Think of Las Vegas as Nassau in the Bahamas in the 18th century. Pirates ran the place and did whatever they wanted. The law couldn't get to them.
Vegas was a desert island, the place where the laws of other states against gambling and prostitution didn't apply. It wouldn't have been much of anything, except the postwar economic boom provided lots of money, inexpensive travel, and big ambitions to the city.
“Think of Las Vegas as Nassau in the Bahamas in the 18th century. “
...sounds right...