Elvis Presley performed at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino for seven years. The legendary singer made a huge impact in Sin City, putting the famous casino on the map. We look back on Elvis’ time in Vegas and where the link between live music and casinos truly began.
The Switch to Online Casinos
In the glory days of Elvis Presley, gamblers had no other choice but to play their table games in land-based casinos. However, since the birth of the internet, online gambling has taken centre stage. There are many top online casino sites to choose from these days, including Stake. Check out this Stake casino review, which delves into everything that the bookmaker offers, from sportsbooks to slot games.
Online casino gaming has shot up in popularity in recent years. Some players still prefer dressing up and venturing out to land-based casinos for the thrill, but the number of games available online lures gamblers to the internet. Nevertheless, there are still many superb casinos around the world, especially in Vegas.
Looking Back at Elvis’ Memorable Stint at Westgate
The famous Westgate Las Vegas opened its doors in the summer of 1969 as the International Hotel. From 1981 to 1990, it was the largest hotel resort on the planet. It has almost 3,000 rooms, 576 slot machines, 10 poker tables, and 38 table games. The hotel was a Hilton before becoming the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino ten years ago.
A few weeks after the International Hotel’s grand opening, Elvis Presley signed a seven-year contract to play 636 consecutive sold-out shows. As you would expect, the deal was huge for both the music and Las Vegas gambling communities. Elvis had a phenomenal run at the hotel, with his final appearance coming in December 1976, just a few months before his untimely death.
The “King of Rock and Roll” made a huge impact in Vegas, selling out the hotel with every live performance. Elvis and Sin City went hand in hand, and we have never seen anything quite like it in the music industry since.
The “King” Lives On
Many music lovers agree that Elvis was and still is the greatest performer of all time. We are slowly but surely approaching the 50th anniversary of his death, but Presley’s music lives on. His songs are timeless, and people from all generations can enjoy his blockbuster hits like Suspicious Minds, In the Ghetto, and Burning Love.
The superstar had a tremendous life in music, though he also made a real name for himself on the big screen. Presley featured in many hit films such as Harum Scarum, Speedway, and The Trouble with Girls. One of his standout movies was Viva Las Vegas, which was an American musical set in the Gambling Capital of the World.
Presley’s impact on the casino scene goes on, as there are several slot games named after his hit songs. He will always be remembered for seven incredible years at the International Hotel, which were arguably the biggest years of his illustrious life.
To read more, Click Here
