California legalizes gambling before Nevada

[Krases]

Originally, California started to crack down on gambling in the mid to late 1900's, but imagine if things were different...

Assuming that California legalized gambling before Nevada does, what would the effects be on the Nevada economy? Would Las Vegas ever get built? Would Los Angeles become like Las Vegas instead, absorbing all that population growth and economic power for itself?

Ive found myself thinking about this very specific subject and picturing the LA skyline with elements of the Las Vegas skyline added in. Where would the strip be located? Would there even be a strip like in Las Vegas?

I also imagine Las Vegas in this alternate timeline as being substantially smaller. It would still have some economic legs to stand on, but with the only casinos built having to appeal to a small local community of about 150k-300k people and some tourists. It is on a major roadway from the east to LA and it has some infrastructure nearby like military bases, mining, aircraft testing and solar energy.

 

[Swan Station]

Originally, California started to crack down on gambling in the mid to late 1900's, but imagine if things were different...

Assuming that California legalized gambling before Nevada does, what would the effects be on the Nevada economy? Would Las Vegas ever get built? Would Los Angeles become like Las Vegas instead, absorbing all that population growth and economic power for itself?

Ive found myself thinking about this very specific subject and picturing the LA skyline with elements of the Las Vegas skyline added in. Where would the strip be located? Would there even be a strip like in Las Vegas?

I also imagine Las Vegas in this alternate timeline as being substantially smaller. It would still have some economic legs to stand on, but with the only casinos built having to appeal to a small local community of about 150k-300k people and some tourists. It is on a major roadway from the east to LA and it has some infrastructure nearby like military bases, mining, aircraft testing and solar energy.

I bet you'd probably just get some Atlantic City analogues near LA and SF, nothing like Las Vegas since there are plenty of other reasons for people to go there -- you don't need to create funny looking architecture to attract attention. I bet Las Vegas still shows up -- assuming Nevada still has gambling -- although maybe the strip won't be quite as gaudy.

 

[history nerd]

you might actually see a much more populous southern nevada and northern arizona because they could likely hold on to more of the water rights from the colorado river with a smaller less respected LA. If hoover dam (or equivalent) gets built in this timeline it could be especially good for the region.

 

[FDW]

I bet you'd probably just get some Atlantic City analogues near LA and SF, nothing like Las Vegas since there are plenty of other reasons for people to go there -- you don't need to create funny looking architecture to attract attention. I bet Las Vegas still shows up -- assuming Nevada still has gambling -- although maybe the strip won't be quite as gaudy.

Maybe Santa Rosa for San Francisco and Riverside for Los Angeles?