The Flamingo Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip is illuminated at night, featuring neon signage and a tropical theme.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is one of my favorite places. The themed resorts, the neon lights, and the constant churn of entertainment. While I’ve only been there a handful of times, I’ve spent a substantial amount of those trips photographing the Strip. First in 2008 when the Strip was seemingly riding its pre-recession peak, and again in 2023 which happened to be when the MGM ransomware attack took out half the casino floors and the Sphere had just opened. These photos cover the Strip, the casinos, the hotels, and the street scenes in between.

Circus Circus Hotel and Casino

Opened in 1968 by developer Jay Sarno, Circus Circus was originally conceived as a casino-only property built around a circus-themed gambling floor, with no…

Open Circus Circus Hotel and Casino

Photos from Las Vegas

The MSG Sphere entertainment venue in Las Vegas, Nevada, displays a smiley face on its exterior LED screen at night.
The MSG Sphere, a 366-foot-tall spherical entertainment venue in Las Vegas, Nevada, is pictured shortly after its opening in September 2023. The structure is notable for its massive exterior LED screen, which can display dynamic visuals. This image shows the Sphere illuminated with a smiley face, demonstrating its capacity for large-scale digital art and advertising. The venue is designed to host concerts, sporting events, and other immersive entertainment experiences.
The Flamingo Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip is illuminated at night, featuring neon signage and a tropical theme.
The Flamingo Hotel and Casino, a historic resort on the Las Vegas Strip, is illuminated at night. Opened in 1946 by mobster Bugsy Siegel, it was one of the first luxury hotels and casinos in the area, setting a precedent for the development of Las Vegas as a major entertainment destination. The hotel's distinctive neon signage and tropical theme have made it a recognizable landmark. It continues to operate as a hotel and casino, hosting various entertainment acts and offering gambling and dining services.
The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas is illuminated in the colors of the Mexican flag for Mexican Independence Day.
The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas is illuminated in the colors of the Mexican flag to commemorate Mexican Independence Day on September 16th. This annual celebration honors the country's fight for independence from Spain, which began with the "Grito de Dolores" in 1810. The hotel, a prominent fixture on the Las Vegas Strip, often displays themed lighting for significant cultural events and holidays. Its architecture is inspired by Venice, Italy, reflecting a common theme of international replication found in Las Vegas resorts.
The MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, displays a vibrant digital exterior in September 2023. This venue, clad in LED panels, is designed for concerts and immersive entertainment.
The exterior of the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, is illuminated with a vibrant, striped digital display in September 2023. This innovative venue, which opened in late 2023, is designed to host concerts, sporting events, and immersive entertainment experiences. Its unique spherical architecture is clad in over a million LED panels, making it the largest LED screen in the world. The Sphere represents a significant investment in Las Vegas's entertainment infrastructure, aiming to attract global audiences with its cutting-edge technology and capacity for large-scale visual presentations.
Illuminated red and gold marquee of Circus Circus Hotel and Casino entrance at night in Las Vegas.
Circus Circus opened on the Las Vegas Strip in 1968, developed by Jay Sarno, who also built Caesars Palace. Sarno originally conceived the property as a casino without hotel rooms, centered on a circus-themed gambling floor under a big top. It became one of the first Strip resorts to market itself to families rather than gamblers alone, a shift that shaped Las Vegas development through the 1980s and '90s. The property still runs a permanent indoor circus with free acts performing above the casino floor, a feature dating to its opening year. Circus Circus also appears as a setting in Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."
Circus Circus Hotel tower with Adventuredome structure in foreground, Las Vegas.
Circus Circus opened on the Las Vegas Strip in 1968, developed by Jay Sarno, the same builder behind Caesars Palace. Sarno originally conceived it as a casino-only property built around a circus tent, with hotel rooms added only later as the resort expanded. It was among the first Strip casinos to market directly to families rather than gamblers alone, a strategy that gained wider traction in Las Vegas through the 1980s and '90s. A free indoor circus with live acts has run continuously above the casino floor since the property's opening. The Adventuredome, the indoor theme park adjoining the hotel, opened in 1993. Circus Circus also served as a setting in Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."
Granola bars and snacks are locked behind glass doors at a CVS Pharmacy on the Las Vegas Strip, a security measure against theft.
In Las Vegas, Nevada, a CVS Pharmacy displays granola bars and other snack items behind locked glass doors. This security measure is often implemented in retail environments to deter theft of high-value or frequently stolen goods. The practice reflects broader trends in retail security, particularly in tourist-heavy areas where shoplifting can be a significant concern. The variety of brands, including Kind, MadeGood, and Nature Valley, indicates the commonality of these products as convenient, portable snacks.
High-value items are secured behind glass in a CVS store on the Las Vegas Strip, September 2023, a common retail security measure in tourist areas.
Inside a CVS store located on the Las Vegas Strip in September 2023, high-value or frequently stolen items are displayed behind locked glass cabinets. This security measure is common in retail environments, particularly in high-traffic tourist areas like the Las Vegas Strip, to deter shoplifting. The practice reflects broader trends in retail security and inventory management in response to economic conditions and crime rates.
Slot machines at the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas are offline due to a ransomware attack on MGM Resorts International, September 15, 2023.
Slot machines at the Bellagio resort in Las Vegas display error messages on September 15th, 2023. This outage occurred following a public announcement of a ransomware attack that affected MGM Resorts International properties, including the Bellagio. The attack disrupted operations and impacted the gaming floor, highlighting the vulnerability of large-scale entertainment venues to cyber threats. The Bellagio, known for its luxury and elaborate design, is a prominent fixture on the Las Vegas Strip, and such disruptions underscore the reliance of modern casinos on digital infrastructure.
The MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, is illuminated at night, showcasing its green facade and prominent signage.
The MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, is illuminated at night. Opened in 1993, it was one of the largest casino resorts in the world at the time of its construction. The hotel and casino complex is a prominent feature of the Las Vegas Strip, known for its entertainment venues and gaming facilities. The building's distinctive green facade and prominent signage are visible in this nighttime view.
Evening traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard in front of the MGM Grand hotel, featuring its golden lion statue and emerald lighting.
The MGM Grand hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip, opened in 1993, is a prominent resort known for its large scale and entertainment offerings. The resort features a distinctive golden lion statue at its entrance and is illuminated by emerald-green lighting. This image shows evening traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard, with palm trees and the hotel's facade visible. The MGM Grand remains a significant destination for tourism and entertainment in Las Vegas.
The Aria Resort & Casino, a modern hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, features a distinctive glass facade and sustainable design.
The Aria Resort & Casino, a 61-story hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, opened in December 2009 as part of the CityCenter development. Designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, its curved glass facade and 4,000-plus guest rooms represent a shift towards modern aesthetics and sustainability in Las Vegas architecture. The resort was among the first major Las Vegas properties to achieve LEED Gold certification, highlighting its energy efficiency and integrated technology. Aria is recognized for its contemporary design, high-end amenities, and extensive art collection, distinguishing itself from the themed resorts prevalent on the Strip.
The Hilton Grand Vacations at Resorts World Las Vegas, a glass-clad tower with a red architectural accent, is located on the Las Vegas Strip. An airplane flies past the building.
The Hilton Grand Vacations at Resorts World Las Vegas, completed in 2021, is a prominent glass-clad tower situated on the northern end of the Las Vegas Strip. Its design features a reflective blue façade accented by a distinctive red architectural element. As part of the larger Resorts World complex, the property offers timeshare accommodations and is strategically located near the Las Vegas Convention Center and the airport, catering to both leisure and business travelers. The building's elevated position provides expansive views of the surrounding area, including the Strip and nearby mountains.
Large advertisements for Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert are displayed on the exterior of Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, Nevada.
Large-scale advertisements for country music stars Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert adorn the exterior of Planet Hollywood Las Vegas. The resort, which opened in 1999, is known for its Hollywood-themed decor and its history of hosting major musical acts and residencies. These prominent displays highlight the ongoing tradition of the Las Vegas Strip to feature top-tier entertainment and celebrity endorsements as a draw for visitors.
Printed notice on a Las Vegas slot machine explaining service outages during the 2023 MGM Resorts cyberattack.
MGM Resorts International operates several Las Vegas Strip properties, including Bellagio, MGM Grand, and Aria, under one shared network of casino management systems. In September 2023, the company disclosed a cyberattack that disrupted slot machines, ATMs, hotel key cards, and reservation systems across its properties for roughly ten days. MGM later attributed the breach to the hacking group Scattered Spider and estimated the incident cost the company about $100 million. During the outage, guests were directed to casino cashiers for ticket redemptions that machines could no longer process automatically.
Aristocrat Gaming slot machine displays a validation buffer error message at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
The Bellagio is one of ten Las Vegas properties owned by MGM Resorts International. On September 11, 2023, MGM Resorts confirmed a cybersecurity incident that forced the company to shut down portions of its computer systems, including hotel reservations, digital room keys, and slot machine networks, across its properties. The outage lasted roughly ten days and was later attributed to a ransomware group known as Scattered Spider, which used social engineering tactics to gain access to MGM's network. MGM estimated the attack cost the company about $100 million in lost revenue and remediation expenses. This Aristocrat Gaming machine displayed a "Host Disable - Validation Buffer Full" error, a symptom of the network validation system being taken offline during the outage.
Rows of Quick Hit slot machines display error screens at MGM Grand in Las Vegas during a 2023 ransomware attack.
MGM Grand's casino floor sits along the Las Vegas Strip, one of the largest gaming resorts operated by MGM Resorts International. On September 15, 2023, slot machines including Quick Hit units displayed blank or error screens after a ransomware attack disclosed days earlier disrupted computer systems across MGM properties. The outage affected slot machines, digital key cards, and payment systems at MGM-operated casinos throughout Las Vegas. MGM later confirmed the attackers accessed company data and disrupted operations for over a week before service was restored.
Slot machine displaying an "Out of Service" message on its screen at the MGM Grand casino in Las Vegas
This slot machine sits inside the MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip, one of thousands of gaming devices spread across its casino floor. The MGM Grand casino covers roughly 171,500 square feet and holds slot machines alongside table games, sports betting, and a poker room. The screen reads "Out of Service" and shows a credit balance, a message tied to the machine's ticket-in, ticket-out system rather than to cash payouts. MGM Resorts International owns and operates the property, which opened in 1993 and remains one of the largest casino resorts in the world.
Gucci boutique at the Shops at Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Gucci at the Shops at Bellagio, Las Vegas, Nevada. The boutique is part of the Bellagio resort's luxury retail arcade on the Las Vegas Strip. Gucci is an Italian fashion house known for leather goods, apparel, jewelry, and accessories.
Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip near Caesars Palace in Paradise, Nevada.
Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen, on the Las Vegas Strip, is a celebrity-chef restaurant branded after the television series of the same name. The restaurant operates in front of Caesars Palace and is part of the resort corridor’s concentration of destination dining and entertainment venues.
Flamingo Las Vegas hotel tower on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada.
Flamingo Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip is a hotel and casino operated by Caesars Entertainment. Opened in 1946, it is one of the oldest resort properties on the Strip. The resort remains a longstanding part of Las Vegas tourism and gaming.
Caesars Palace marquee sign with red neon lettering and a digital ad screen on the Las Vegas Strip.
Caesars Palace opened in 1966 on the Las Vegas Strip, developed by Jay Sarno with a Roman Empire theme that became a template for later themed resorts. Caesars Entertainment now owns and operates the property, along with Horseshoe Las Vegas under the same corporate banner. The marquee's digital display rotates promotional content for Caesars Entertainment properties and events, including the Horseshoe's Arcade nightclub. Gold medallion and column details on the sign reference the resort's original Roman-themed architecture.
The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace entrance on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a luxury retail complex connected to Caesars Palace. The mall is known for its Roman-themed architecture and houses high-end retailers and restaurants within the resort corridor.
The Mirage and The Beatles LOVE, Las Vegas
The Mirage Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, featuring banners for "The Beatles LOVE" show. Opened in 1989, The Mirage was a pioneering resort that helped define the large-scale, themed destinations characteristic of modern Las Vegas. Its design, with gold-tinted towers and lush landscaping, aimed to create an oasis. The "LOVE" production, a Cirque du Soleil show that premiered in 2006, became a long-running resident attraction, integrating The Beatles' music with elaborate performances.

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