Key Moments:
- The Venetian has confirmed fewer than 50 employees were laid off last week.
- Las Vegas visitation dropped by 12% in July compared to July 2024, marking a sixth straight month of year-over-year declines.
- Multiple major casinos, including Resorts World, Fontainebleau, and Treasure Island, have executed staff cuts during the ongoing downturn.
Workforce Reductions at The Venetian
The Venetian Resort Las Vegas has moved to reduce its staff, confirming last week that fewer than 50 of its 8,500 employees were let go. The company characterized the move as a step to “streamline our organizational structure” by decreasing layers of leadership, citing goals of improved agility and decision-making. The reduction was described as being carried out with significant forethought and attention to the company’s values.
Notably, the scale of layoffs appears tied to compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which mandates 60 days’ notice for layoffs involving 50 or more employees at one site within a 30-day period. The Venetian’s latest action marks the property’s second staff cut since July, according to Casino.org’s Vital Vegas.
Quiet layoffs continue at Venetian. Started in July, another cut last week (always fewer than 50 to avoid WARN Act requirements). Business reportedly down 10-15%, also bracing for higher labor costs associated with new union contracts.
— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) September 1, 2025
Industry-Wide Challenges
Las Vegas casinos continue to take visible actions in response to the ongoing tourism downturn, despite rhetoric that may suggest otherwise. In July, Las Vegas experienced a 12% decrease in visitation compared to July 2024, making it the sixth consecutive month with declining year-over-year figures. According to reported statistics, early July 2025 hotel occupancy came in at 66.7%, representing a drop of nearly 17% from the previous year.
TIME Magazine’s August cover story captured industry sentiment, with both workers and union leaders indicating current conditions surpass even the difficulties of the pandemic era—citing economic uncertainty, higher costs, and international tensions as contributing factors.
Broader Impact Across Major Properties
Staff reductions are not isolated to The Venetian. On March 26, Resorts World carried out a similar cut involving fewer than 50 employees. The Fontainebleau dismissed up to 60 table game dealers on May 27. Additionally, Treasure Island implemented its second round of layoffs during the week of August 23, according to Las Vegas Locally.
| Casino Property | Reported Layoffs | Date or Period |
|---|---|---|
| The Venetian | Fewer than 50 | Last week |
| Resorts World | Fewer than 50 | March 26 |
| Fontainebleau | Up to 60 | May 27 |
| Treasure Island | Second round this summer | Week of August 23 |
Sustained Uncertainty Drives Decisions
The measures undertaken by top Las Vegas gaming properties raise questions about expectations for recovery. Despite outward suggestions that the downturn could be short-lived, the recurring layoffs—and not furloughs—across multiple resorts suggest a cautious approach to ongoing operational risks.
- Author
Daniel Williams
