10 Things You Can’t Do in Las Vegas Anymore

After you step off the plane and into a taxi and feel a rude blast of that scorching desert heat, being handed a complimentary chilled shrimp cocktail at the hotel’s check-in desk sets the right tone. That was during the 1990s, though. These days, you’ll instead be shown to the lobby lounge, where cocktails can set you back $20 each. Another perk that’s gone away is the ability to earn free drinks while gambling. It used to be that the more you played slots or tables, the more likely it was that a cocktail server would bring you free drinks. Now, drinks are less free flowing, and you often have to pony up your own cash, as seasoned gamblers are no longer awarded alcohol. Not paying for food and drinks is among the best vacation perks ever, right?

Few people travel to Vegas alone—instead, they’re in a group or with a partner—and so the two-fer buffets that used to exist were very much appreciated. The idea from the restaurateur or resort was that with a half-off buffet, you now had more cash to gamble, but of course, no one can tell you how to spend your money, not even in Vegas, so this extra cash back in your pocket was welcome no matter what. In addition to paying full price for buffets, the costs have skyrocketed. They now fall in the $50-$65 range per person, for a different kind of indulgence that hits differently, including where it hurts (your wallet).

In 2024, this volcano in front of The Mirage erupted for the last time, after three decades of lighting up the sky nightly, on the hour between dusk and 11 p.m. The tradition began in 1989, when the resort first opened its doors. But when the 3,044-room resort was scheduled to close in 2024, that put a stop to all resort activities, including this one, as well as Siegfried & Roy’s magic show. At the time it was built, The Mirage was the Strip’s most expensive resort to be constructed, clocking in at $630 million, but building booms thereafter surpassed this landmark status, including the $4.3 billion Resorts World Las Vegas.

As is the case at any hotel in any other city, if you arrive early and your room is ready, you can usually access it at no extra charge. Not anymore if you’re checking into some of the properties on The Strip. A surcharge will be tacked onto your reservation if you want to use your room—again, provided it’s been cleared by housekeeping—before the official check-in time of 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. Fees vary, but at The Flamingo, it costs $60 to check in early. Hotels like to call this pricey amenity a convenience, but is it really? It’s more like a nuisance when you’ve already paid for the room.

In 2013, the family-friendly and free pyrotechnics show tied into Treasure Island Hotel and Casino’s pirate theme (most recently called “The Sirens of T1” and, before that, “The Battle of Buccaneer Bay”) sadly ended. Since 1993, when the resort opened, the show had been a staple on The Strip, taking place nightly in front of the resort. Rumor has it that 2026 might be the year it comes back, although the resort announced in November that “there is no truth to those rumors.”

Let’s get one thing straight: it’s not a “free” upgrade when you have to gamble a lot of money to become a high roller. You’ve likely spent more than the room’s value at either the tables or slot machines to get this supposed perk. Besides, anyone who has set foot into a Vegas hotel room knows that the square footage ranks among the largest in the entire country. It’s not like you were booked in a closet-sized room. You’re better off paying outright for that suite … and not giving in to your gambling fix.

It was never, ever fun to play slots or card games while the person next to you smoked a cigar or cigarette. While the odor might still linger in nooks and crannies, smoke-free casinos are now the norm, thanks to a January 2025 mandate that banned smoking altogether in Nevada’s casinos and gaming venues, starting that month.

Pretend you’re a tiger or a dolphin. Would you rather be on open land or in open water? Obviously, the answer is “yes.” The Mirage, which shuttered in 2024, used to host two entertainment shows centered on wild animals. Both were hosted at its Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat, the vision of magicians Siegfried & Roy (Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn), with the bottlenose dolphins living in the Dolphin Habitat and wild cats (lions, leopards, and white tigers) in the other area.  Long before The Mirage closed, however, Horn was attacked by a white tiger on stage, and the show shut down. With the hotel’s closure, the dolphins’ exhibit also ceased to exist.

Ever tried to snap a shot of a street performer or musician on The Strip? It’s not that easy. Once they see you doing so, then the request for cash gets, well, intense. Perhaps it’s better to just give them the money up front, enjoy their schtick, and avoid dealing with the aggressive behavior. Besides, everybody knows what an Elvis impersonator or a Chippendale dancer looks like. There’s no need to document it with a photo.