I thought this was an interesting read that answered some of this Cowboys questioned. I knew prostitution was not legal but I've still been interrupted while collecting my thoughts during a quiet moment by "working ladies" and "buckle bunnies" during the NFR in December. Read on

The Law Regarding Las Vegas Prostitution

"Prostitution is legal out here, right?", the tourist asked the security officer in the casino. "Tell him. Tell my friend here, that it's legal.", the man went on.
"Yes, it's legal in some Nevada counties. No, it's not legal in Clark County. Las Vegas is in Clark County. So, no it's not legal in Las Vegas, or Mesquite or Laughlin or Henderson or Boulder City.", the officer explained.
"Then why is there one sitting at your bar over there?", the tourist asked.
"I said it's illegal in this town. I didn't say there weren't any prostitutes. We'll take care of it.", the officer replied.
That's a scene that is repeated in casinos all over town every day. It's a fairly common belief that prostitution is legal in Las Vegas.

Here is Nevada Revised Statute 244.345.

NRS 244.345 Dancing halls, escort services, entertainment by referral services and gambling games or devices ; limitation on licensing of houses of prostitution.
'8. In a county whose population is 400,000 or more, the license board shall not grant any license to a petitioner for the purpose of operating a house of ill fame or repute or any other business employing any person for the purpose of prostitution.
Clark County, the Nevada county that Las Vegas is situated in, has had a population over 400,000 since the very early 70s. Not that the law had much to do with prostitution here before or shortly after that time. The large, Strip hotels had a prostitution 'center' in those days. The bell captain could provide everything, but we'll get back to that.
Another statute clearly establishes, that where prostitution is legal, the safe distance for a 'house of ill fame', from student classrooms or houses of God is 400 yards.

NRS 201.380 Location of houses of ill fame.
'1. It shall be unlawful for any owner, or agent of any owner, or any other person to keep any house of ill fame, or to let or rent to any person whatever, for any length of time whatever, to be kept or used as a house of ill fame, or resort for the purposes of prostitution, any house, room or structure situated within 400 yards of any schoolhouse or schoolroom used by any public or common school in the State of Nevada, or within 400 yards of any church, edifice, building or structure erected for and used for devotional services or religious worship in this state.'
That said, let's see what Clark County has to say about hookers within county lines. For this, we go to Chapter 12.08 Prostitution, of Title 12, Public Peace, Safety and Morals, of the Clark County Code, where we find that not only is the 'Maintaining of a place of prostitution unlawful', but that 'Accosting and Soliciting (is) unlawful in the county.

So what DOES go on here in Las Vegas?

"See the Bell Captain."

In the 'good ole days', there were girls that worked for the bell desk on a percentage basis. Their business was 'protected', in a sense. A security supervisor was well toked by the bell desk to keep competition out of the house. Competition was mainly called 'mother', 'housewife', secretary, school teacher and many other things during the weekdays. On the busy weekends in Las Vegas, she was called a hooker, 'outside talent'.
Many came up from Los Angeles to pick up a few thousand over the weekend. They were shown out of one place by security and went to the next casino down the line until they were caught and thrown out of there. They didn't go to jail unless they gave someone a real hard time. The bell desk also had a list of girls 'on call'. These were also pretty ladies with day jobs or housewives, and they were mainly locals that the bell desk could trust to not 'trick roll' the customer.
If it was at the request of the casino for a sexual 'comp' to a high roller, the bell desk provided, depending on the tastes of the casino guest.
If it was a party, the bell desk provided. The bell girls worked the bars of the casino. If they suspected that a women was competition, they reported her to security through their 'boss' at the bell desk.
In the middle 80s, Metro swooped down on the biggest, bell desk panderers of prostitutes and light drugs, and that was the end of the long established system of Las Vegas prostitution. After that, it was an open field. AIDS became a realistic fear, trick rolls increased and security had their work cut out for them, in trying to keep up with the amateurs and pros that flooded the casinos for a few years.
In the meantime, equal rights set in around the country. Women began to feel more confident in their abilities to 'go it alone', and those that were not hookers began to find their way into the casinos to gamble, drink and otherwise have a good time in Vegas. Sex workers now found that their biggest competition was the boy meets girl type 'pick-up'. That's right, free sex. Or, that is, at least as inexpensive as any sex is and cheaper than marriage.For those so inclined, there is still the 'nearby', friendly 'house of ill fame'.

Just Up The Road

Take Nevada state route 160 north west from Las Vegas for about sixty-two miles and you'll be in Pahrump, Nevada, Nye County, home of Chicken Ranch and Sheri's Ranch. If you like, you can hire a limo to take you there for about $200.00. Continue north on U.S. 95 and you'll eventually come across Cherry Patch Ranch, Mabel's Ranch, Cherry Patch 2, Angel's Ladies Ranch, Shady Lady Ranch and the Cottontail Ranch, all before you reach the Nye County seat, Tonopah.
Do we sound like a real ranching community? We have about nine houses of prostitution or 'ranches' in the southern part of the state and slightly over twenty in the northern part. Some go back to 1867. They catered to railroad builders, miners and, lately, traveling business men.
They are in and out of the news, but not all that frequently.
As the population of Nevada grows at a rapid pace, the persons that come here to retire, escaping places that they didn't really like living in, they will try to make Nevada more like those places that they left. Why? Who knows. They didn't pick Nevada to live in because there were whorehouses here, and eventually they will do away with them and the law that allows them. Then, no state in the country will have legal prostitution. There are many who will be sorry to see those institutions go, nor, why they had to.


From the column of Robert Romano

"About Las Vegas" column