas Grand Prix was designed to impress, as the circuit took place at the end of the championship.
Although Formula 1 had already crowned Max Verstappen world champion after the race in Qatar, the confrontation between the Dutchman and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was a real thrill.
While Verstappen collected the spoils, organizers received praise for the 6.3km route, despite the valve cover incident that interrupted a practice session for which some F1 fans have filed a lawsuit.
Vegas proved them wrong […] It was big.”
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton spoke on behalf of many Formula 1 drivers and team bosses in his applause for the Las Vegas Grand Prix and said it was “one of the best races”. Hamilton added that there were some who said Sin City was too showbiz to host a major sporting event. “Vegas proved them wrong […] It was big.”
Also huge for the sports betting providers, who recorded record betting numbers during the Las Vegas Grand Prix. But perhaps the most fun was had by the spectators, who found ingenious ways to watch the race with tickets worth around $500.
2. Fontainebleau stands upright
When the Fontainebleau Las Vegas casino resort opened its doors this month, it was as if all of Nevada let out a sigh of relief. The reason? The project had already begun in 2007 when the recession derailed it, and the pandemic did the same over a decade later.
But while Justin Timberlake and Keith Urban wowed audiences at the casino resort’s opening, Fontainebleau President Mark Tricano shared his excitement at “seeing the looks on people’s faces” when he toured the venue for the first time.
According to WalletHub, Vegas may be a “flashy tourist destination for a fun weekend getaway, but it’s also the most entertaining city around.” WalletHub ranked Las Vegas as a top performer due to its sheer number of attractions and restaurants with 4.5-star ratings or higher.
As the first casino resort to open in Las Vegas since 2021, Fontainebleau stands as a symbol of the city’s resilience and belief that people won’t let the good times stop for too long.
Now those looking for a fun-filled weekend can add Nevada’s tallest habitable building to their bucket list: the 735-foot-tall, 67-story Fontainebleau. Like this video clip
In another sign of Las Vegas’ resurgence, Penn Entertainment hosted a groundbreaking ceremony earlier this month that will see the M Resort Spa Casino double in size with a $206 million upgrade.
3. WPT World Championship 2023
After avoiding Las Vegas for 12 years, David Lappin of VegasSlotsOnline finally bit the bullet in 2017 as if the scales fell from his eyes. “Once you realize it’s about nonsense, you enjoy what the city has to offer, both ironic and unironic.”
However, for David, the 2023 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas was an event the city can be proud of, stating that the WPT has created “poker heaven.”
The WPT kicked off 2023 in a shootout against EPT Prague and the inaugural WSOP Paradise, which took place at the same time.
second largest overlay in poker history
For the WPT, it was all about winning hearts and minds, as it must have reassured itself after four Days 1 ended with 3,835 entries, resulting in the prize pool being $2,417,000 below the incredible guaranteed 40 million US dollars. It was the second largest overlay in poker history.
David Lappin predicted earlier this month that the WPT would emerge as the clear winner in the Mexican standoff between the EPT and WSOP. As he reported Wednesday: “If Vegas is a scorched desert inferno, then the WPT has succeeded in creating an oasis at the Wynn, a year-end haven for degenerates, a sublime source of poker action.” They got one from hell Poker heaven made.”
David added that the WPT has instilled “a lot of trust” in the 2023 tournament, which he hopes will ensure the growth of the Vegas event in the coming years.
4th Global Gaming Expo 2023
For gamers, iGaming operators, exhibitors and stakeholders, the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas was a mecca until 2019, when it attracted a record 27,000 people. Due to COVID-19, the 2020 event was canceled and only 13,000 delegates attended G2E 2021.
In 2023, however, that old pride was back: Over 25,000 delegates streamed through the doors of the Venetian Expo and Convention Center over five days this October.
Denstone Group CEO Oliver Lovat said the 2023 event was “…back in full swing.” We have put Covid behind us. They were there to do business and get things done.” Victor Rocha, chairman of the Indian Gaming Association (IGA) conference, agreed, stating: “It felt like the pandemic never happened.”
Rocha added, “You can tell there’s a new energy in Las Vegas, and that’s had an impact on G2E as well.”
In its survey, WalletHub compared over 180 U.S. cities across 65 key metrics, from movie theater costs to average brewery hours (Las Vegas, by the way, is one of the few U.S. cities that allows public drinking).
This was confirmed by American Gaming Association (AGA) President and CEO Bill Miller, who said the plan for the global gaming industry was invented on the Las Vegas Strip. Noting the shows, dining and gambling options under one roof, Miller explained that the Vegas mindset has “transformed 110 acres of desert into one of the top tourist destinations in the world.”
5. U2, Wu-Tang Crew and maybe Beyoncé
In addition to Formula 1, the other most spectacular event in the entire USA in 2023 was the start of the Sphere. Sin City’s hottest music venue opened in October as 21,500 spectators watched Irish rockers U2 christen the venue, accompanied by incredible visual effects:
According to the WalletHub survey, Las Vegas is known for its musicians and has “a very high number of music festivals and music venues” compared to other U.S. cities.
What’s happened in 2023 is that stars of U2’s caliber are settling in town to join Adele, one of the highest-paid artists in Las Vegas history. Forget WalletHub’s support for Vegas, if Beyoncé reportedly gets a residency at The Sphere, her fans declare they’ll sell their trucks and forgo Christmas presents to watch the former Destiny’s Child singer in the desert.
Adding to the trend of a new wave of musicians coming to Las Vegas was the news that Wu-Tang Clan will begin their residency at Virgin Hotels in February.
RZA, the leader of the legendary hip-hop collective, praised Las Vegas’ entertainment factor and said he loves “where there is a center of art.”
If these five reasons don’t convince you of WalletHub’s claim for 2023, how about this for next year: Wu-Tang Clan’s Las Vegas debut will take place the same weekend as the 2024 Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium takes place.
Imagine this for a fun day.
