September's gaming revenue and visitor numbers in Las Vegas remained mostly stable, while air travel to the city continued to decline. According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, gaming revenue from the Strip reached $693.4 million, a figure just 1% lower than the same month last year. With this performance, the Strip's revenue is now tracking 1.7% above last year's average for the fiscal year thus far. Across Nevada, statewide gaming revenue held steady at $1.28 billion, also reflecting a year-over-year increase of approximately 1.7%.
Interestingly, the Strip saw a baccarat win of $55.4 million. Although this is below average, it represents nearly a 10% increase compared to last year. Over the last year, baccarat generated $1.5 billion on the Strip, nearly equaling the total earnings from all other table games combined during that timeframe.
Visitor numbers to Las Vegas in September hovered at just over 3 million, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The month marked a continuation of fluctuating visitation statistics over the past six months, following a trend of negative growth throughout 2025.
On the lodging front, total occupancy in the Las Vegas area experienced a slight decline of 0.5% in September. More concerning were the drops in average daily room rates, which fell 6% year-over-year, with a sharper 10% decrease recorded on the Strip. Additionally, revenue per available room decreased by 12% on the Strip and 7% in the overall market.
Air traffic at Harry Reid International Airport also declined notably, with 4 million passengers counted in September, marking an 8% drop from last year. Following a 6% decline in passenger traffic during 2025, the airport is poised for a more significant downturn this year, with a year-to-date decline of 7%. However, international travel did see a 6% increase in September.
Rising fuel and airfare costs are placing pressure on travel across the U.S., particularly for leisure destinations. MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle noted in a recent earnings call that domestic airfares have surged more than 10% since March, with rates to Las Vegas soaring over 40% since last summer. Notably, both MGM and its competitor Caesars Entertainment reported declines in Las Vegas revenue and EBITDA in the third quarter.
In other areas of Nevada, gaming performance varied significantly. Downtown Las Vegas reported a 7.5% year-over-year decline in revenue at $82.5 million, while the locals market saw a 3% drop to $154.2 million. Laughlin experienced the steepest fall at 16%, with revenues at $33.7 million. In contrast, North Las Vegas had a strong month, increasing 9% to $25 million, and the Boulder Strip remained steady at $83.2 million.
Reno's gaming revenue fell by 3.5% to around $73 million, a surprisingly down month following a series of impressive performances since early last year. Despite this, Reno has been holding an extraordinary run regarding visitation and room revenue, having set monthly records for hotel revenue every month from January through June, and August yielded the highest monthly total on record.
Sports betting in Nevada saw total gross gaming revenue remain flat at $54 million, with mobile betting accounting for $31 million. As NFL and college football seasons progressed, Nevada sportsbooks garnered $35.5 million in football bets during September, representing a 7% increase over last year.
