Recent data indicates that gaming revenue and visitor numbers in Las Vegas remained largely unchanged in September, while air travel to the city continued to experience a downturn. According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, gaming revenue from the Las Vegas Strip was reported at $693.4 million, marking a slight variance of 1% compared to the same month last year. The fiscal year-to-date market shows a growth of 1.7% over last year. Overall, statewide gaming revenue stood at approximately $1.28 billion, also reflecting minimal change year-over-year, leaving Nevada's performance at about 1.7% up from the previous year.
A closer look at the Strip reveals a baccarat win of $55.4 million, which, while lower than average, represents almost a 10% increase from the previous year. Over the last 12 months, baccarat has generated $1.5 billion, comparable to the total from all other table games within that timeframe.
Visitor figures showed no change in September, totaling just over 3 million, as per the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. This stagnation follows a six-month trend of fluctuations, which have alternated between slight increases and decreases, after a series of declines through every month of 2025.
Compounding these issues are concerning travel statistics. Total occupancy in the Las Vegas area remained stable at a slight decrease of 0.5%. However, performance in other key metrics was disappointing, with average daily room rates dropping 6% year-over-year, including a 10% decline specifically on the Strip. Revenue per available room decreased by 12% on the Strip and 7% in the broader market.
Air traffic at Harry Reid International Airport has also been struggling. September saw approximately 4 million passengers, reflecting an 8% decline compared to the same month last year. Following a 6% decrease in 2025, reports indicate that the pace thus far this year is trailing by 7%. A noted increase in international travel by 6% in September offers some hope amid these figures.
Rising fuel and airfare prices are impacting travel across the United States, particularly in leisure destinations. During MGM Resorts' third-quarter earnings call, CEO Bill Hornbuckle mentioned that domestic airfares increased by over 10% since March, with prices to Las Vegas soaring by more than 40% since last summer. Both MGM and its competitor, Caesars Entertainment, reported declines in Las Vegas revenue and EBITDA for the third quarter.
In other areas of Nevada, gaming performance varied significantly. Downtown Las Vegas saw a 7.5% drop to $82.5 million, while the locals market decreased by 3% to $154.2 million, and Laughlin dropped 16% to $33.7 million, the worst performance in the region. Conversely, North Las Vegas boasted a 9% increase, reaching $25 million, and the Boulder Strip showed no change with $83.2 million.
Further north, Reno's gross gaming revenue (GGR) fell by 3.5% to about $73 million, marking a rare dip for the city after maintaining strong performance since the start of last year. Unlike Las Vegas, Reno has been on a record-breaking stretch for both visitation and room revenue, achieving monthly hotel revenue records from January through June, with August hitting an all-time high.
In terms of sports betting, statewide GGR remained flat at $54 million, with mobile betting comprising a significant portion at $31 million. With the NFL and college football seasons underway, Nevada sportsbooks gained $35.5 million from football betting in September, a 7% increase over the previous year.
