Of all the 50 states in the USA, Nevada is the only one where prostitution has been decriminalized. So what's the legal loop-hole that allows for this? Due to a 1970 state law permitting each individual county in Nevada to license prostitution if they choose to do so, small towns like Pahrump, Crystal, and Scotty's Junction are home to the only legal brothels in America.

Regulated and taxed by the government, these legal brothels have created a sensation in these otherwise unknown towns and given a huge boost the local economies. There are presently 30-odd brothels within Nevada operating under names like the 'Pussycat Ranch' and 'Wild Horse Adult Resort'. The women who work at these brothels are hired as 'independent contractors' and undergo regular health screenings for sexually-transmitted infections.

However, this ruling applies only to counties where the population is below 400,000 people. This means that the law allowing for legal prostitution in some parts of the state does not extend to Nevada's largest cities and major tourist hot-spots like Reno and Las Vegas.

But Oscar Goodman, the current mayor of Las Vegas, would like to see this changed to include the entire state. Describing himself as a man who appreciates fine liquors and beautiful women, Goodman is a mayor who is proud of his city's sexy reputation. He says Las Vegas is already well-known as the "adult playground" - so what would be more appropriate than to decriminalize prostitution in 'Sin City' itself? If the mayor gets his way, he would like to see a red-light district created in downtown Vegas and the opening of "magnificent brothels" within city limits.

But not everyone agrees with Mayor Goodman, and his comments have sparked a flood of comments and criticisms from both sides of the debate: Would legalized prostitution be a good thing for Las Vegas?

Part 2 > > >