Key Moments:
- Las Vegas visitor numbers dropped by nearly 12 percent in July 2025 compared to the previous year
- Golden Gate Hotel & Casino has replaced live dealers with electronic table games to attract younger customers
- Major casinos in Nevada recorded a 24 percent decrease in net income for the 2024 fiscal year, despite slight gaming revenue growth
Changing Landscape on the Casino Floor
Las Vegas casinos are revamping their gaming experiences by transitioning to electronic table games (ETGs), a move aimed at offsetting a downturn in tourism and drawing in a younger generation of gamblers. As in-person visits wane, venues seek fresh ways to remain relevant and profitable in an evolving market.
Tourism Slowdown and Shifting Preferences
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) reported that 3.09 million people visited the city in July 2025. This represents a drop of almost 12 percent from the 3.5 million seen in July of the previous year. Hotel occupancy on the Strip also declined, falling from 86.5 percent to 79.5 percent. While part of this decrease can be linked to summer trends, factors such as higher tariffs, economic uncertainty, and the increasing popularity of online gaming are adding to the challenges faced by land-based casinos.
Adapting with Technology and Redefining Experiences
In a bid to reverse declining foot traffic and make casino floors more appealing, several renowned Las Vegas operators are embracing ETGs. The Golden Gate Hotel & Casino has eliminated live dealers in favor of electronic alternatives as part of this transformation. Owner and chief executive Derek Stevens told local media that the industry is experiencing ongoing changes, with shifting consumer habits since the COVID-19 pandemic leading many to be comfortable gambling on mobile devices.
Stevens noted that ETGs and high-limit slot machines have become instrumental in boosting attendance at the group’s Circa Resort & Casino, and foresees table games increasingly adopting group-based social elements reminiscent of modern slot gameplay.
The last hand of blackjack ever dealt by a live human dealer at the Golden Gate — Las Vegas' oldest casino at 119 years — was dealt earlier tonight. All live table games are being replaced by electronic versions. pic.twitter.com/0IvrJiHwwC
— Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) September 8, 2025
Impact on Staff and Customer Demographics
As part of the Golden Gate overhaul, live dealers have been relocated to other group properties. Stevens said the updates form part of broader efforts to restore the value of Las Vegas’s table games while simultaneously cultivating a younger clientele. He observed that previously dominant games such as sic bo are being replaced by digital options that inspire excitement and collective participation among players.
“What were once considered solitary slot machines now generate group excitement, as players cheer together — a cultural shift the casino wants to tap into,” Stevens said.
Financial Strains Drive the Shift
Financial pressures are accelerating the move toward ETGs throughout the city. Data from CDC Gaming shows that Nevada’s 307 leading casinos generated $31.5 billion in revenue during the 2024 fiscal year, but their aggregate net income dropped roughly 24 percent to $2.6 billion. Properties on the Strip were particularly affected, with net income down about 40 percent to $820.2 million, even as overall gaming revenues rose slightly to $11.3 billion. At the same time, gaming is making up a smaller share of total revenue as visitors increase their spending on food, entertainment, and shopping.
| Fiscal Year | Total Revenue (Nevada Casinos) | Combined Net Income | Strip Net Income | Strip Gaming Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $31.5 billion | $2.6 billion | $820.2 million | $11.3 billion |
Alongside falling casino revenues, hotel performance is also suffering. MGM Resorts reported a 4 percent year-over-year drop in Las Vegas Strip room revenue in the second quarter of 2025, with average daily rates and revenue per available room also declining. Stevens commented that the city’s future depends on wider economic recovery, especially the prospect of lower interest rates to boost disposable income and support a rebound in tourism.
- Author
Daniel Williams
