Published on: February 27, 2026, 02:31h.
Updated on: February 27, 2026, 02:38h.
- Las Vegas Strip revenue declined significantly in January 2026
- Tourism statistics show a continued decrease in visitors to Las Vegas
- Casino leaders assert that concerns about the destination are exaggerated
Las Vegas kicked off 2026 mirroring the slower pace it experienced in 2025.
Despite recording a minor 0.03% increase in gross gaming revenue (GGR) year-over-year last year, visitation dipped by 7.5%. This drop translated to 3.12 million fewer tourists.
These ongoing visitor declines are likely starting to impact the casinos on the Strip, as January 2026 opened with significant losses.
On Friday, the Nevada Gaming Control Board disclosed that the state’s 315 licensed gaming establishments generated GGR of $1.345 billion, reflecting a 6.6% decrease from January 2025.
Revenues from table games and sports were notably low, with earnings from these areas, including sports betting and bingo, falling almost 19% to $425.4 million. Slot machine revenues remained constant at $919.8 million, marking a slight 0.5% rise.
Lower Gaming, Occupancy, and Visitor Numbers
In Clark County, which houses Las Vegas, the situation was even more dire, as GGR dropped 8% to $1.159 billion. The GGR for Downtown Las Vegas reached $79.4 million, down 5% from last year.
On the Las Vegas Strip, casino earnings fell by 11% to $747.65 million. This equated to a year-over-year monthly revenue difference of over $92.4 million. Visitor numbers in Las Vegas dropped by 2.2%, and hotel occupancy on the Strip decreased by 2.4% to 79.5%. However, despite the reduced visitor count, the average nightly rate for rooms on the Las Vegas Strip rose by 7% to $216.
Harry Reid International Airport saw traffic decline by 8%, totaling just over four million arriving and departing passengers. International arrivals fell 19%, while domestic flights recorded a 7% decrease.
The Las Vegas Blame Game
Casino executives continue to attribute the media for stoking fears about the state of the tourism sector. Officials from MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment suggest these reports are exaggerated, regardless of the data.
“I keep seeing headlines like ‘Las Vegas is dead.’ Enough already,” said Bill Hornbuckle, CEO of MGM, during a conversation with the Vegas Chamber.
“There’s no crisis unfolding in Vegas,” stated Tom Reeg, CEO of Caesars, in this month’s earnings call. “What we are experiencing is a normal cyclical pattern, and it will eventually stabilize. I know social media often highlights pricing concerns, and I am sure if I say something off-kilter, I’ll find it trending tomorrow.”
Some members of Nevada’s Democratic delegation are pointing fingers at Trump for the challenges facing Las Vegas.
“2025 marked the era of the ‘Trump slump,’” noted US Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV). “The President is diminishing our tourism sector by discouraging international travelers and increasing costs here at home.”
“Every tourist who opts not to visit the United States means lost wages and tips for our workers, along with diminished revenue for local businesses and communities. Donald Trump’s erratic and negative agenda is to blame for this. He needs to take action. Instead, he’s focused more on building a ballroom for himself,” added US Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV).