Divorce hits Las Vegas marriages hard

Maybe it's the sexy billboards that leave little to the imagination. Perhaps it's the taxi cab placards of women so busty they could make a Barbie doll blush.

Whatever the motivating factor, sex is a part of Las Vegas mystique and some people claim it has destroyed their marriages.

Just ask Jason, who did not want his last name used.

He was married nine years when he and his wife moved to Las Vegas. Six months later, he was sneaking off to spend time at various strip clubs.

"As soon as I moved here I couldn't help notice the distractions, the nude clubs and strip shows," he said. "I come from a town of 35,000 and here it was so easy to fit into the woodwork and exercise those desires."

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the 1990 figures for Nevada show 481,852 males married, with 66,315 divorced.

For females, the census had 466,000 married and 70,219 divorced. Figures for 2000 census were not available.

In Clark County, 9,431 divorces were recorded for 2000 (up to October). For 1999, the number of divorces recorded totaled 10,446.

According to a recent survey, Las Vegas and Henderson family and marriage therapists have witnessed a 20 percent increase in clients experiencing divorce-related issues within the last year.

While some couples do not admit to infidelity, those who seek divorce or marriage counseling cite dissatisfaction in the home because of a lack of time together because of 24/7 work schedules, poor communication skills, gambling and financial troubles.

Even for those who live elsewhere, the Bureau of the Census projects that 40 percent of first marriages will end in divorce. People between the ages of 25 and 39 make up 60 percent of all divorces, although 75 percent of women and 80 percent of men remarry within five years after divorce. Second marriages are at greater risk of ending in divorce than first marriages.

Don Miller, local marriage and family therapist, said people don't move here expecting to get divorced, but find themselves being influenced by what he calls the "Vegas factors," like sexy billboard advertising. He councils about 30 people a month.

Miller said the temptations Las Vegas presents to the mind are just as corrosive to a marriage as actual infidelity.

"People who transfer here find the city to be very titillating," Miller said. "You can find (strip clubs) anywhere in the U.S., but this town slaps you in the face with it."

A lonely spouse (has the opportunity) to connect with chat rooms, leading to face-to-face meetings and broken marriages. While Las Vegas isn't the only city where this occurs, Miller said the odd work hours of many casino employees is a contributing factor.

Along with the growth in divorces in Clark County comes an increase in legal issues surrounding divorce. Divorce does not have to be an ugly battle to be fought in a court of law, according to Theresa Carter, an attorney with John Peter Lee Ltd.

"If you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse can maintain a civil relationship during the divorce process, a workable settlement and arrangement can be reached for the benefit of both parties," Carter said.

As for Jason, his eight affairs led to divorce. Now remarried and in therapy, he is considering moving, concerned about the affect Las Vegas' blatant sexual messages have on his children.

"In the Midwest, you have to (search) to find that stuff, but here, it's pretty prevalent. But don't give up on your marriage until you go to counseling and really give it a strong effort."