Convention Boom Lifts Las Vegas Strip Casino Revenue to $807.8M in May

Posted on: June 29, 2026, 03:23h. 

Last updated on: June 29, 2026, 03:23h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.
  • Las Vegas Strip casinos won $807.8 million in May, a 13.1% year-over-year increase, helping lift Nevada’s statewide gaming revenue to $1.38 billion
  • Strong convention attendance, major events, and higher hotel occupancy fueled a 2% increase in Las Vegas visitation, offsetting earlier concerns about weaker airport traffic
  • The Strip’s growth was led by baccarat (+59%) and blackjack (+12%), with casino revenue now up 4.1% year to date despite relatively flat overall visitor volume

May was a winner for Nevada casinos and especially those located on the Las Vegas Strip, as monthly gross gaming revenue (GGR) on the famous resort corridor jumped more than 13%.

Las Vegas Strip casino revenue Nevada
A stock photograph shows the Fountains of Bellagio on the Las Vegas Strip. Casino revenue on the Strip jumped more than 13% in May 2026 to $807.8 million. (Image: Getty)

On Monday, the Nevada Gaming Control Board disclosed that gamblers lost $1.38 billion last month, up 7.4% from the prior year. The statewide number was propped up by the Las Vegas Strip, where players gave $807.8 million to the house, or 13.1% more than they did in May 2025.

Baccarat propelled the Strip, with the banker vs. player table game winning $174.3 million, a 59% surge. Blackjack also fared well, with GGR of $100.5 million representing a 12% gain.

Slots held their own, with terminal revenue up almost 8% to $410.7 million.

Convention Attendance Boosts Visitation

Casinos on the Las Vegas Strip benefited from robust convention traffic, an influx of BTS fans for four sold-out shows at Allegiant Stadium, and the Vegas Golden Knights playing in the NHL Stanley Cup Conference Finals at T-Mobile Arena.

Las Vegas welcomed 3.48 million visitors in May, a 2% year-over-year premium. The gain came from convention business, with attendance climbing almost 15% to approximately 586,300 attendees. Las Vegas hosted several major conventions, including Knowledge (~25K attendees), ICSC Las Vegas (~25K), and the Licensing International Expo (~25K).

Heightened demand allowed Las Vegas hotels to increase their nightly rates, with the average room going for $211. Hotel occupancy was 84.7%, up 1.7 points from May 2025.

The visitor volume numbers supplied by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) came as a bit of a surprise after passenger traffic at Harry Reid International Airport, reported last Friday, hinted at ongoing tourism struggles. Airport passenger traffic at LAS was down more than 8%, with the loss of Spirit Airlines primarily to blame.

Despite high gas prices, the LVCVA said daily traffic along I-15 at the Nevada-California border was up over 7%, with about 48,600 daily vehicle crossings.

Is Las Vegas Back?

After a difficult 2025, where Las Vegas visitor volume fell 7.5%, the tide has possibly shifted to a more favorable 2026 outlook.

Through May, more than 16.5 million people have visited Las Vegas, a marginal 0.3% gain. But momentum appears to be on the destination’s side.

Despite flat overall visitor volume, Las Vegas Strip casinos have managed to grow GGR by 4.1%, with gaming win upwards of $3.7 billion. After a slow start in which casino revenue fell 11%, February through May have all been year-over-year winners.