Las Vegas visitors drop 7.5% as poker rooms on Strip close amid revenue slump

The decline in Las Vegas tourism is well documented, with total visitor numbers dropping by 7.5%. At the same time, the closure of poker rooms on the Vegas Strip raises questions about the appeal of in-person gambling.

Rick Harrison of “Pawn Stars” fame, who owns the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, personally told Fox News Digital in an interview that gambling is not dead.

“We know what the oldest profession is, gambling is probably the second,” Harrison joked. “People gamble all the time, and also, you know, Vegas, it’s not just gambling.”

LAS VEGAS POKER ROOMS DOUBLE AS CASINO TOURISM FALLS TO RECORD LOWS

Las Vegas hosts certain conventions unlike anywhere else in the world, and people come to Sin City for more than just gambling, Harrison said.

“Keep changing it up, see what sticks on the wall, and give your customers what they want, and they’ll keep coming back,” he said.

The last poker room closed at Resorts World on March 30, a casino representative told Fox News Digital.

The closing will leave only eight poker rooms open on the Las Vegas Strip, according to the “Vital Vegas” blog.

“However, we will offer new gaming opportunities in place of the poker room,” the representative said.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

The representative did not elaborate on what new gaming offerings would replace the room. Currently there are No Limit Texas Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha and mixed games.

“You just don’t have the old style [where you] There are blackjack tables, [it’s] darkness and everything like that,” Harrison said.

Watching Fontainebleau Resort & Casino, which has a 150,000-square-foot casino and 3,600 rooms (George Rose/Getty Images)

He stated that Circa Resort & Casino changed this with the post “You go to Circa”. [and] There are go-go dancers dancing behind the blackjack tables. It makes the job more fun.”

Las Vegas Strip gaming revenue dropped 11% year-over-year, from $840,093,428 in January 2025 to $747,655,527 in January 2026, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB).

CLICK FOR MORE LIFE STORIES

According to the NGCB, Nevada’s unrestricted gaming licensees reported total gaming earnings of approximately $1.35 billion in January of this year; This was a 6.55% decrease compared to the same month last year.

According to Grand View Research, the online gambling market is expected to reach an estimated $22.2 million in revenue by 2030.

Nevada’s unrestricted gaming license holders reported total gaming earnings of approximately $1.35 billion in January of this year; There was a 6.55% decrease compared to the same month last year. (iStock, Fox News Digital)

Harrison says there has always been a change in Vegas.

“The rooms were not expensive. You had a great time. [It] It wasn’t crazy money. The meals were not expensive; “They made most of their money gambling,” Harrison said. “Young people today don’t gamble that much, so you have to change your business model, how you make money,” Harrison said.

“Ultimately you have to think about the customer experience.”

According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCA), there were approximately 38.5 million visitors in 2025; This figure is a 7.5% decrease from 2024.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

Robby Starbuck, a conservative activist and host of “The Robby Starbuck Show,” previously told Fox News Digital that in-person gambling is becoming less popular.

“It seems almost everyone under 40 who bets now does so online,” Starbuck said.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“I don’t know anyone under the age of 40 who goes to Vegas regularly to bet or play slots,” he added.

“This trend will continue in younger people because, to be honest, our minds are wired differently.”