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- Las Vegas Strip casinos generated $684.1 million in gross gaming revenue in August 2026, relying on a massive 34% surge in baccarat to offset steep declines across other major segments like blackjack, roulette, and sports betting.
- The modest year-over-year revenue growth comes as broader regional tourism metrics face ongoing pressure, prompting MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle to defend the destination’s pricing strategy at the Global Gaming Expo by emphasizing that Las Vegas remains a strong value compared to major markets like New York and Los Angeles.
Las Vegas Strip casinos generated $684.1 million in gross gaming revenue in August 2026, up just 0.7% from a year earlier, as a sharp baccarat increase helped offset declines across several other major gaming segments.
The latest monthly figures, released Sept. 30 by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, show a market still growing modestly on paper while broader tourism demand in Las Vegas remains under pressure. Visitor volume, airport traffic, hotel occupancy, and average room rates all fell year over year in August—a contrast to the multi-channel stability that major operators look to capture by pairing traditional resort properties with expanding digital offerings, including sports betting and regulated online casino platforms.
Baccarat strength carried the Strip in August
The biggest bright spot on the Strip was baccarat, where gross gaming revenue rose 34% to $155 million. The game’s hold rate also climbed to 18.5%, up from 10.5% in August 2025.
That gain helped balance out weaker results elsewhere. On the Strip, blackjack revenue fell 20%, roulette dropped 39.5%, sports betting declined 32%, and penny slots were down 22.5% year over year.
Outside the Strip, Downtown Las Vegas posted $61.5 million in gaming revenue, down 3% from the same month last year.
Statewide, 314 licensed facilities reported a combined $1.26 billion in gaming revenue for August, up 3.1% year over year. Over the past 12 months, Strip gross gaming revenue totaled nearly $9 billion, a 1.5% increase.
Visitor traffic and hotel metrics remained weak
Las Vegas welcomed just over 3.03 million visitors in August, down 4.3% from a year earlier, according to the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. In its executive summary, the agency said a lighter event calendar and the absence of Labor Day weekend from the August comparison contributed to the decline.
Air traffic also softened. Harry Reid International Airport recorded 4.15 million arriving and departing passengers in August, down 9% year over year.
Hotel performance weakened as well. Occupancy fell 3.4% to 74.1%, while the average daily room rate dropped 7.4% to $150.32. Las Vegas had 150,777 available rooms during the month.
One relative positive was convention business. Attendance rose 6% to about 622,700 in August.
Officials continue pushing Las Vegas value messaging
The LVCVA recently ran a “Vegas 5-Day Sale” offering discounts on rooms, shows, and other travel products as the market worked to stimulate demand.
At the Global Gaming Expo, MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle said Las Vegas remains competitively priced despite softer tourism trends.
“We’ve all seen these cycles; I think it will return,” Hornbuckle said. “There is real value in Las Vegas.”
Hornbuckle added that hotel rates were still “40% lower than New York” and “7% lower than Los Angeles.”
The next data point for the market will be Nevada’s September gaming revenue report, which will show whether baccarat-fueled stability on the Strip can hold as tourism metrics remain uneven.
Source: As reported by casino.org.
