WINDSOR, Ontario ? Five minutes from downtown Detroit, the countdown to Super Bowl debauchery has begun.

Soon, fans will be carousing with escorts and nude dancers while smoking Cuban cigars and stuffing thousands of dollars worth of gambling tickets in their pockets. That mix could result in jail time in Detroit, where Super Bowl XL will be held Sunday. But just across the Detroit River, it won’t draw a second look.

The people of this city are bracing for an onslaught of Super Bowl tourists, with the proximity to Detroit and Canada’s more liberal entertainment laws providing an enticing combination. In Windsor, fans can find government-licensed prostitutes, all-nude strip clubs open almost around the clock, legalized Super Bowl gambling through the provincial lottery, a legal drinking age of 19 and no trade embargoes on Cuban goods.

In a security briefing Monday, NFL representatives advised players for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks to stay out of Windsor, a warning that may have served to pique their curiosity.

“They said it’s a lot more liberal over there with the laws and everything, and we should stay away,” Steelers defensive tackle Chris Hoke said. “But some of the guys who are in their 20s, they’re going to do whatever they want, whether you tell them to or not. I’m the type of guy to have a nice dinner and get back to the room so I’m not into all of that, but I’m sure there’s some guys who are, and they’ll be over there.”

The town has a waterfront casino, abundant restaurants, a favorable exchange rate, an international border that is easily manageable and an attitude that “what happens in Windsor stays in Windsor.” As Windsorites are quick to point out, laws are the same as in other Canadian cities and were in place well before the Super Bowl was awarded to Detroit.

“I’m angry that they call us Sin City, because I’m envious of our position,” said Mark Boscariol, who owns five bars and restaurants in Windsor. “Because if you want to tempt your gluttony, you can do it at our restaurants. If you want to tempt your lust, you can do it at our nightclubs and strip joints. If you want to tempt your greed, you can try your luck at the casino. If you’re feeling a little bit of sloth, you can hang out in one of our lounges. Our entertainment industry is something we have as a natural resource, and it’s a fit, and we’re hoping to promote it.”

It is illegal to solicit for prostitution in Windsor, but the city has 14 licensed escort agencies. There is no nude dancing in Michigan, but all-nude is the norm in Canada with most clubs offering private dances for $10-$20. The lower drinking age has lured Michigan’s college students to Windsor for years, and while Detroit has added casinos to compete with long-standing Casino Windsor, there are no tax implications on winnings in Canada.

Ontario’s Pro Line gambling lottery is available in virtually every convenience store, offering selections on all pro sporting events, including Sunday’s game. Bets cannot be placed exclusively on one game; there are a minimum of three and maximum of six bets on any ticket. So one ticket could include Sunday’s point spread and over/under, but would require a third bet on another sporting event as well. The maximum bet per ticket is $200 Canadian, about $175, but there is no limit to how many times one can return to a store or stores to place bets.

The NFL never has had a Super Bowl this close to a legalized gambling site before, but Mayor Eddie Francis said the issue never came up in negotiations with league officials.

“Our position on gambling does not change with proximity to Windsor,” said Milt Ahlerich, the NFL’s vice president of security. “It is absolutely at a great arm’s length from the National Football League. We don’t recognize sports betting on our event as having any role whatsoever on the conduct of this game. We basically learned the integrity of our game is as clean as possible – it is clean – and the proximity here doesn’t impact that at all.”