High gas prices hurting brothels

LAS VEGAS, June 23 (UPI) -- Employees of brothels in Nevada say high gas prices are taking a dramatic toll on their business.

With fuel prices at an all-time high, truckers who frequent Nevada's 28 legal brothels no longer have any extra money, ABC News reports.

"Most of these truckers used to have $100 they could spend. Now they're struggling to pay for fuel," says Cindy Howe, a bartender at the Stardust Ranch in eastern Nevada.

Howe says Stardust is down to only two girls despite offering incentives like free showers, parking and coffee to customers.

"The cost of fuel is killing us," says Karl Hardy, another Stardust bartender. "Tourists can't afford it."

A lobbyist for the Nevada Brothel Owners' Association says many members have been seeing their revenues drop from 20 to 45 percent.

One brothel near Las Vegas is planning to give out a gas card next month hoping that will spur business.