15 Strict Las Vegas Rules You Should Know Before You Go

Las Vegas is an exciting city where, at first glance, it might look like anything goes. The name Sin City gives the impression that you can come to Vegas and do whatever you please – no matter how sinful or unlawful. In reality, several surprisingly firm rules and laws are in place in Las Vegas that you should be aware of before you arrive. Here are 15 of them.

---

1. You must be 21 or older to check into your hotel

Sure, you can make a room reservation online and no one will know you’re under 21 – but when it comes time to check in, you’ll be out of luck. The front desk will ask for your ID and cancel your reservation (sometimes without a refund) if you’re too young.

If you want to stay in Vegas but you’re under 21, your room must be under the name and credit card of an adult aged 21+. That person must be present at check-in and throughout your entire stay in the room, or you’ll be removed from the property and your reservation will be canceled.

---

2. No parties are allowed in hotel rooms

Contrary to pretty much every movie you’ve seen about Vegas, throwing a party in your suite is strictly prohibited by hotels. This is largely because they want to ensure that other guests aren’t disturbed by loud noise or wild behavior. It also likely has to do with the fact that if you and your friends are partying in your room, you aren’t spending money gambling downstairs in the casino.

Sometimes, you can get away with having a small get-together in your room, especially at the hotels known for their nightlife vibes. However, if the hotel finds out about it, security will come and escort you from the building and (you guessed it) cancel your reservation.

---

3. You can take your drink to go, unless…

It’s perfectly legal to walk around on the Strip or Fremont Street with a mixed drink in your hand. Make that a giant frozen margarita while you’re at it! However, be sure your cocktail is in a plastic or paper cup because carrying a glass open container is illegal. This is for safety reasons – the city doesn’t want broken glass everywhere. In addition, if you’ve got an open container on Fremont Street, it must have been bought from a bar in that area.

---

4. Littering is a misdemeanor in Nevada

Las Vegas is located in the middle of the majestic Mojave desert, and to keep that natural beauty from being damaged, littering is against the law. If you throw your candy bar wrapper on the sidewalk, you could find yourself having to pay a fine of $500 to $1000 or spending six months behind bars. That applies even if it’s your first offense.

---

5. Jaywalking is taken very seriously here

If you’re from New York City, you might find it laughable that anyone could actually get in trouble with the police for crossing the road without a “walk now” sign. But Las Vegas law comes down hard on jaywalkers. Cross the street wrong and you could face a misdemeanor and/or a fine of $160.

---

6. Minors can’t linger on the casino floor

If you’re traveling to Las Vegas with your kids, be aware that they’re not allowed to spend time in the casinos except passing through utilizing the designated carpet walkways. Sitting down at a slot machine to rest even for a moment is prohibited for anyone under 21 years of age. This rule applies even if the kids are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

---

7. Cheating in a Vegas casino is a felony

If you’re considering attempting to cheat at a casino table game in Vegas, don’t do it. Security are trained to spot card counting and other forms of cheating, and the repercussions are severe. Even on your first offense of cheating at a casino, you may be charged with a category B felony that can result in imprisonment for up to six years and a fine of up to $10,000.

---

8. It’s illegal to smoke cannabis in your hotel room or in public

This Las Vegas law surprises a lot of visitors to the city. Sure, smoking weed is legal in the state of Nevada, but you’re not allowed to smoke it in your hotel room, or any public place. Well, where can you smoke it? One hotel in town, The Lexi, is meeting demand by offering certain rooms as 420-friendly. There are also cannabis lounges popping up around Vegas where you can socialize and enjoy some pot.

---

9. You can’t take photos on the casino floor

If you try to snap a selfie in a Vegas casino, you’ll likely be approached by security. Gambling is a sensitive subject to some people, so if they show up on Instagram at a casino, it could harm their reputation. You might just have to tell people about your big win rather than capturing it on camera.

---

10. Put your phone away while playing table games

Sitting down to play a game of blackjack at the casino? Be sure to keep your phone in your pocket or purse, because it’s strictly forbidden to have it out while playing. This is because you could be using your phone to cheat the system. So if you hear your phone ringing while you’re gambling, just let it ring!

---

11. It’s illegal to walk your dog on the Strip (sometimes)

If you’re traveling to Vegas with your pup, be careful what time you try to take them for a walk. Animals are strictly forbidden on the Las Vegas Strip between noon and 5 AM, unless they’re a service dog. Luckily, most hotels in Vegas (even the ones that aren’t pet-friendly) have small designated doggy relief areas outside.

---

12. It’s a crime to stop or linger on the Strip’s pedestrian bridges

A controversial new ordinance in Las Vegas rules that people are not allowed to dilly-dally on the pedestrian bridges that cross over the Las Vegas Strip. This ban, known as the “Pedestrian Flow Zone Ordinance”, is intended to keep people from holding up foot traffic. Violating this rule could result in a misdemeanor which is punishable by spending up to six months in jail, paying a $1,000 fine, or both.

---

13. You can only speak English while playing casino table games

This rule might seem racist at first. When you’re actively participating in a table game, it’s forbidden to speak any language other than English. The reason? People could potentially speak to each other in another language and plot how to cheat the game. Everyone speaking English also ensures that the dealer and all the players understand each other for the sake of clarity. If you’re traveling with people who don’t speak English, let them know to stay silent during a table game.

---

14. Don’t feed the pigeons

No matter where in Las Vegas you’re staying – even at an Airbnb or residential home – it’s against the law to feed wild pigeons. Anyone caught throwing crumbs to a pigeon could face a fine of up to $1,000, and/or six months in jail. This law states that encouraging the “lingering, roosting or congregating of wild pigeons” constitutes a public nuisance.

---

15. Swearing is against the law in Las Vegas

To end our list on a surprising note, swearing is illegal in Las Vegas. This is classified as saying anything vile, obscene, or profane on a public street, alley, or highway. Breaking this law is a misdemeanor, so you’d technically be in big trouble if you let yourself curse loudly at your slot machine when losing a big bet! Don’t worry too much about this law though – it hasn’t been actively enforced in decades.