In 1960, total gross gaming revenue had reached more than $200 million annually and the state's population had grown to over 280,000 people. Gaming regulation had begun to enforce the Black Book and casino operators continued to develop and expand projects throughout the state. Harvey's, Caesars Palace, Aladdin, Circus Circus, Four Queens and Landmark were only a few that opened their doors in the 1960s. The decade ended with Kirk Kerkorian opening the worlds largest hotel-casino named the International (now the Las Vegas Hilton) and brought icon Elvis Presley establishing him as an eternal Las Vegas icon.

One of the most important events in Nevada gaming history was the arrival of famed aviator, filmmaker and entrepreneur billionaire Howard Hughes, permanently changing Nevada gaming and tourism. Upon arriving in Las Vegas, Hughes bought the Desert Inn, the Frontier, Sands, Castaways, Landmark, Silver Slipper, North Las Vegas Airport, Alamo Airways, Harold's Club in Reno and nearly all available undeveloped land in the Las Vegas valley.

Hughes finally stopped buying hotels and casinos when, in 1968, he tried to buy the Stardust, and the United States Justice Department issued a monopoly lawsuit against Hughes, who had control of one-third of the revenue earned by all the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip and had become Nevada's largest employer. Nevada's political leadership embraced Hughes as his money, reputation and visibility provided further legitimacy to the gaming industry.

Just as pivotal as Hughes was the Nevada State Legislature's 1967 legalization of public companies owning and operating gaming facilities without licensing each shareholder, allowing the industry to become what it is today. The 1960s also saw the establishment of a new city on the border between Arizona and Nevada. Don Laughlin, former owner of the 101 Club in Las Vegas, flew over the tri-state area in his private plane in 1964 and liked what he saw. In 1965, he bought a boarded-up motel and 6.5 acres of riverfront property for $250,000. In less than two years the bar and motel, now called the Riverside Resort, was offering all-you-can-eat chicken dinners for 98 cents; play on 12 slot machines and two live gaming tables, and accommodations in four of the motel's eight rooms. The Laughlin family occupied the other four rooms.

A little-known fact is that the city of Laughlin got its name when a U.S. Postal Service inspector insisted Don Laughlin give him a name, any name, in order to receive mail. Laughlin recommended the name Riverside and Casino, but the postal inspector used Laughlin instead.