Las Vegas Tourism Slump Continued in September

New tourism and gaming win numbers released Wednesday confirms the widely held suspicion that Las Vegas’ tourism downturn is more than a case of the summertime blues. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), 8.8% fewer people visited in September than in the same month last year. Gaming revenue and hotel prices also fell.

While Vegas still drew more than 3 million people during the month, that’s nearly 300K fewer than in September 2024.

The LVCVA’s executive summary noted that “slower midweek volumes” made up the majority of the drop. Convention attendance was also down 18.7%, owing at least in part to the absence of MINExpo, whose triennial schedule won’t bring it back until 2028, Oracle shifting its CloudWorld to October.

The LVCVA launched its “Fabulous 5-Day Sale” on September 22 to stimulate bookings. However, any positive impact provided by that is not expected to show itself until October’s tourism report.

This was the ninth consecutive month that Las Vegas tourism has declined. Compared to the same months in 2024, the number of visitors was down 1.1% in January, 11.9% in February, 7.8% in March, 5.1% in April, 7% in May, 11% in June, 12% in July, 7% in August, and 8.8% in September.

Off Its Gaming

After four consecutive months of growth, gaming revenue was also down, 5.5% from last September, to $687.81 million, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Baccarat, which helped drive near-record gaming wins at the beginning of the year, was down 42.9% and sports betting wins on the Strip fell 39.8%.

Also off from September last year was hotel occupancy, 5.2% to 78.7%, and the average daily hotel room rate, which fell 2.9% to $190.56. strip occupancy dropped to 81.3%, down 5.7% from last September.

The LVCVA pinned the decline in room metrics to “slower midweek volumes,” which have consistently dragged down occupancy rates throughout 2025.

Despite upbeat messaging from casino executives eager to reassure shareholders, the numbers paint a more sobering picture. Caesars Entertainment, for example, reported a 9% year-over-year decline in Las Vegas Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) through the first three quarters of 2025, and nearly 90,000 fewer hotel room nights in Q3 alone.

For locals, workers and investors who rely on Las Vegas to deliver consistent returns, the continued bad news is a warning sign — no longer a blip that can be ignored.