Vegas Visitation Up in May as Strip Gaming Revenue Jumps 13%

^{Conventions played a major role in boosting Las Vegas visitation in May. (Photo: courtesy of Las Vegas Convention Center)}

LAS VEGAS — May visitation to Las Vegas was up 2%, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). One segment, convention visitors, increased by nearly 15% during the month.

While conventioneers make up a small percentage of total visitors, they impact everything from hotel room rates to the price of a cup of coffee. The LVCVA markets Las Vegas to conventions, and casino operators covet this visitor type.

Despite the modest visitation increase, gaming revenue on the Las Vegas Strip was 13.19% higher, driven by a massive jump in baccarat, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB). Downtown Vegas saw an even larger jump in baccarat, though overall revenue fell in nearly every other game.

So far this year, convention traffic is up 10.9%, while overall visitation is up 0.3%. Gaming revenue in the area for the past 12 months is up just 2.26%.

Room Rates Jump with Visitation Increase

In May, 3.28 million people visited Las Vegas, a modest 2% increase compared to last year. There were 586,300 convention visitors in town, a 14.7% increase.

Four sold-out BTS concerts at Allegiant Stadium and two major conferences during the month helped boost visitation. The Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) came to town and drew more than 500,000 attendees this year, but didn't move the overall amount of visitors since the event was also sold out last year.

The increase in convention visitors often equates to higher Strip room rates, and that was the case in May. The average daily room rate in Las Vegas was $210.63, a 6.3% increase compared to last year and the highest average room rate of the past 12 months.

Strip room rates were up 6.6% to $226.46. Downtown rates saw a modest 1.2% increase. So far this year, Strip room rates are up 5.6%, while downtown is up just 1%.

Oh Canada, Where Have You Gone?

Once again, a dip in Canadian visitors accounted for the largest drop in international visitors arriving at Harry Reid International Airport. There's a twist this month, though: Air Canada showed a 2% increase in passengers departing Las Vegas, while Westjet, the country's other major airline, fell 20.1% compared to last year.

Both airlines have been showing decreases in passengers to Las Vegas on a regular basis, so the Air Canada uptick could be an anomaly. Air Canada passengers are down 26.3% this year overall, and Westjet has seen 29.9% fewer passengers.

This is part of a bigger decline. In 2025, Las Vegas recorded 1,196,300 Canadian visitors, a 17% decrease from the year before. The trend has continued into 2026. Canada is the largest source of international tourism to Las Vegas, topping 1.5 million visitors annually in past years.

Canada's land-based casinos offer players a chance to enjoy gambling across most of the country's provinces, well as some online casino options. Players in Alberta will soon be able to enjoy online gambling once the province's iGaming market opens on July 13. Players in Ontario can also learn earn rewards points to use in Vegas through BetMGM or Caesars Sportsbook.

Canadians in general who traveled to Las Vegas specifically for playing at one of the casinos may reconsider booking a flight to the Strip when so many regulating gaming options exist in their province or on their phone at home.

Top Convention Town in America

Las Vegas is the best city in the country for conventions, according to U.S. News & World Report. The publication analyzed 52 major U.S. cities based on meeting space, accessibility, affordability and safety.

Las Vegas topped Chicago and Orlando, the two cities that most often challenge for the biggest conventions. That's not much of a surprise since these three cities have regularly ranked among the top three for conventions.

The recently renovated Las Vegas Convention Center represents just a small portion of the 2.5 million square feet of convention space in and around Las Vegas casinos. No city has more hotel rooms to house convention guests, either.

When attendees aren't on the convention floor, they can hold business meetings at fine dining restaurants, host or attend parties at nightclubs, or catch a show.

Convention visitors are still a small part of the overall mix. According to the LVCVA, they accounted for just 15.15% of visitors in 2025. So far this year, they're 19.2% of total visitors this year.

Casino operators appreciate the LVCVA's convention business because these visitors aren't bargain hunting. They pay full rates for rooms. If a hotel is hosting the convention they may require the conference to book a certain number of rooms and food. 

That's a big reason hotel rooms account for 33.5% of total casino revenue on the Strip over the past two years. When price is less of a concern the visitors are more willing to pay higher prices.

Convention guests and high rollers help explain the widening divide between Las Vegas visitors. Those in town for work and those hunting for cheap eats and drinks on vacation are very different. While the latter may make up the majority, they generate less revenue per person.

The math is simple for casino operators. Anecdotally, if one business traveler can generate the same revenue as a group of four vacationers, that makes them financially worth four leisure guests.

Casinos across the valley have been upgrading meeting and conference spaces over the past year accordingly, from The Venetian to Green Valley Ranch.

Gaming Revenue Boosted by Baccarat Once Again

Las Vegas gaming revenue follows a familiar monthly pattern, with baccarat often setting the tone for Strip results statewide.

Last month, mini-baccarat helped boost revenue at Strip and downtown casinos. This is the smaller version of the game on the main casino floor carries approachable limits for all players.

In May, it was high rollers at big baccarat tables pushing the Strip to a 13.9% overall increase, reaching $1.2 billion. Downtown also saw a significant baccarat surge, though that area was still down 4.16% overall to $63 million.

Table games on the Strip were up 19.41%, driven by a 58.58% increase in baccarat revenue. Strip casinos have won nearly 55% more from baccarat over the past three months compared to the same period last year.

Ultimate Texas Hold'em revenue was up 31.05% for the month, the second-largest table game increase in May. Slot machine revenue on the Strip was mixed, with an 88.21% increase from nickel games and a 52.41% decrease from $100 machines.

Downtown, baccarat and craps were up 87.48% and 7.36%, respectively, in May. They were the only table games to show significant revenue growth. Overall table game revenue was down more than 20%, though slots saw a 6.46% increase for the month.