Gaming in Las Vegas still moving strong despite recession fears

Updated July 5, 2022
Updated July 5, 2022By Chris Boline
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According to a recent report from the Reno Gazette-Journal and the Associated Press, a trio of economic reports indicated that gaming is still bustling along at a record rate in Sin City. Per this article, last month was a banner one for Nevada tourism as gaming soared thanks to strong passenger traffic, including the third-busiest month ever at Harry Reid International Airport in Vegas. According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, casinos statewide won $1.3 billion last month, which accounted for the fourth highest total all-time. This also continued the state’s winning streak of casino winnings topping $1 billion in a month. While there has been widespread concern over a potential looming recession, Vegas’ gaming economy has seemingly missed the memo.

For this article, SBS will take a deeper dive into what these developments mean for Las Vegas, the Silver State and also some more gaming information related to Sin City. 

Las Vegas casinos benefit from large-scale events in the city

According to the report, Sin City casinos were able to cash in thanks to a number of large scale events recently held in Vegas. This includes major shows at the T-Mobile Arena, the Electric Daisy Carnival music and entertainment festival and also some other major concerts. This includes the likes of Pearl Jam and also the Eagles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Thanks to these large events, traffic at Harry Reid International Airport was able to reach levels not seen since before the coronavirus pandemic. 

According to a spokesman from the Las Vegas airport, there were nearly 4.6 million arriving and departing passengers in the latest report. This mark trailed only the monthly records set in October of 2019 and also May of that year as well. The number of international travelers received a big boost in the latest report. At nearly 800,000 international travelers, this was a huge jump from a year ago when the mark stood at 50,000 mostly due to pandemic related travel suspensions. A spokesman from the Nevada Gaming Control Board also said that the jump in casino baccarat play and winnings was primarily due to the large return of international travelers. 

Travel and convention attendance saw increases across state

Per the article, Las Vegas was not the only area that saw increases in international travel. Reno-Tahoe International Airport reported more than 352,000 arriving and departing passengers in the latest data which was up 16.5% from May of last year. The international passenger count was also up at RTO at nearly 6.4%. Also thanks to a bolstered tourism number across Nevada, the state was able to collect almost $92 million in taxes. As many are aware, this is significant since casino taxes make up about 17% of state revenues. 

Tourist numbers remained steady in Southern Nevada with about 3.4 million total visitors in the latest report. This showed a 20% increase from May of 2021. Convention attendance was also up dramatically from last year as well, but is still down about 25% from April of 2019. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority remarked that 2021 was “a year of recovery for Southern Nevada’s tourism industry following a year of staggering impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic.” Indeed with these growth trends in place, many are excited to see Vegas and Nevada’s gaming economy roaring back. 

Some more notes and observations about Las Vegas gaming

If you still desire more gaming information related to Las Vegas, then our Vegas sportsbook guide is just what you need to stay on top of the action. On this fantastic page you can find the latest and greatest bonuses and promotions for Las Vegas gaming sites and also a plethora of ways to make deposits with quick payouts as well. On the topic of bonuses, SBS has done a lot of the hard work for you by putting together our welcome bonuses overview page which goes over the best ways to get the biggest return on your bets. Finally, if you are perhaps still unsure about the best deposit method for you then our payment options breakdown will give you a ton of different ways to place your wagers. 

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About the Author

Chris Boline
Chris Boline

As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education

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