If you’re gambling, you perhaps don’t want to spend too much time having to eat, especially if you’re on a winning streak. However, casino owners are also anxious to keep people playing when they’re losing, and that was the thought behind the first Las Vegas buffet which opened in the 1940s. Early buffets weren’t elaborate; they typically featured a few hot dishes, cold cuts and salads – a big difference from today’s huge buffets. Today, the buffet is a big part of the Las Vegas Strip food industry, and just about all the large hotels have at least one buffet operating 24/7. And today’s buffet food is a lot more elaborate and interesting, often prepared right in front of you, and the buffet is a great place to try Mexican, Chinese or barbecue. There are even buffet passes available which give you unlimited access to different buffets.