Nevada is located in the Great Basin of the United States, with the majority of the state being desert land. It is the seventh largest and the thirty fifth most populous state, with over two thirds of the population being concentrated in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area.

The state is named after the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains, and is the largest landlocked state in the U.S. without a shared border with Canada or Mexico. Nevada is divided into sixteen counties, with Clark County being the most populous, followed by Washoe County.

Entertainment and Marriage
The establishment of legalized gambling along with lenient marriage and divorce laws in the 20th century made Nevada into a major tourist destination. Often referred to as the "Entertainment Capital of the World," the city of Las Vegas attracts over thirty million tourists annually.

Vegas offers a wide array of casinos, shopping, dining, hotels, and is very well known for many spectacular shows that are performed throughout the year. The largest employer in the state is the tourism industry. Nevada is divided into 16 counties, with Clark County being the most populous, followed by Washoe County.

Prostitution
In the United States, each state has the power to decide if prostitution is legal or not. Nevada is the only state that allows the buying and selling of sexual services. Prostitution is lawful in only certain vicinities in the state and the service must be provided under licensure.

Certain counties prohibit brothel licensing, and therefore prostitution. These include Clark, Washoe, Douglas and Lincoln Counties. It is interesting to note that Las Vegas is part of Clark County, making prostitution illegal in "Sin City."

DUI
With all the partying that goes on in Las Vegas, it is important to the safety of everyone that Nevada maintain and enforce DUI laws. While the state is liberal in many ways, they take driving under the influence very seriously. Penalties for a first DUI conviction include a drivers license suspension of 90 days, a fine between $400 and $1000 and up to 6 months in jail.

A sentence may also require community service, DUI school, alcohol treatment/education. Additionally, an ignition interlock device may be required once the license is changed from a suspended to a restricted status. Subsequent offenses carry even harsher penalties. If you are planning to live it up in Vegas, or anywhere else in the state, it would be in everyone's best interests if you made arrangements not to be behind the wheel while you are intoxicated.

Gun Laws
Nevada ranks as one of the top three most dangerous states in the nation, and this is sometimes thought to be due in part to their lax gun laws. The state does not require a permit or license to purchase or possess a firearm. Registration is also unnecessary. A permit is only required for carrying a concealed weapon.

The process to apply to carry a concealed weapon is not difficult or strict. Due to the high amount of tourism, Nevada honors the permits of several other states, including Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Tennessee.