Those who are missing the thrills of Las Vegas while waiting for the pandemic to subside can listen to a number of podcasts that invoke the city's unique excitement.
While the tone and content varies, all share one thing in common: a love of all things Vegas.
Here are six indispensible Vegas-oriented podcasts (omitting many excellent choices that focus on gaming and sports). They are available at the listed websites and on platforms such as iTunes/Apple, Google, Stitcher and Spotify.
Five Hundy by Midnight: The oldest podcast about Sin City, with a staggering 738 episodes since January 2005, doesn't actually originate in Las Vegas. Tim Dressen and his wife, Michele, are based in the suburbs of Minneapolis/St. Paul and try to visit Las Vegas three or four times a year. Their podcast is a product of their obsession with the city.
"Las Vegas is our escape from reality," said Dressen, who has visited Las Vegas at least 50 times since 1997. "It's never the same twice, and we've always had fun there. The podcast is a way to help us and help our audiences stay connected with the city we love in between trips."
The show's name derives from a line in the 1996 film "Swingers," in which Trent (played by Vince Vaughn) says to his buddy Mike (Jon Favreau), "Baby, we're going to be up five hundy by midnight!" The podcast packs lively banter with news, reviews and commentary by tourists for tourists.
Dressen said his target audience members are "Vegas nerds/tourists who visit Las Vegas as frequently as they can and are thinking about it when they aren't there."
With a Facebook group of more than 6,000 people, the podcast's listeners contribute content to the show via voicemail. More than 300 monthly Patreon subscribers and individual contributions via PayPal support the show, Dressen said.
The Jeff Does Vegas Podcast: Another podcast that deftly captures the spirit of the Strip from afar is written, produced and hosted by Jeff Walker of Calgary, Alberta. Conversations that take listeners behind the curtain with Las Vegas entertainers and experts are mixed with reviews of hotels, casinos, restaurants, shows and attractions.
Walker, who visits Vegas for three or four nights about eight times a year, has recorded 62 weekly episodes in about a year and a half. The podcast just broke 50,000 total downloads, averaging 3,100 a month.
Among Walker's recent guests: author Geoff Schumacher, who discussed his book on Howard Hughes' time in Las Vegas; married Vegas entertainers Makenzie Fly ("Sex Tips for Straight Women From a Gay Man," Paris Las Vegas) and Colin Cahill ("Atomic Saloon" at the Venetian), who talked about their quarantine You Tube series, "Mac and the Cheese": and Jacqueline Whitmore, an etiquette expert, who discussed the always controversial topic of tipping.
Vital Vegas: This blog is filled with what its host, local writer Scott Roeben, calls essential Las Vegas news, tips and deals. "We know people. We dig things up. We lampoon when required." And his lively podcast follows up on scoops that he often breaks on social media well ahead of traditional media.
"My primary goal is to help people get the most from their next Las Vegas visit," Roeben said. "I have a lot of opinions, and podcasting lends itself to sharing those. People connect with podcasts in a way they may not with other forms of media. It's very personal, and there's a connection that's qualitatively different from consuming information through words and images. The intention is to inform and entertain."
Roeben just hit 108 episodes since February 2016 and recently achieved half a million downloads. Among his most popular shows have been tours of a Nevada brothel and a Las Vegas swingers' club. In addition to drawing out-of-towners and journalists to the podcast, Roeben said he gets listeners from the financial world and the casino industry.
"People love hearing my drunk rambling, which is humbling," Roeben said. "Many say they listen to maintain a connection to Las Vegas between visits. Some listen and have no intention of visiting, (and) that's very flattering. Some of the feedback is hysterical."
PodKats!: Las Vegas Review-Journal entertainment columnist John Katsilometes has been Vegas' man-about-town for more than two decades. Known simply to his fans as Kats, he is seemingly everywhere on the Strip every night, consistently breaking news in his column and following up with interviews with entertainers, celebrities and newsmakers on his podcasts. He has hosted 75 podcasts since November 2018.
Among his recent guests: singer Jewel, South Point arena director Steve Stallworth, "Bar Rescue" host Jon Taffer, nightclub executive Sean Christie, Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis and Chumlee of "Pawn Stars."
Sun on the Strip: Longtime Las Vegas Sun entertainment writer Brock Radke reports on the latest developments in entertainment, hospitality, business and tourism. Chats with singers, musicians and other show operators lend insight into Vegas entertainment. Interviews with stars such as Mat Franco, Frank Marino, Dionne Warwick, George Wallace and Shania Twain have been featured recently.
"The target audience is both locals and tourists," said Radke, who started producing the podcast in the fall of 2018. "When the shutdown occurred, I changed gears and started producing two shows a week consisting of interviews with Vegas entertainers. I'm looking forward to getting back to a weekly schedule and including more newsy stuff as the Strip approaches reopening."
360 Vegas Podcast: With more than 360 episodes, this well-rounded podcast was born as an excuse for friends to get together once a week to try to make each other laugh between visits to Las Vegas. Segments have included casino gambling tips, myths and history; gaming law; sports gambling; and information on the latest slot and poker machines.
Historical tidbits, reviews and stories of misadventures in the city also entertain listeners, who have often met in Vegas for various events, including bar lounge meet-and-greets, group dining and gaming. The team behind the podcast also scours Twitter for "Twitpic of the Week" to share on social media outlets and associated blog.
Among the other notable podcasts about Las Vegas are Faces and Aces: Las Vegas, Vegas Never Sleeps, With Steven Maggi; Vegas Confessions Podcast, Tipping the Odds Las Vegas and Matt & Mattingly's Ice Cream Social with comedians Matt Donnelly and Paul Mattingly.