Every state has perplexing laws on the books, including Nevada. 

With the world-renowned casinos and hotels of the Las Vegas Strip, it comes as no surprise that some of the state’s strangest laws revolve around gambling. 

Read on about unusual laws in the Silver State.

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1. No state lotteries
2. Prohibited to pawn property from someone intoxicated
3. Avoid swearing on the strip
4. You can’t hula hoop on Fremont Street
5. Rules of the road for funeral processions

1. No state lotteries

There are five states that don’t participate in state lotteries, and Nevada is one of them. 

The other states that don’t take part in the drawings are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii and Utah. 

While you won’t be able to buy Powerball or Mega Millions tickets in Nevada, there are plenty of other ways to gamble in the Silver State. 

Nevada may not have state lotteries, but there are plenty of other ways to test your luck. (iStock)

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2. Prohibited to pawn property from someone intoxicated

Nevada is home to many pawn shops, with plenty of rules and regulations regarding sales. 

One law regards buying property from someone who is under the influence. 

According to Nevada Statute § 646.060, “a pawnbroker, and a clerk, agent or employee of a pawnbroker” cannot receive “property from a person under the age of 18 years, common drunkard, habitual user of controlled substances, habitual criminal, habitual felon, habitually fraudulent felon, person in an intoxicated condition, known thief or receiver of stolen property, or known associate of a thief or receiver of stolen property, whether the person is acting in his or her own behalf or as the agent of another.”

Those who break this law are guilty of a misdemeanor. 

3. Avoid swearing on the Strip

The Las Vegas Strip is full of delectable dining, plentiful shops, world-renowned entertainment, lavish hotels and casinos, and sometimes, foul language. 

City municipal ordinance 10.40.030 covers swearing while in the area. 

“The use of profane, vile or obscene language or words upon the public streets, alleys, or highway of the City is prohibited,” according to the law.  

Las Vegas technically has a law against swearing, though it is not one that’s enforced. (Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

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If you do let a swear slip on the Strip, don’t worry. This law is not commonly enforced. 

4. You can’t hula-hoop on Fremont Street

On the historic Fremont Street in Las Vegas, there is plenty to do to keep you entertained late into the night, and also restrictions that may surprise you.

Don’t expect a hula-hooping contest on Fremont Street, as the recreational activity is one of many banned in the area.  

“The use of unicycles, bicycles and other types of cycles, skateboards, roller skates, in-line skates, hula hoops larger than four feet in diameter, and shopping carts, except as authorized by The Fremont Street Experience Limited Liability Company in connection with special events and mall entertainment,” according to Section 11.68.100 the Las Vegas Code of Ordinances. 

Hula-hooping is one of the many recreational activities not allowed by law on Fremont Street. (iStock)

5. Rules of the road for funeral processions

Nevada has a detailed section in state law regarding funeral processions. 

The “Rules of the Road” section of the state’s law covers rights that are granted to an individual driving an emergency vehicle, leading a funeral procession or driving a regulatory agency vehicle.

Included in this law is the right to run red lights after slowing down when necessary and exceeding the posted speed by 15 mph “to overtake the procession and direct traffic at the next intersection.” 

Additionally, those leading funeral processions or driving vehicles mentioned above can “disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions. The driver of a vehicle escorting a funeral procession may direct the movements of the vehicles in the procession in a similar manner and may direct the movements of other vehicles.” 

Coupled with a devastating housing crisis and overdose epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in spikes in property theft and retail crime, putting many voters on edge over the street conditions they witnessed.

In the last year, however, theft and property crimes, as well as violent crime in San Francisco, have all dropped, according to SFPD data.

Despite those gradual declines, Mayor London Breed struggled to reassure residents that safety was improving, and in November, voters opted for a fresh start with Lurie, an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune with no prior experience in government.

Yep worked closely with Lurie on the campaign trail and endorsed his run for mayor. In addition to having nearly 28 years with the Police Department, Yep also brings to City Hall his ties to the city’s Asian American communities. That will be critical as he helps Lurie navigate challenges that his predecessor also encountered, like rising incidents of anti-Asian hate.

“On issues concerning public safety and so much more, Paul has been a trusted ally to the Chinese community for years,” said Anni Chung, president and CEO of Self-Help for the Elderly, a community-based organization for mostly immigrant and monolingual Asian seniors. “I’m excited to hear that he’ll continue to serve not just our community but every San Franciscan in this critical role.”

Yep said addressing the city’s fentanyl crisis will be one of his top priorities in the mayor’s office, but he did not provide specific details about what the administration’s response will look like. He said he wants to increase police staffing overall but also supports the city’s street crisis response teams that offer an alternative to police for calls relating to mental health and other nonviolent emergencies.

“We’re going to have to leverage our resources to address these issues in a really smart, smart way moving forward and immediately,” Yep said.

DENVER — The NWSL’s 16th team is headed to Denver for a record $110 million expansion fee, Sportico.com reported on Thursday.

It’s more than double the previous NWSL record for new teams and the largest expansion fee ever in U.S. women’s sports. Groups from Cleveland and Cincinnati were also finalists for the new franchise.

Sportico, citing anonymous sources because the details are private, reported that the Denver group had submitted its first payment to the league on Tuesday. The group is led by IMA Financial Group CEO Robert Cohen, who would become the team’s control owner, according to Sportico.

The NWSL added the Utah Royals and Bay FC last season. A Boston-based club will join the league in 2026 after agreeing to pay the same $53 million expansion fee as Bay FC.

The Cohen-led group also includes former Obama administration official Ben Hubbard, CEO of Denver-based insurance company Parsyl; sports business executive Tom Dunmore; Phos CEO Nicole Glaros and former NWSL player Jordan Angeli.

The group has said it would play in a temporary venue until it can build a soccer stadium.

— The Associated Press