If nothing else, LasVegas lives up to its reputation. It is slick, glittering, non-stop, in your face, over the top, and fun.

Hitting the jackpot is the number one reason millions of people from around the world head for the desert city each year.

Gaming is Vegas.Poker machines are everywhere – not only in the casinos but at the airport, supermarkets and servicestations.

In 2004, the gaming revenue for Las Vegas itself was $9.41 billion. On average, the 40 million who visited Sin City spent $743 each on the machines, or playing poker, roulette, backgammon, or on sports betting.

And to keep those visitors –and their dollars –coming in, Vegas does all it can to make itself the most desirable gaming location possible.

Vegas, which became a city just 100 years ago and legalised gambling in 1931, is constantly re-inventing itself.

In 1946, the mobster Bugsy Siegel opened the Flamingo Hotel, and for many decades after, Las Vegas had the sordid glamour of being a mob town.

Big stars such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin pulled in the punters, who then went on to play big time at the tables. Elvis became synonymous with Vegas in the 1960s and ’70s.

Slowly, the mob was eased out, and Vegas tried to be a family attraction.

Today, Vegas has cleaned up its act, and its glamour is now gilt-edged.

The casinos on the Strip are colossi. Some are themed. Caesar’s Palace is a monolith complete with giant sculptures of Greek gods and fountains, the Luxor is housed inside a giant pyramid, Paris has the Eiffel Tower and hot air balloon facade, and The Venetian has –you guessed it– gondolas and canals.

Over the past decade or so, some of the older casinos have come down and new multibillion-dollar ones been built in their places. But now more of the casinos are going for high-end glamour, rather than building around major themes.

In 2005, American billionaire Steve Wynn opened a new $3.68 billion eponymous golden hotel, Wynn Las Vegas, with 2716 rooms.

By 2007, Wynn Las Vegas will have competition on the Strip by arguably the most famous American billionaire, Donald Trump.

Trump International Hotel and Tower will cost $409 million, but it will be a condo-style operation with 1282 rooms.

What ever the differences in style and appeal the casinos have, they compete fiercely for the gaming dollar, and do everything possible to keep people wanting to visit Vegas.

Head liners are still used to bring in the punters. Celine Dion stars at Caesar’s, and super magicians Roy and Siegfried, until a white tiger mauled Roy (Horn)in October 2003, played to sell-out crowds everynight.

Other casinos put on mega-shows, such as Wynn’s La Reve and The Venetian’s Blue Group show. So invested in these shows are the casinos, that they have built showrooms specifically for them.

The Blue Man Group’s show is virtually indescribable –even after sitting through 90 minutes of the sound and visual effects show – but remarkably entertaining.

According to the blurb, Blue Man Group’s show combines “comedy,music and multi-media artistry to create a form of entertainment that is totally unique.” The best way to find out what that means is to go see it for yourself.

Meanwhile, La Reve at Wynn is a Cirque du Soleil - style show using water and fire. Again, it’s a remarkable feat in entertainment.

But if you think that rolling the dice and catching a show are the only things to do in Vegas, you’d be wrong.

The nightlife is also a big deal in Vegas – big enough to draw Hollywood stars to its clubs. But it helps to know which nightclub is hip and happening now. Pop starlet, Ashley Simpson – sister of Jessica – recently held her 21st birthday at Pure nightclub at Caesar’s.

The latest hot spot is Tao. The $27.15 million bistro/nightclub opened at the Venetian last September. Paris Hilton was among the celebrities at its grand opening. The queues to get in are long, but hey, it’s hot.

For the out-of-towner, trying to find your way around the places to be and be seen in the Vegas nights is tricky, which is why there are organisations, such as Striker VIP services, to give you a hand.

Striker can organise access to night clubs, dinner reservations at the restaurants to go to, show and event tickets, or organise to have your group escorted around town by a host or hostess.(Visit www.strikervip.com)

Eating in Vegas straddles the extremes – it’s either extremely good or extremely bad. It depends on how much you want to spend.

Restaurants abound in the casinos. Quality restaurants such as Aqua Nox at the Venetian and SW Steakhouse at Wynn(try the crabcake!)are great.

Vegas also claims to have the only authentic Hofbrauhaus outside of Munich. It offers a fun night with a German band providing the entertainment and premium Bavarian beers and food helping the night along.

There are also plenty of middle-range restaurants and cafes. But be warned, the cheaper take aways can be truly dreadful.

But it’s no good being on the Strip if you don’t look good.

Shopping is a big drawcard in Vegas.

Many top-line and well known brands are housed in the malls like those at The Venetian and Caesar’s Forum Shops. But you can also find great buys at several great outlet malls around the city where name designers are available.

Primm is about a 40-minute drive west from Vegas on the California border.

The casino resorts also pride themselves on their spa offerings.

For example, the hotel at the Mandalay Bay resort(where the TV show Vegas is sometimes filmed), has a bath house where you can be primped in the chic and cool surrounds of the high-end beauty salon it is.

And if you’re looking good, why not get married?

Vegas is the capital of the quickie wedding. Many of the hotels offer chapels, and there are plenty of others.

Elvis himself married Priscilla in Vegas and the Elvis wedding chapel still operates.

Although it sounds tacky to have the Vegas-style Elvis walk you down the aisle while singing Love Me Tender, the ceremony itself is sweet and touching. Bewarned, get married in Vegas and it’s the real deal.

But if gambling and star spotting sound exhausting(and they can be),Vegas has other things to keep you amused.

Golf is a big deal there. And despite the desert setting, the courses are exclusive and lush.

Stallion Mountain is on the outskirts of Vegas, while the Bali Hai Golf Club is the only championship course, located right on the Las Vegas Strip.

You can check them out by logging on to www.waltersgolf.com.

And if you want to experience a bit of the natural beauty Vegas and its surrounds have to offer, you can take half-day or day-long trips with Pink Jeep tours.

In air-conditioned comfort, experienced guides will drive you to the expansive Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam or Mt Charleston and tell you about the history and geography of the areas.(Visit www.pinkjeep.com).

Refreshed, you can head back to your Vegas hotel, frock up and hit the tables again.

After 100 years, Vegas is still the best playground for adults.