Downtown Folk

Sports Betting

Vegas is one of the few places in the U.S. where sports betting is legal and it's big business, especially in the fall, between the baseball and the football. Every casino has a sportsbook and people just love to gather.

Sunday Afternoon Sports Betting

Vegas is a sports bettors dream. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon having a flutter, either on the floor or the VIP lounge at Ballys.

Vegas Poker Rooms

The MGM has one of the bigger poker rooms - very well run, but wedged between Studio 54 and a bar, it's very loud. I go to the Riviera to meet elegant men - that's OK, I'm not so glamorous myself. The Fontana Room at the Bellagio is often used for tournaments - you can see the dancing fountains in the window.

Bellagio Conservatory - Fall

Fall has arrived at the Bellagio (if not anywhere else in Vegas) with raining trees, laughing trees and a replica of the Bellagio itself nestled amongst the pumpkins.

Naked City

Las Vegas Blvd between Sahara and Downtown is known as Naked City, because all the strippers and showgirls used to live here. Nothing but seedy motels that rent by the hour, wedding chapels and strip clubs.

Caesars Pools At Dusk

Alas, the pool season is over. Caesars has six fabulous, opulent, decadent, over-the-top pools in their backyard. In the top photo - an area with wet table games - you can just swim up to the blackjack. Where do you keep your money?

Happy People At The Tattoo Convention

Satisfied customers were happy to pose for me at the tattoo convention at the Mandalay.

Tattoo Convention At The Mandalay

Why would people wish to permanently disfigure themselves? What I thought was cool at age 20, might no longer apply. Bell bottoms and nose rings you can discard, but this stays forever. In the bottom photo, the lady is very impressed. I photographed the back of the tattooed lady, because I found her face too frightening.

The Mutilation Convention

My stomach is churning after attending the biggest tattoo convention in the world at the Mandalay Bay - needles make me queasy and this was needles galore. What, in heaven's name, are these people doing to themselves? They were all very nice, but...

Gambling, Dining & Shopping At Caesars

Caesars is less a casino and more a city with gambling, dining and shopping at the Forum Shops - no need to ever leave.