Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas/Las Venturas

Las Venturas, San Andreas is a fictitious city in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, based on Las Vegas, Nevada. Like its real-life counterpart, Las Venturas is a gambling city located in a desert region, with casinos such as the Four Dragons and Caligula's Palace.

Storyline
Las Venturas appeared to be under the influence of several Mafia families, which included:


 * The Sindaccos;
 * The Forellis; and
 * The Leones; with Ken Rosenberg (of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City fame), responsible for running daily operations and playing the role of mediator amongst the families.

At one point in the game, the game's protagonist, Carl Johnson, pulls off an Ocean's 11-esque heist in the Caligula's Casino, subsequently fermenting relationships between Carl Johnson and Salvatore Leone.

Casinos
The main Casinos include (Real-life counterparts in Las Vegas):
 * Four Dragon's (Imperial Palace (hotel and casino))
 * The Pink Swan (The Flamingo)
 * The High Roller (Bally's Las Vegas)
 * Pirates In Men's Pants (Treasure Island Hotel and Casino)
 * The Visage (The Mirage)
 * The Emerald Isle (Fitzgeralds Las Vegas)
 * The Starfish Casino (Barbary Coast Hotel and Casino)
 * The Clown's Pocket (Circus Circus)
 * Caligula's Palace (Caesar's Palace)
 * Royale Casino (Casino Royale)
 * The Camel's Toe (Luxor Hotel)
 * Come-A-Lot (Excalibur Hotel and Casino)
 * The V-Rock Hotel (Hard Rock Hotel and Casino)

Old Las Venturas is north of the Strip. The casinos in Old Las Venturas have no names, but are modeled after the largest casinos in downtown Las Vegas:


 * (Binion's Horseshoe)
 * (Golden Nugget Las Vegas)
 * (Fremont Hotel and Casino)
 * (The Four Queens Hotel and Casino)

Curiously, some noteworthy Las Vegas casinos which existed in 1992 (when the game takes place) but were later demolished do not appear in Las Venturas- these include the Dunes (hotel and casino) and the Sands Hotel.

Behind the Clown's Pocket Casino, a large pink dome is under construction. The pink Adventuredome behind the Circus Circus Casino in Las Vegas was also under construction in 1992.

Freeways
The Julius Thru-Way is a freeway that circles the whole city. Freeways from both Los Santos and San Fierro intersect with it. Another Freeway is the Harry Gold Parkway, which runs through the middle of the city and intersects twice with the Julius Thru-Way and then leads to Los Santos (though its not called the Harry Gold Parkway once it leaves the city).

Public Transportation

 * Train - The Brown Streak Railroad, which serves the whole state of San Andreas, has three stations in Las Venturas, all on the edge of the city. This makes Rail travel the more viable option in Las Venturas. The three stations are as follows:


 * Linden Station: Located off the Julius Thruway East, most northern exit. Located in the Linden-Side District.
 * Sobell Rail Yard: Mostly used for Brown Streak workers, passengers can use the stop via thier own judgement.
 * Yellow Bell Station: Serves the residents of Prickle Pine.


 * Airport - The only Airport in Las Venturas is Las Venturas Airport, with regular flights to both Los Santos and San Fierro. The airport is located to the East of the city, in between the Julis Thru-Way and the Harry Gold Parkway, with exits from both freeways.

Stores

 * Clothes - There are two Bincos in the city (The Strip and Redsands West), two Zips (The Strip and Pilgrim), one SubUrban (Creek Mall) and one Victim (Creek Mall).
 * Convenience Stores - there are seven 24/7's located throughout the city
 * Restaurants - There are five Burger-Shots in the city (Spiny Bed, White Wood Estates, Redsands East and two in the Old Venturas Strip), four Cluckin' Bells (The Strip, Creek Mall and two in the Old Venturas Strip) and four Well Stacked Pizza Co. (Roca Escalante, Creek Mall, Pilgrim, and Redsands East). Interestingly enough, there is also a Well Stacked Pizza Co. promiently displayed in the Old Strip; however, access to it is denied.
 * Guns - There are two Ammu-Nations in the city - one next to the South end of The Strip and one near the Old Venturas Strip - just off the Julius Thru-Way.
 * Gym - The city's main gym is the Below-the-belt gym located in Redsands East, near the Emerald Isle and off The Strip.
 * Grooming - The only barber show is Gay Gordo's located in Redsands East, just off The Strip. The only tattoo parlor is located right beside it.

Emergency Services

 * Health - There is also only one hospital in the city, Las Venturas Hospital located in Redsands West, just north from the airport and off the Harry Gold Parkway.
 * Police - There is only one police station in the city - the LVPD station - located in Roca Escalante. This is the most expansive police station in the game. The Los Santos station is mid-sized.