Las Vegas: Will the Strip become a hotspot for British comics?
Right from the beginning - open mic nights in random basements and pub function rooms - almost every comedian's goal is to make ever-bigger crowds laugh and earn a good chunk of cash doing so.
Right now, one of the biggest venues in the world is enjoying somewhat of a resurgence of big audience (and big money) comedy shows, with that venue - or, rather, destination - being Las Vegas. The bright lights of 'The Strip' are famed for hosting many of the world's best music acts, and top-class comedic talents are on display via certain theatres too.
Given the prominence of Sin City and the lavish nature of its venues, it's not a surprise that when Vegas comes knocking with a booking offer, British comics normally answer the call to perform.
The entertainment business in Las Vegas has long been strong, particularly because of its collection of casinos. In 1989, though, Sin City vaulted itself into the stratosphere with the opening of The Mirage. That first mega-resort triggered an arms race to become the biggest and best venue on The Strip.
At the core of all of these mega-resorts has always been an extensive casino offering, which has helped to make Las Vegas an entertainment brand, of sorts, particularly in casino gaming. Decades on from this boom, when you play classic slots online, you'll find them decked out in the aesthetics of Sin City. Vegas Diamonds, Vegas Hot Spots, Vegas Megaways, Slot Vegas Fully Loaded Megaquads, Richie in Vegas, and Route 777 are examples of some popular slot games you can play online.
The mega-resorts were also keen to expand into all other corners of entertainment, so they built luxury theatres for the world's biggest acts to perform. In 2003, Celine Dion kicked off what would be a groundbreaking residency at Colosseum, which would span four years and earn a still-record $385 million.
However, what about comedy?
This year, comics have been flying into Las Vegas from far and wide, including one of Britain's most famous comedians. As part of the opening tour leg of Laughs Funny, Jimmy Carr stopped off in Las Vegas last month.
There aren't yet too many British comedians with the profile to fill out a big Las Vegas room, but as the internet continues to make it easier for audiences to watch comedy from around the world, that'll soon change, we're sure.
As Las Vegas continues to establish itself as not just the entertainment capital of the world but the 'big money comedy show' capital of the world we're sure we'll see comedians like Michael McIntyre heading there in due course.
This is a collaborative article.