Contact us by email at interpreting@alsglobal.net or via phone at 1-800-951-5020 for a free estimate on our ASL and CART services in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas ASL & CART Services

American Language Services has been helping businesses and other entities reach the deaf and hard of hearing community for more than 35 years. While in-person interpreting, at one time, was the only option, recent technological advances opened the door to other options. Since we offer full-service Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), this article will be comparing Virtual American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting with Communication Access Real-Time Translation (AKA- Closed Captioning &  Real Time Subtitling ) known as CART.

 Please note that according to the American Disability Act (ADA) that deaf and hard of hearing community have the legal right to receive full access through the use of ASL and or CART services. The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and providing ASL interpreters for deaf individuals complies with federal law and promotes equal accessibility.

Some Interesting Facts About the City of Las Vegas

• “Las Vegas” means “the meadows” due to water found in underground artesian wells.
• The famous Las Vegas Strip is not located within the city limits of Las Vegas, it actually falls under the jurisdiction of Clark County.
• With its millions of lights, Las Vegas is considered the brightest spot on Earth.
• Annual rainfall in Las Vegas totals slightly more than four inches.
• At 1,149 feet, the Stratosphere is the tallest observation tower in the United States and the second tallest free-standing structure west of the Mississippi River.
• Consumption of shellfish in Vegas is over 60,000 pounds per day – that’s higher than the rest of the United States combined.
• The Las Vegas Metropolitan area is the most densely populated in the state with a population of more than 1.6 million.
• Nearly 300 weddings happen every day.
• There are over 15,000 miles of neon tubing within the city.
• More than 1,200 fountains are involved in the famous Bellagio Fountain show.
• Standing tall at 550 feet and measuring 520 feet in diameter, the High Roller holds the record for being the tallest observation wheel on the planet.

• The first structure built by non-native settlers was built in 1855 by Mormon missionaries.
• Golden Gate Hotel & Casino is the oldest hotel and casino in Las Vegas, originally opening in 1906 as Hotel Nevada.
• The first telephone in Las Vegas was installed in 1907 at the Hotel Nevada and a plaque still commemorates it in today’s Golden Gate Hotel and Casino.
• Legalization of gambling in 1931 encouraged other parts of the country to request the recall of Nevada’s statehood.
• The Old West Town of St. Thomas is buried in Lake Mead after a forced evacuation in 1938.
• Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel’s car is permanently buried under The Flamingo after his murder in 1947.

• More than 42 million people visit Las Vegas each year.
• Las Vegas is home to more than half of the 20 largest hotels in the world.
• McCarran International Airport is the seventh busiest airport in the United States and North America.
• 51.5 million people fly through McCarran International Airport annually.
• 44,700 people enter through the NV/CA border by car daily.
• In 2019, visitors from the United States came mostly from California, Texas, and Washington.
• Visitors spent $36.9 billion in 2019.
• There are around 150,259 hotel rooms in all of Las Vegas.
• The average occupancy rate for hotels is 88.9%.
• When asked visitors for reason of travel, 48% visited Las Vegas for Vacation, 5% visited Las Vegas to gamble, and 11% came to attend conventions.
• Over 22,000 conventions are held in Las Vegas every year.

• 6.6 million people come to Las Vegas for conventions annually.
• The top industry for employment is leisure and hospitality, followed by trade, transport, and utilities.
• The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, located downtown in Symphony Park, ranked 10th among theater venues throughout the world for ticket sales.
• 50 wedding chapels exist in Las Vegas.

• Gaming/gambling generally accounts for slightly over 43 percent of Las Vegas casinos’ revenue.
• A study conducted in 2013 showed that although 15% of people visit primarily for gambling, about 71% do so during their visit anyway.
• Sports wagering accounts to more than 2% of the state’s total income.
• In the 1980s, William Lee Bergstrom walked into Binion’s Horseshoe Casino with a suitcase containing $777,000 (the rough equivalent of $2.31 million dollars today) – the biggest bet placed in a casino.
• The biggest roulette bet in Las Vegas history was made at Golden Gate in 2010 at $250,000.
• The largest sum anyone ever won on Vegas slots was $39 million at the Excalibur.
• The estimated room count comes to 130,000 when you combine all the Las Vegas hotels. In fact, the big places like MGM Grand, Tropicana, Excalibur, has over 5000 rooms themselves, overtaking the gross collective of the entire San Francisco! Here’s another fun fact: almost always the occupancy is close to 90%. You better believe that!
• Las Vegas is a gambling haven, but it was not always this way – not legally at least. After the city was founded in 1905, the antigambling law of the State of Nevada criminalized betting in 1910. However, that didn’t stop people from indulging as the activity moved largely underground. Nevada legalized gambling again in the year 1931, and the rest is history.
• This might sound odd, but it’s a fact that the State of Nevada doesn’t permit lottery. Many have made attempts to overturn Article IV, Sec. 24 but without success. You can, however, participate or host in church raffles and fundraisers by charitable organizations. Is Sin city moving towards godliness? You decide.
• Las Vegas is bright. Sometimes, blindingly so because of all the blazing neon lights. You can count on seeing neon pretty much anywhere you turn your head towards. In fact, the giant Cowboy Vegas Vic. is considered to be a symbol of the city. Did you know that there are over 15,000 miles of neon tubing within the city? The glowing lights are such an integral part of Vegas that there is even a dedicated museum for them. The Neon Museum currently features more than 150 signs and the stories behind them.
• The Luxor Hotel is built like a pyramid, following the footsteps of Egyptian pharaohs who sought to impress with the size of their pyramids. The Luxor Hotel is notorious for its glittering 30 story architecture wrapped in glass, complete with Obelisk and Sphinx.
• It is said that the hotel’s Atrium measures that 29,000,000 ft.³ and have the ability to hold nine 747’s on top of one another. Even the spotlight that points straight towards the sky is said to be the brightest spotlight in the whole world.
• It is estimated that close to 500 couples get hitched on Vegas every day on an average. The year’s total falling just shy of 100,000. And to make things easier, all you need to get married in Vegas is a passport or driver’s license for identity proof and around $ 50 to get a marriage license. You pay in cash and get the license as quick as in 20 minutes.
• The Stratosphere Tower standing tall at 1149 feet holds the record for being America’s tallest freestanding observation tower. It is from here you can get a 360° view of Sin City, and rightfully so because the observation deck is held up at the height of 869 feet. A view of The Strip from atop this tower is a view to die for.
• The mighty Las Vegas sign is actually located at Paradise, which is a neighboring town. This is much like The Strip, which is almost entirely technically situated in paradise. So don’t think you’ve reached Vegas as soon as you get the sign’s first sight. Another fact – the original sign is much smaller than other Vegas signs as it stands only at 25 feet.
• Did you know that people once used to put their lives at risk to click a picture with the infamous Las Vegas sign? Yes, tourists would stand in the middle-of-the-road just to get photographed and get bragging rights they came to Vegas. The city later figured that injured or dead tourists would be bad for business, so they installed a parking lot close by in 2008.
• The controversial Mob Museum is located just a few minutes away from the 5th street and is one of a kind in the US. Known officially as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, the museum was opened in 2012 despite opposition from Washington. Oscar Goodman, the former mayor, is credited with the idea. The building’s neoclassical architecture is bound to stand out amidst all the neon-lit casinos, but this museum remains a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
• The designer of the Las Vegas sign, Betty Willis, gifted her design to the city as a generous gift. Meaning, she never got around to copywriting her design. The conclusion? Vegas magnets, Vegas keychain, Vegas bumper stickers, all flaunting “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” without paying any royalty to Willis.
• Aviator and wealthy businessman Howard Hughes once requested a bulk shipment of Baskin-Robbins banana nut ice cream (200 gallons) during his stay at Las Vegas Desert Inn. Just a few days later, he had a change of mind and decided he would only eat chocolate marshmallow ice cream because he was tired of banana nut.
• In 1980, a hospital in Las Vegas was forced to suspend their staff after coming to know that they were betting on patients to die. It is said that one nurse even murdered a patient so that she could win the bet.
• The largest sum anyone ever won on Vegas slots was a number of $ 39 million at the Excalibur. A 25-year-old software engineer put in $ 100 and ended up taking home $ 39 million, beating the odds of 1 in 16.7 million. Can you imagine being this lucky? Feel free to try your luck as well; just don’t expect to make that much money, or else you might be going home disappointed.
• Las Vegas Boulevard has had many names in the past. People have called it Los Angeles highway, Arrowhead highway, 5th Street, Salt Lake highway, US 93, US 91, US 466, and many others. This popular location, The Strip is as famous among the locals as it is among tourists.
• Deep beneath the glitter and glamour, lies a dark world where close to 1000 people live out their lives. Often referred to as “the tunnel people of Las Vegas,” these unfortunate souls have nowhere left to go, and most of them are said to have mental health issues. The 200 miles of flood tunnels might be a place of filth for many, but some call it home. You’ll find residents of all ages there; most doing odd jobs during the day for money. Many are war veterans trying to cope up with post-traumatic stress. We bet you’ll never see Las Vegas the same way again after reading more about the tunnel dwellers.
• Did you know that every year when the lights on the Las Vegas sign are replaced, they are sold off as commemorative souvenirs? Yes, this means if you want something that stays with you, you can buy one of these lights now. Hang on; it gets even better – the proceeds generated from light sales are later donated to charity.
• The founder of FedEx, the multimillion-dollar transport and shipping company, Frederick W. Smith supposedly saved his company by gambling away to success in Vegas. Legend has it that Smith took his company’s last and remaining $ 5000 to Vegas and came back with $ 27,000 by winning at blackjack. This allowed him to pay for the company’s fuel bill of $ 24,000.
• Visiting Vegas but want to get a feeling of the famed city of Venice in Italy? Head over to Venetian Las Vegas to be transported to another time and place. This is as close to the actual Venice you can get without booking a plane for Italy. Here you’ll see everything, starting from the gondoliers going about their day in the Grand Canal to the magnificent Hall frescoes in vivid detail. The gondola rides in this destination are one of the most popular attractions and have been consistently voted to be a top performer. In fact, the serenading gondoliers put a considerable amount of effort to maintain the authenticity of Venice’s atmosphere and overall feel.
• One of the icons of the Vegas skyline is the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas. This monumental structure stands at the height of 46 stories and is a half-scale replica of the actual landmark in France. The Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas is considered to be the world’s most massive replica of the original. To maintain authenticity, the designers and architects of this structure took inspiration from Gustav’s original paintings, use the same color, and fitted the exact lighting system as the Paris’ Tower. Apart from gambling inside the casino, you can take a glass elevator to the observation deck and get a complete 360° view of the Vegas Valley.
• If you’re in the mood for some entertainment and don’t want to spend a dime – witness the majestic Bellagio fountains in all their glory. The fountains are situated in front of the Bellagio Hotel, on a lake stretching up to 8.5 acres. It is here that you can see more than 1200 fountains dancing to lights and music. The music played here ranges from the legendary compositions of Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti to classical Western music by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly. The performance happens every 30 minutes, and no admission fee is required. Just make sure of the starting time before paying a visit.
• The volcano erupting in front of Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas is a spectacle to behold! Keep an eye out from the dusk until 11 at night to see this grand display of extravagance play out. See breathtaking fire effects accompanied by audiovisual cues, including compositions from the legendary Indian tabla maestro Zakir Hussain and late Mickey Hart, drummer of Grateful Dead. Every eruption lasts for about 10 minutes and includes shooting fireballs choreographed perfectly to the music. Schedules, however, are subject to change; be sure to inquire beforehand. This show is also free and can be seen from The Strip.
• Nestled in between Flamingo Las Vegas and The LINQ Hotel & Casino, the Las Vegas High Roller is one of the Strip’s major attractions. Standing tall at 550 feet and measuring 520 feet in diameter, this Roller holds the record for being the tallest observation wheel on the planet. This structure it eclipses even the Singapore Flyer and the London Eye. The Marvel of architecture comes with 28 glass cabins that unveil a clear view of the Las Vegas Strip. The roller spins for 30 minutes to complete one revolution.

Las Vegas ASL & CART Language Interpreters

American Language Services is known for our high-quality, In-person and Virtual interpreters, as well as the outstanding client services we provide. We work in 200+ languages including Legal and Medical Certified and Qualified.  ASL and CART are the fastest growing languages in Las Vegas today a language interpreter can be a very underestimated professional in the world today. There are over 100 languages spoken in the Las Vegas Metro area alone. Many of us know one language, and we specialize in one field of study. Our Las Vegas interpreters are fluent in English and at least one other language, and they are knowledgeable in a wide range of specialized fields including legal, medical, technical, manufacturing, and engineering.

A brief history of ASL Interpreting in Las Vegas

Most people know that ASL stands for American Sign Language. But not everyone knows that it is a distinct language—not simply an offshoot of American English. Though its beginnings are murky, many believe that ASL originated from a merger of French Sign Language (SLF) and local U.S. sign languages. While ASL and SLF are distinct languages, there are still some similarities between their signs.

What actually is ASL?   ASL a complete, natural language that has the same linguistic properties as spoken languages with grammar however that differs from English. ASL is expressed by movements of the hands and face.  ASL is a language completely separate and distinct from English. It contains all the fundamental features of language, with its own rules for pronunciation, word formation, and word order.  Because of the physical nature of ASL, a two-person team of ASL interpreters is required for assignments longer than 1 hour in duration.

The National Center for Health Statistics claims that 28 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss, though only between two and eight percent of them are natural ASL speakers.  Helping these select individuals translate the audible into the understandable is the job of an ASL interpreter.  If you have ever been to a play, a concert or watched a government briefing, you have probably seen an ASL interpreter signing just out of view.  An interesting side note is that Statista estimates that there are currently around 60,000 active ASL interpreters in the USA.

The Benefits of ASL Interpreting in Las Vegas

When it comes to communicating with hard-of-hearing or deaf audiences, there are a few reasons you might want to opt for a Las Vegas ASL interpreter over CART services. These include:

• A More Personal Connection: A real person has several advantages over a computer screen. First, human interpreters have an easier time conveying emotion. Second, they are better equipped to point out speakers and assist with pronunciation issues. Finally, an interpreter gives a deaf or hard of hearing person a chance to bond with another person.
• Enhanced Speed: Skilled interpreters can hold pace with even the fastest speakers. Lack of delay makes it easier for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to keep up with the conversation.
• Cost Effective:  While costs range by the type of ASL you need (Legal, medical, business, etc.) and when the assignment is scheduled, the cost off ASL, across the board, is less money than CART.

What Is CART?

While the majority of people know what American Sign Language is, the same cannot be said for Communication Access Real-Time Translation. Often referred to as CART, this communication method for the deaf and hard of hearing is best described as subtitling for live discussions. Unlike ASL, which relies on a professional interpreter, CART services are provided by a well-trained stenographer or transcriptionist. They transcribe anything said and then broadcast the resulting text to a phone, computer, or TV screen.

CART is often seen as a cost-effective and efficient way to ensure everybody can follow along. While often used to help deaf students in the classroom, CART captioning benefits anyone that can read.  Much like ASL interpreting, it can be done both onsite with a physical transcriptionist or remotely with an offsite one.

Why You Should Consider CART for the Las Vegas Market

Communication Access Real-Time Translation is growing in popularity due to the following characteristics:

• It Serves a Wider Array of Deaf People: If you do a little math, you will realize that 65 percent of hard-of-hearing people in the USA do not speak ASL fluently. CART makes it so these people can join in on the conversation as well.
• CART Makes It Scalable: While people in the front rows can easily make out what an interpreter is signing, it gets harder as the distance increases. Since captions can be beamed to multiple screens simultaneously, they do not have to factor speaker distance into the equation.
• The Text Provides a Written Record: Having a transcript of everything your professor said would be a godsend come finals. Having a record of a meeting can also provide clarity to all those involved as well. The physical nature of CART recording makes that possible. This ability is one reason so many college students opt for CART over traditional ASL interpreting. 

About American Language Services

Founded in 1985, American Language Services was there to help pioneer the rise in remote ASL interpreting options. Our dedication to quality and client satisfaction in interpreting allowed us to shift from a one-woman agency into one of the most successful language agencies in the world. Our language experts provide ASL & CART interpreting services to people all around the world. Because of our 24/7 availability, you’ll never have to worry about us not being available, on off times, for an assignment.

AML-Global has some of the most impressive linguistic talents in the world. These highly skilled language professionals are recruited, screened, and tested to ensure high-quality work.

Contact us by email at interpreting@alsglobal.net or via phone at 1-800-951-5020 for a free estimate on our ASL and CART services.

ASL Interpreting or CART in Las Vegas: Which One Better Suits Your Needs?