Recent events have got me thinking about Las Vegas and shifting focus. I used to count on gambling to get perks, then my strategy shifted to a blend of gambling and spending, then paying close attention to points and tier credits using players’ clubs and credit cards. My point is that Las Vegas is changing; here’s a look at last year’s numbers and the trend for 2026.
According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s 2025 Gaming Abstract, hotel room revenue accounted for 33.5% of total Strip resort revenue, while gaming revenue accounted for 26.1%.
Of the roughly $21.1 billion the Strip produced, rooms generated about $7.1 billion.
Gaming generated about $5.5 billion.
Gaming remains enormously profitable. The story isn’t that gambling became unimportant. It’s that the rest of the resort became just as important.
But….. Doesn’t that feel backasswards? (yes that’s a word)