Las Vegas, or 'Sin City', is an oasis for American gamblers, hedonists and wanderers situated in a basin of the Mojave Desert ringed by mountains on all sides. Its neon lights and vibrant nightlife illuminate the otherwise empty expanse of southern Nevada. With an economic base founded on tourism and gambling, the city welcomes visitors and newcomers in skyrocketing numbers. The city's boom, and lax laws, have also drawn the attention of organized crime figures eager to cash in and whose influence pervades the city. But so long as the cash keeps flowing and the show goes on, America is happy to turn a blind eye to these peccadilloes. After all, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.