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The first question on everyone’s mind when you discuss the Mob Attraction Las Vegas is “What is it?” Is it a show, a restaurant, a movie?

The answer is “fuh-ged-a-bout-it” – it is none of the above. The Mob Attraction Las Vegas is an experiential peek into the world of the mob and more specifically the experience of being a mobster and dealing with some of the consequences and benefits of that lifestyle.

Patrons go through a roped walk-way designed as Ellis Island, where they are given a passport and their journey begins. The journey is in fact a walk with you and your party through dark alleys and crime scenes while interacting with live actors that are in character as either the Mob Family or law enforcement. As your expedition begins you will be asked to do certain tasks by each character. Sometimes you are passing envelopes with fake money from one guy to another or asked about specific information. At other times you are being asked what your involvement is to “The Family”. Any way you slice it, you are asked to make a choice and that choice is either to walk the straight and narrow or take a walk down the dark road of being a mobster.

Being inside this scenario, you quickly find out as you move through the attraction that it is tougher than one might think to lie, hide and possibly steal. This attraction offers you a deeper glimpse as to what it might be like to live while being constantly suspected and even interrogated by officers of the law about where you were and what you have done. It offers you the chance to decide if you took the road of the mobster, is it really all it is cracked up to be in the movies? The choices you are given throughout the Mob Attraction are really the best thing about the experience.

In between interacting with live actors, you will also watch holograms of famous celebrities who are helping guide your way. Actors such as Mickey Rourke, Frank Vincent, and one of the biggest mobsters of all time, James Caan appear in small informative segments giving you all of the details on how the mob came to power in Las Vegas.

Two thirds of the way through the attraction you will come to the atrium. The atrium has a large collection of artifacts, memorabilia, photos and videos giving you look inside the personal lives of Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky and some of the Mob’s most notorious figures.  Even the computers are interactive allowing you to see the small number of casinos that started in Las Vegas over 50 years ago, which ultimately took the mob’s initial investment in Las Vegas and grew it into the mega tourist destination that it is today.

At the end of your destination you meet a “Final Fate” and without spoiling the fun, once you reach this point, hopefully you have made good decisions and do not get whacked!

The Mob Attraction is high on interaction but rather PG rated. There is barely any mention or pictures of violence or blood. As I walked through it, families came in with small children that seemed to instinctively know that they were playing a game and were having even more fun than their parents. Overall, the people I spoke to as they were leaving all raved that they had a great time but admitted that initially they weren’t sure what it was.  I think the only issue is explaining what this attraction literally is. Although the name is technically “Mob Attraction Las Vegas,” with the tag line “Interact Participate Experience,” it is challenging to really convey the fun experience you will have walking through and playing along, but my suggestion is to give it a try and I am certain you won’t regret it.

About Mob Attraction Las Vegas: Mob Attraction Las Vegas is a one-of-a kind experience, and the only mob-themed attraction in the world. Inside guests encounter holograms, live actors, and will make decisions that will ultimately determine their fate. It is open from 10am to 8pm every day of the week and located in the Tropicana Hotel. Admission is $25 for adults, $15 for children 5-11, and free for children under 5.

-Matt Phillips

Pictures by David Blake