Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats. He joined CasinoBeats in May 2025 and reports on industry-shaping stories across the US and beyond, including legislative debates, market...
Read Full BioLas Vegas casinos saw gaming revenue climb in August even as tourism continued to slump, with baccarat and mobile betting powering the Strip’s results.
Gaming Revenue Climbs Statewide & on the Strip
The Nevada Gaming Control Board reported $1.23 billion in statewide casino win for August, a 5.4% increase from the prior year.
On the Las Vegas Strip, revenue reached $679.3 million, up 8.3% year-over-year, marking one of the strongest summer performances since before the pandemic.
Other submarkets also showed strength:
• Downtown Las Vegas: +8.3% YoY
• Laughlin: +10.8%
• Boulder Strip & Mesquite: up 9%+
Baccarat Powers the Gains
The Strip’s strong performance was partly due to baccarat revenue, which rose 51% compared to August 2024.
However, the increase did not come from more players playing, but rather a much stronger hold rate (he percentage of bets the casino retains). For August, that rate was 18.5%, compared to 10.5% last year. At the same time, wagering volume dropped by about 14%.
August was not the only strong month for baccarat in Las Vegas. For the summer months (June to August), the game’s revenue is up 29% compared to the same period last year.
Sports Betting & Other Segments
Sports betting was another strong performer in August, with mobile wagering helping drive a 15% increase in Strip sports revenue.
Meanwhile, slots were essentially flat year-over-year.
Tourism Numbers Continue to Fall
The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) reported about 3.2 million visitors in August, a 6.7% decline from the prior year. The drop marked the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year decreases in visitation.
Hotel occupancy slipped to 77.5%, down nearly four percentage points, while the average daily room rate fell 7.4% to $162.38. Convention attendance also declined, falling 8% year-over-year.
Airport traffic reinforced the trend, with Harry Reid International Airport serving about 4.5 million passengers, an 8.5% decrease compared to August 2024. Some analysts cited high travel costs, reduced international visitors, and consumer spending pressures as key factors behind the slump.
Not all properties have struggled with the summer slowdown, though. Operators such as Red Rock Resorts and Circa have performed well by targeting local audiences and niche markets.
Concerns Over Pricing & Industry Response
The tourism downturn has fueled criticism from local figures and prompted efforts to reframe Las Vegas as a value destination. Pawn Stars’ Rick Harrison called Vegas prices “insane,” pointing to resort fees, parking charges, and add-ons as deterrents.
In an effort to attract visitors, the LVCVA introduced the “Fabulous 5-Day Sale” in September. The sale, Las Vegas’s first citywide promotional campaign, offered discounts on hotels, restaurants, and entertainment. The effort was widely seen as an attempt to counter negative perceptions about affordability.
