The age of superstition that gripped Las Vegas in 2016 was marked by a fervent belief in the power of genetically engineered animal companions to bring luck. As the trend of having intelligent, tailored pets spread from the elite to the common gambler, a web of folklore and ritual enveloped the city. Casinos, once places of pure chance, turned into theaters of mystical rites, where players were seldom seen without their chosen animal, each symbolizing a unique promise of fortune.
Chickens, dogs, and an assortment of other creatures became part of the very fabric of gambling, integral to the strategies and hopes of those seeking to win big. The lines between science and mysticism blurred, with people attributing almost magical powers to these animals, believing in their ability to tilt fate in their favour. Marketing campaigns, celebrity endorsements, and word-of-mouth tales fuelled this belief, turning the casinos into a stage where technology, desire, and superstition intertwined. It was a time of excess, hope, and irrationality, a unique chapter in Las Vegas' history where logic was overshadowed by faith in the extraordinary.
These images are created for the Strange History Alternate Realities collection. They use AI generated images to depict an alternative take on history.
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