How Las Vegas became the world's entertainment mecca

How Las Vegas became the world’s entertainment mecca

In early December 2025, the Qatar Airways flight from Doha landed in Los Angeles, California, on a late afternoon. It was just on the verge of winter, yet the sun was still out, and the skies were blue. Having flown halfway across the world nonstop for 16 hours, the brief stretch before taking the one-hour hop to Las Vegas was welcome.

I had been to Las Vegas before but never truly explored the city, known globally for its casinos and abundant nightlife. Perhaps it is the only place in the world where a guest walks through a maze of gambling machines before even finding the elevators to their room.