The state's largest city is considered one of the most attractive ride-hailing markets in the country because it pulls in more than 40m visitors annually, many coming to gamble or attend conferences.

"It is a brand new industry in Nevada, in that there is now a statutory and regulatory framework for it," Andrew Mackay, chairman of the Nevada Transportation Authority, told the Financial Times before Friday's vote.

The approval is the culmination of a near year-long process that has been confrontational at times. Uber tried to launch in Las Vegas last October, but several drivers were fined and had their cars impounded, and the company was forced to suspend operations after a few weeks because of a statewide ban.

Uber and rival Lyft have been testing the regulatory waters for on-demand transportation in US cities and around the world, and their reception has ranged from protests in which cars have been burnt, to being welcomed.