Fear and Accounting in Las Vegas

Amplify is just around the corner! If you’re planning to attend our in-person sessions in Vegas, well, good news. You will not only have access to 70+ informative sessions across three dedicated tracks, celebrity keynotes, and 18 CPE credits, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore the incredible sights of Sin City.

Imagine after a day packed with amazing sessions, you find yourself exploring the city. Before you finalize your sightseeing agenda, may we suggest some accounting—sort of—related activities to partake in during your stay?

Here are five Las Vegas attractions that are a must-see for accountants:

Pinball Hall of Fame

What better or more wholesome way to spend your time in Vegas than playing dozens of old pinball machines? Not just any machines, though. The concept of the Pinball Hall of Fame idea was brought to life in 1972 by an entrepreneurial 16-year-old boy in Michigan. Tim Arnold figured out the quickest way to make a buck before you're legally an adult. His idea wasn't to work long hours for minimum wage in retail. Instead, he bought a pinball machine and charged kids in his neighborhood to play. Tim would go on to expand his arcade business in Michigan and eventually moved to Vegas. He arrived with about 1,000 pinball machines and held fun nights for the locals, the profits of which he donated to charity.

What screams accounting more than starting a business, donating profits to a charity, and gaining tax deductions?

Tim now owns the Pinball Hall of Fame, which houses over 200 games ranging from his pinball machines and sports-themed games to video arcade games and Disney® Mold-A-Rama machines.

Art-o-Mat

What's the best way to financially maintain retro cigarette vending machines? What's the best way to financially sustain a business that sells your art crafts? The answer to both: sell crafts through cigarette vending machines.

The concept is simple. Insert $5 into one of these machines, crank the handle, and receive your own original craft. The origin of this idea dates back to 1997 when artist Clark Whittington presented it as a temporary art exhibit in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The display then became a business model that spread across various other (and banned in some) areas in the United States and other countries. Today, there are still over 100 of these refurbished cigarette vending machines, and the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas houses an extensive collection of them.

So put your financial evaluation skills into action by figuring out the most cost-efficient way to attain all the art pieces from the vending machines housed in the hotel.

The Simpsons House

Do you remember The Simpsons episode where Homer forgets to pay his taxes? Most people probably don't, but if you work in accounting, it's safe to say you are likely familiar with it—and it may even be your favorite episode. 

That particular episode gave a spectacular glance into the world of filing tax returns, which might as well be Christmas Eve for accountants. For that reason, The Simpsons serves as a landmark for the world of accounting and many other aspects of the American lifestyle—a piece of art worth remembering and referencing…as well as visiting IRL.

Enter the Simpsons' house, an orange two-story building that is recognized by just about anyone that's at least glanced at a TV while The Simpsons was playing. Out of all the things in The Simpsons universe, it might not be the most memorable until you realize that you can see an exact replica of it very near Vegas. Located on Red Bark Lane, the replica was built as a promotional contest in 1997 but has now been repainted since it's now a privately owned house. You can still recognize that the house design was inspired by The Simpsons thanks to its distinct shape and design, making it a worthwhile destination.

National Atomic Testing Museum

Accounting can be applied to almost any subject, though some obviously need it more than others. Nuclear weapons are a subject we hope never needs more attention from an accounting perspective…but alas, nuclear weapons still exist. As we all know, the United States has plenty of 'em. There's no shame in walking down history lane and examining some of the memorabilia behind the U.S.'s nuclear weapons testing program.

Besides being one of America's top hotspots for gambling and other sinful activities, Las Vegas was also a major test site for nuclear weapons starting in 1951. Now, The National Atomic Testing Museum houses over 12,000 artifacts from that era, offering visitors an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the city's history.

But you're not just any type of visitor. Put your accounting thinking cap on to figure out how much the government had to spend to finance each artifact housed within the museum. No Googling! It's time to flex your financial prowess.

The High Roller

Do you know where one of the largest observation wheels in the world is located? That's right, in Las Vegas, and you can see the whole city and its wonders, day and night.

The High Roller also offers an open bar, but that's not what we're here for! Does this have anything, even slightly, to do with accounting? No! But it’s time for you to cut loose while taking in the majesty that is the Vegas strip. Imagine hopping on one of the most enormous observation wheels in the world and then telling all your friends about it.

There are plenty of things to do in Las Vegas, and these are a few highlights. However you decide to spend your free time—make sure you enjoy yourself. We can’t wait to see you at Amplify this year!

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