“Amid CA Woes, Some Eye Vegas as New Porn Alley” (NBC News)

Interesting insights in NBC News (3/29/15): “Amid CA Woes, Some Eye Vegas as New Porn Alley” by Chris Morris.

As public health concerns mount, the porn industry has been under assault by a variety of opponents in recent years. That may be pulling the sector out of California’s embrace, and into the arms of a new suitor to its west.

Mandatory condom laws in Los Angeles and the continuing threat of statewide legislation have disrupted shooting for well over a year now. Although the industry still calls San Fernando Valley home, it continues to scout out other areas that are friendly to adult entertainment — and Las Vegas could be a beacon.

Already home to the industry’s annual Adult Entertainment Expo trade show, Las Vegas is a city that prides itself on its “anything goes” philosophy — albeit with some restrictions. Prostitution, for example, is technically illegal in the city, despite the flood of people handing out business cards for escorts up and down the strip.

That hasn’t stopped certain companies from opening up studios in and around the city over the past two years, however. Mindgeek (the industry’s biggest conglomerate) has a studio there for its Brazzers division. Other companies with a presence include Bait & Tackle, Corbin Fisher, VCX Ltd. and Bluebird Films.

Still, a few porn industry observers worry that presence could be problematic.

“I don’t think the industry comprehends that it is not legal to produce porn in Las Vegas or Nevada at all,” said Dr. Chauntelle Tibbals, an independent sociologist and former visiting scholar at the University of Southern California who studies the adult entertainment industry.

“That’s another struggle that’s going to happen — and another legal battle they’re going to have to take care of,” she said. “I do not think running to Las Vegas and setting up shop there is a long term solution.”