David Evans has over ten years of experience reporting on the betting industry, with a particular focus on online casinos, regulation, and market performance. His work has featured across several established betting publications, where he's...
Read Full BioHarry Reid International Airport (LAS) reported a 7.5% drop in passenger volume in February 2025, marking the largest monthly decline since the pandemic. This decline may have ripple effects on Las Vegas casinos, particularly as international traffic—key to high-stakes gaming—fell by 2.6%.
Las Vegas Travelers Down 7.5% in February 2025 vs. 2024
The downturn, as reported by Harry Reid International Airport, coincides with rising global tensions and economic policies under Trump’s second term, which may be contributing to fewer Las Vegas visitors. Here’s a breakdown of the numbers:
| Metric | February 2025 | February 2024 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger Volume | 4,012,454 | 4,336,169 | -7.5% |
| Domestic Passengers | 3,679,787 | 3,984,520 | -7.7% |
| International Passengers | 270,651 | 277,727 | -2.6% |
| YTD Total Passengers | 8,378,199 | 8,685,451 | -3.5% |
Key Insights:
- International Decline: International passengers, who often drive high-end casino revenue, fell by nearly 3%. Air Canada, a major carrier, saw an 8% drop in volume.
- Weaker Visitor Spending: A stronger dollar and continued trade disputes make it more expensive for foreign tourists to visit and gamble in Las Vegas.
- Domestic Dip: Even domestic passenger volume fell by 7.7%, suggesting a broader economic slowdown impacting leisure travel.
How Casino Revenue Could Suffer from Trump’s Economic Policies
The 7.5% decline in passenger volume at Harry Reid International Airport in February 2025, the largest monthly drop since the pandemic, may have a noticeable impact on Las Vegas casinos. Domestic passenger traffic, which fell by 7.7%, indicates that fewer U.S. visitors are traveling to Las Vegas, which could affect hotel occupancy and casino floor activity.
International traffic, which often contributes significantly to high-stakes play, dropped by 2.6%. With international visitors, particularly from Canada, where Air Canada reported an 8% drop in volume, spending tends to be higher on gaming like slot machines, luxury dining, and entertainment.
Year-to-date traffic for 2025 is already 3.5% behind 2024’s record 58.4 million passengers. If this trend continues, Las Vegas casinos may see reduced revenue not only from gambling but also from non-gaming sectors such as high-end retail and dining, which are often driven by international travelers.
Trump Policies Hurting Las Vegas Casinos?
The man who bankrupted four casinos is at it again. Donald Trump’s economic policies, marked by trade wars and unpredictable global diplomacy, are making it harder for international and domestic tourists to justify a trip to Las Vegas.
With fewer visitors traveling to Las Vegas, especially from high-value international markets, the city’s reliance on affluent tourists may expose casinos to lower revenues in the coming months. As Trump’s economic tensions continue to impact global travel, Las Vegas casinos may face a prolonged slowdown that affects all aspects of their business.
While casinos can pivot to attract more domestic visitors, the shortfall from high-value international tourists may take longer to offset. The coming months will be critical in determining whether these trends stabilize or signal a more prolonged decline in visitor-driven revenue.
