Las Vegas Travelers Down 7.5% in February 2025 vs. 2024

The downturn, as reported by Harry Reid International Airport, coincides with rising global tensions and economic policies under Trump’s second term, which may be contributing to fewer Las Vegas visitors. Here’s a breakdown of the numbers:

Key Insights:

• International Decline: International passengers, who often drive high-end casino revenue, fell by nearly 3%. Air Canada, a major carrier, saw an 8% drop in volume.
• Weaker Visitor Spending: A stronger dollar and continued trade disputes make it more expensive for foreign tourists to visit and gamble in Las Vegas.
• Domestic Dip: Even domestic passenger volume fell by 7.7%, suggesting a broader economic slowdown impacting leisure travel.

How Casino Revenue Could Suffer from Trump’s Economic Policies

The 7.5% decline in passenger volume at Harry Reid International Airport in February 2025, the largest monthly drop since the pandemic, may have a noticeable impact on Las Vegas casinos. Domestic passenger traffic, which fell by 7.7%, indicates that fewer U.S. visitors are traveling to Las Vegas, which could affect hotel occupancy and casino floor activity.

International traffic, which often contributes significantly to high-stakes play, dropped by 2.6%. With international visitors, particularly from Canada, where Air Canada reported an 8% drop in volume, spending tends to be higher on gaming like slot machines, luxury dining, and entertainment.

Year-to-date traffic for 2025 is already 3.5% behind 2024’s record 58.4 million passengers. If this trend continues, Las Vegas casinos may see reduced revenue not only from gambling but also from non-gaming sectors such as high-end retail and dining, which are often driven by international travelers.

Trump Policies Hurting Las Vegas Casinos?

The man who bankrupted four casinos is at it again. Donald Trump’s economic policies, marked by trade wars and unpredictable global diplomacy, are making it harder for international and domestic tourists to justify a trip to Las Vegas.

With fewer visitors traveling to Las Vegas, especially from high-value international markets, the city’s reliance on affluent tourists may expose casinos to lower revenues in the coming months. As Trump’s economic tensions continue to impact global travel, Las Vegas casinos may face a prolonged slowdown that affects all aspects of their business.

While casinos can pivot to attract more domestic visitors, the shortfall from high-value international tourists may take longer to offset. The coming months will be critical in determining whether these trends stabilize or signal a more prolonged decline in visitor-driven revenue.

The post Trump’s Trade Wars Could Cost Las Vegas Casinos Big Money as Air Passenger Traffic Sees Steep Decline appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Palms Casino Las Vegas Lawsuit Involves Alleged Elevator Malfunction

Rebecca Keith Wood filed the complaint in February 2024. She says the incident happened in June 2023 while she was staying at Palms Place, a condo-hotel tower connected to the resort, which includes restaurants, nightlife, and a full casino. According to the lawsuit, she was inside an elevator when it dropped rapidly to the ground level.

Wood claims the elevator “violently slammed” to a stop, leaving her with injuries to her limbs, organs, and nervous system. Some of the damage, she says, may be permanent.

Otis Elevator Dismissed from Lawsuit, Focus Shifts to Palms Place

Originally, the lawsuit named Otis Elevator Company as a defendant. Court records now show Otis has been dismissed from the case. That leaves Palms Place LLC and Station Casinos as the remaining defendants.

The suit accuses them of negligence, saying they failed to maintain or inspect the elevator properly and didn’t warn guests of any risk. It also claims they had a duty to keep elevators in safe working order and did not.

How Much Is the Plaintiff Suing Palms Casino For?

The lawsuit lists damages “in excess of $15,000,” which is the minimum required to file in Nevada District Court. Based on the injuries described—plus claims of long-term disability and pain—it’s likely she’s seeking a much higher amount, possibly in the hundreds of thousands to low millions, which is common in these types of cases.

Wood is asking for compensation covering medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and legal costs.

Palms Elevator Drop Incident Still Unconfirmed

There are no public incident reports confirming the elevator fall. No statements have been made by the Palms, Station Casinos, or Otis. No witnesses or surveillance footage have been disclosed.

The case is ongoing. More details could come out if it proceeds, but for now, it remains one of the stranger personal injury lawsuits tied to a Las Vegas resort in recent years.

The post Palms Hotel Sued After Elevator Allegedly Falls 22 Floors Causing Serious Injuries to Guest appeared first on CasinoBeats.

This isn’t just noise. The shift is consistent, and it’s accelerating. The latest projections show land-based gambling will drop to 60% in 2025 and keep sliding. By 2029, it’s expected to fall to just 55% of total GGR. That’s a 10-point decline over six years.

Online Gambling Market Share Keeps Rising in Europe

Online gambling accounted for 39% of all GGR in 2024, up from 37% in 2023. It’s on track to hit 40% in 2025 and shows no signs of slowing. The growth is largely driven by mobile, which made up 58% of online GGR last year.

As user habits shift, physical venues, and even computers continue to lose ground. According to the report by the European Gaming & Betting Association, mobile devices will account for 67% of online gambling revenue in 2029 as users look for easier access to casino apps.

Consumers are clearly choosing convenience, anonymity, and always-on access. That leaves traditional casinos and betting shops with a shrinking pool of loyal users and rising operational costs they can’t shed.

Future of Land-Based Casinos Looks Flat

Even with modest revenue gains, land-based operators are falling behind in relevance. The fixed-cost model doesn’t scale, and digital-native competitors move faster and spend smarter. Some brick-and-mortar brands are trying to pivot into hybrid models, but not everyone has the resources to build or buy a competitive online product.

The structural shift is already happening. The question now isn’t when the drop happens—it’s how far it goes, and who’s still left when it does.

The post Traditional Casinos Losing Market Share as Online Gambling Surges in Europe, EGBA Report Says appeared first on CasinoBeats.

10 Offshore Casinos Ordered to Leave Michigan

Each of the following platforms received a cease-and-desist letter:

• Aladdin’s Gold Casino
• All Star Slots
• Buzz Luck
• Club World Casinos
• CryptoReels
• High Noon
• Lucky Red Casino
• Manhattan Slots Casino
• ReelSpin Casino
• Slotter Casino

These sites offered typical casino-style games and accepted payments through Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, and cryptocurrency. Players also faced strict withdrawal terms, that are not in-line with the terms on many of the top online casinos. The ten illegal platforms required users to wager their deposits multiple times before being eligible to cash out.

What Laws Were Violated

The board cited breaches of the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act, and sections of the state penal code. None of the sites held a license to operate in Michigan, making all their activity in the state illegal. The official press release outlines the violations in detail.

Regulators Respond to Illegal Gambling

“The proliferation of online gaming platforms has led to increased scrutiny,” said MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams. He urged players to stick with licensed operators, adding that the board is committed to taking enforcement action when laws are broken.

“The Michigan Gaming Control Board remains steadfast in its commitment to uphold Michigan’s laws and regulations and will continue to monitor and take action against those who violate them.” — Henry Williams

What Comes Next

Operators have 14 days from receiving the letter to stop offering access to Michigan residents. If they ignore the order, the MGCB plans to escalate enforcement with help from the Attorney General’s office.

This is the second round of enforcement this month. Earlier in March, five other offshore platforms were hit with similar orders.

The post Michigan Gaming Control Board Shuts Down 10 Offshore Casino Sites in 2025 Crackdown appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Massachusetts regulators are investigating Robinhood after the company launched a new feature that let users bet on March Madness basketball outcomes. The state’s securities division issued a subpoena asking how many people used this feature and why it launched despite previous regulatory warnings.

What Is Robinhood’s New Prediction Market Feature?

Robinhood launched a “prediction markets hub” in March through a partnership with Kalshi, a CFTC-regulated exchange. This allows users to buy contracts on real-world events—like who will win the NCAA tournament or which team reaches the Final Four.

Each contract is binary: you buy “Yes” or “No” based on the expected outcome. Prices change with demand, similar to how stocks or options trade. However, Massachusetts officials believe Robinhood is acting more like a sportsbook than a trading app.

Is This Considered Gambling or Investing?

Robinhood says it’s not gambling. The contracts are traded through Kalshi, which is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). That gives them legal cover as “event contracts,” not wagers. But to many users, the experience feels similar to placing a bet at an online casino—just wrapped in trading language.

But Massachusetts officials disagree. Secretary of State Bill Galvin called it “an inappropriate mix of investing and gambling,” especially given Robinhood’s appeal to young, inexperienced users.

Why Did Robinhood Launch March Madness Predictions?

March Madness is one of the most popular betting events in the U.S. Robinhood timed the launch to align with high user interest. The goal: drive engagement, trading activity, and broaden the app’s appeal beyond stocks and crypto.

The company is clearly targeting younger users who already view March Madness as a major betting event.

Has Robinhood Offered Sports Betting Before?

Yes. Robinhood previously offered prediction contracts tied to the Super Bowl earlier this year. But after pushback from the CFTC, the company pulled those contracts. The March Madness rollout is a second attempt, and this time, it’s triggered a formal investigation.

Galvin’s office wants internal documents showing who approved the launch, along with user data tied to the betting behavior.

Robinhood is pushing into new areas to grow its business, but regulators are watching closely—especially when speculation starts looking like sports betting.

The post Robinhood Under Investigation for March Madness Betting Feature appeared first on CasinoBeats.