The strangest things seen at Las Vegas casinos
For decades, Las Vegas has been synonymous with glitz and glamour. The opulent casinos offer the best of everything a visitor could want, all under one roof, from table games for new players to private rooms for high-rollers.
They also feature all the hottest trends, so there’s always something for everyone — from the budget-minded to those seeking the most luxurious experience.
Casinos on the Vegas Strip boast music and comedy residencies from top artists, James Beard Award-winning chefs, lavish spas, and some of the fanciest lounges you’ll ever see. Meanwhile, casinos around the Las Vegas Valley are like malls for residents and tourists, with a variety of moderately-priced restaurants, bowling alleys, movie theaters, and more.
Best of Las VegasEveryone has their own memorable experiences in Las Vegas, but we have curated our own Vegas Chronicles for anyone who's a fan of Sin City folklore:
Between the Vegas Strip and the surrounding areas, Las Vegas has around 100 casinos. This small sliver of Southern Nevada has grown into a medium-sized city of more than two million people, spread across 135 square miles when you include suburban areas like Henderson and Summerlin.
With so many casinos, some feature oddities you’d never expect to find in Las Vegas. We’re talking weird places, unlike the popular “hidden” speakeasies that are a dime a dozen in Sin City.
If you wander around enough casinos, you might stumble upon a disco-inspired restroom or a snooker table once owned by a British Prime Minister. These are just a couple of the quirky gems tucked inside new and old casinos across the city.
1. Being one with nature 🌴
One of the weirdest — and most popular — free attractions is the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. It’s beautiful and very out of place inside a casino. Many people are familiar with it, but it still hits hard when you realize: “This casino has a botanical garden with tens of thousands of live flowers, just a couple of hundred steps from the slots and table games.”
A garden of enchantment awaits. From exquisite Fabergé eggs to delicate birdhouses, spring flourishes in every breathtaking detail.
— Bellagio Las Vegas (@Bellagio) April 30, 2025
Experience "The Birds and the B’s" in our Conservatory & Botanical Gardens through May 17. pic.twitter.com/QqMhGIe7Bu
Similarly, Silverton features a fun-sized aquarium on its main casino floor, just steps from the blackjack tables. Visit during the holiday season, and you might spot Scuba Santa and his Mermaid Elves.
Silverton isn’t the only casino with aquatic flair. Mandalay Bay houses a full-sized Shark Reef Aquarium in the massive complex. In Downtown Las Vegas, the Golden Nugget’s Tank and Hideout pool complex features a 200,000-gallon shark tank aquarium – yes, you can literally swim with sharks in Vegas. And just a few minutes from the Strip, Damien Hirst’s Shark in Formaldehyde hangs above the Unknown Bar at the Palms.
2. Historical (and out-of-place) artifacts 📜
Main Street Station in Downtown Las Vegas is home to unique artifacts that seemingly make no sense in a casino.
For starters, there's a piece of the Berlin Wall in the men’s restroom just off the casino floor. While many guests know this from enjoying the brewery’s beer, fewer make it to the second floor to see Winston Churchill’s personal snooker table and a handful of other eclectic relics from around the world.
(Yes, Main Street Station is also a brewery that produces six different beers.)
3. Hidden food and drink gems 🍝
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has a handful of hidden lounges and eateries.
While many visitors know about “Secret Pizza,” fewer are familiar with the third-floor restaurants tucked behind a functioning pawn shop. Beauty & Essex — the first Vegas outpost of the New York City restaurant — serves shareable small plates while a DJ sets the mood.
Hidden pizza joint in the Cosmopolitan pic.twitter.com/rYqLrHxYdY
— Clement Chow (@ClementYChow) January 3, 2024
Tracking down these hidden gems can be a fun scavenger hunt during your Vegas trip.
Resorts World Las Vegas, one of the Strip’s newest casinos, opened in 2021. Its Famous Food Hall offers around 20 food stalls from around the globe. The venue also features men’s and women’s restrooms with a groovy 1970s vibe — disco balls included. Word of caution: double-check the signs before you walk into the facilities if you’re recording video.
4. A true gaming throwback 🐎
While gambling in Las Vegas has become fairly standardized, with limited variety among slot machines and table games, downtown still offers some novelties.
The D Las Vegas is home to the last Sigma Derby horse racing game in the U.S. Beyond being a rare attraction, it’s also one of the cheapest ways to gamble in the city. A single quarter lets you bet for a chance to win up to 200-1 on the right quinella.
5. But wait… there's more! 🤩
There are even more strange attractions hidden among the glitziest casinos in the world on the Vegas Strip. Here are a few more weird things to see in Las Vegas casinos:
● The Venetian — This Venice-themed casino features a canal running through its shopping promenade. Gondolas float through the center of the Grand Canal Shoppes, located on the second floor of the property. Similar to Bellagio, this is a well-known attraction, but step back and say “This casino has boats flowing through it” to realize how unique this is.
● Flamingo — The oldest casino on the Vegas Strip is also one of the few where you can walk on freshly cut grass. Venture outside and also check out the Wildlife Habitat that’s home to koi, other fish, flamingos, and various birds.
● Horseshoe (formerly Bally’s) — Head to the lower level (some might say “basement”) to find a hidden speakeasy, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, arcade, dinosaur attraction, and more. Head outside for the items you won’t see at many other casinos. You’ll find an Olympic-sized pool deeper than any other on the Vegas Strip. The outdoor complex also has tennis courts. Both are holdovers from a different era.
● Planet Hollywood — The Miracle Mile Shops here are among the quirkiest malls you’ll find. In addition to stores and eateries, it’s home to eccentric shows at the V Theater, including Zombie Burlesque, Popovich Comedy Pet Theater, mentalists, tribute shows, and more.
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