I have always wondered why was Las Vegas built on a desert? I read stories about how Bugsy Siegal and other investors drove out into the middle of the Nevada desert to find a good place for the Flamingo. Seems also odd that the city has to import all of its water to try and make things like Golf Courses work. I imagine originally people were not thinking about golf courses when they put up the first casinos but still... seems difficult to manage in the Nevada Desert. Maybe it was because the location is just far enough (5 hours) from Los Angeles... so people felt like they were able to take a mini vacation.
I mean it makes sense in terms of weather. It is warm enough all year for travel, it hardly ever has issues with rain like many other places, and there was enough room to open up numerous venues and buildings.
^ That is what I was thinking. I could bet it has to do with the laws of the time as well. Like, think of how taxation and stuff works in Vegas. I know a lot of states only permit casinos under certain circumstances.