Laughlin is not an official municipality in Nevada but is considered as a CDP or census-designated place. It was named after Don Laughlin, its founder, who owned the land and had erected a casino, motel, and restaurant. The Riverside Resort became very popular and the area is the third most popular casino destination (after Las Vegas and Reno) in the state; although a large portion is dedicated to casinos, the area is marketed as a family-oriented venue with its outdoor activities. With this, the area is also popular among RV enthusiasts.

Annual events in Laughlin are notable in that the Laughlin River Run became known as the West Coast's Largest Motorcycle Event organized on the banks of the Colorado River. The celebration of the New Year is also a fun-filled "double" event in that revelers spend the New Year's eve in nearby Bullhead City then cross the river and spend a "second" New Year in Laughlin an hour later - this is due to the two areas having time zones that are one hour apart from each other.

Attractions in Laughlin include the Black Mountains, Hoover Dam, Cottonwood Cove, golf courses, and water craft activities.