Nevada is the only state in the United States that sanctions legalized prostitution. With thirty-six existing brothel licenses, Nevada offers an important site for the sociological analysis of public sex policy. In this article we use policy analysis, interviews, and document research to examine formal and informal regulations that govern the licensing, business operations, and contemporary culture of Nevada's brothels. A decentralized, haphazard, and historically unique set of laws and norms have created and sustained the Nevada brothel industry. Nonetheless, this system of legalized prostitution is ingrained in the economic and social systems of rural Nevada and offers valuable sociological insights into public policies governing sex with ramifications that reach far beyond Nevada's boundaries. We conclude with six sociological insights regarding Nevada's brothel system that contribute to the ongoing academic and public dialogue on prostitution policy.
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