Published on: May 18, 2026, 10:40h.

Updated on: May 18, 2026, 10:39h.

• As reported by Vital Vegas, MGM Resorts intends to shut down its last three buffets in Las Vegas by the second quarter of 2027.
• An insider disclosed that this information surfaced during a staff meeting led by an MGM regional executive.
• If this is accurate, only four buffets will remain on the Las Vegas Strip.

The final three buffets at MGM Resorts in Las Vegas are anticipated to close by Q2 2027, as stated by Vital Vegas. The buffets at Excalibur and Bellagio will close first, followed by the Wicked Spoon at The Cosmopolitan being the last one to go.

This announcement follows MGM Resorts’ previous statement that the MGM Grand Buffet will cease operations on May 31, 2026, leaving only seven buffets on the Strip. Excluding MGM’s establishments, the count shrinks to just four:

1. Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace
2. Circus Buffet at Circus Circus
3. Signature Seafood Buffet at Resorts World
4. Wynn Buffet

While Vital Vegas blogger Scott Roeben is affiliated with Casino.org, he is known for maintaining confidentiality regarding his sources and news scoops.

Nonetheless, Roeben has disclosed that his latest insights were shared by a reliable source during a meeting facilitated by Mike Neubecker, the president and COO of MGM Grand, Excalibur, New York-New York, Mandalay Bay, and Luxor.

“Like many businesses, we have ongoing town halls and private gatherings where executives occasionally disclose information that hasn’t been formally reviewed,” Roeben noted. “Attendees often share these insights with me. While plans may shift, they frequently offer a glimpse into upcoming projects and closures.”

If accurate, this could result in the loss of employment for approximately 350 to 470 staff members, and we convey this information with reluctance. However, Roeben asserts his source’s credibility.

MGM Resorts had not responded to an inquiry from Casino.org concerning this issue at the time of this article’s publication.

The Final Meal

The decline of buffets in Las Vegas stems from casinos consistently losing millions on them over the years—a trend that was intentional.

Up until the 1980s, gaming accounted for 75% of the typical Vegas casino’s revenue, while other sources contributed only 25%. During that time, around 35 Strip properties featured their own buffets.

Food and beverages often served as loss leaders—offering prices significantly below actual costs to bolster the primary revenue stream.

This approach incentivized guests to gamble on-site rather than venturing to nearby casinos for dining (and potentially gambling there afterward).

However, by 2000, this dynamic reversed. High-end dining and entertainment contributed 75% of casino revenue, with gambling now only bringing in 25%. The Mirage, established by Steve Wynn, helped catalyze this shift, which remains prevalent today.

Concurrently, buffet expenses—including food, labor, and logistics—skyrocketed. According to Vital Vegas, Caesars Entertainment suffered losses of $3 million annually on its buffets prior to the pandemic. The COVID-19 crisis simply provided operators with the opportunity to discontinue a financially draining tradition.

Transitioning from buffets to food halls or additional slot machines transforms a money-losing operation into a lucrative revenue generator.