Gambling in the USA

New Research Shows Stark Reality of Tourism Decline in Las Vegas

Published

1 month ago

April 24, 2026

new-research-shows-stark-reality-of-tourism-decline-in-las-vegas

A new research has revealed the stark reality behind a notable downturn in tourism to the renowned resort city, Las Vegas, with the number of visitors falling sharply compared to previous years.

The study, conducted by leading casino and sports betting community OLBG, shows that Vegas has seen a drop off of around 264,248 tourists on average per month – a decline of approximately 7.6%. It means over a quarter of a million fewer people are heading to the city each month marking one of the most significant slowdowns outside of pandemic years.

Post-Covid recovery stalling

Despite a steady period after the 2020 lockdown, Las Vegas saw consistent growth up until 2024. Recent OLBG data however shows a clear reversal with average monthly visitors falling from 3.47million to 3.21million. The city is now facing renewed pressure to maintain its global appeal.

The drop in tourism is reflected across key hotel metrics. Average room occupancy has declined to 80.4%, down from 84.4% the previous year – the lowest level in four years.

At the same time, the average daily room rate has fallen by nearly 10%, indicating that hotels are reducing prices to attract visitors. Revenue per available room has also dropped by 13% year-on-year, reaching its lowest level in over nine years outside of the pandemic.

Gaming revenue shows some resilience

Gaming revenue has seen a modest increase of 3.8% year-on-year, reaching a monthly average of $1.11 billion (inflation-adjusted). However, this follows a decline the previous year and remains below earlier peak levels.

While the sector is holding relatively steady, it is not enough to offset the wider decline in tourism and hospitality performance.

The data also reflects broader changes in consumer behaviour. The continued growth of online gambling, combined with more value-driven travel decisions, is reshaping the global gambling landscape.

Shift toward lower-cost destinations

Rising travel costs and changing consumer priorities appear to be driving a shift toward more affordable gambling destinations. Travellers are increasingly seeking locations that offer similar entertainment experiences at a lower overall cost.

Destinations such as Atlantic City and Biloxi in the US, alongside European cities like Prague and Budapest, are gaining traction due to cheaper accommodation, lower travel costs, and competitive casino offerings. International resort destinations, including Sun City in South Africa, are also emerging as cost-effective alternatives.

This growing competition is putting pressure on Las Vegas, particularly among price-sensitive travellers.

An OLBG spokesperson said: “Las Vegas has been the benchmark for global gambling tourism, but latest figures suggest its dominance is being tested. Continued rising costs in terms of travel and accommodation, plus spending in the city, means many players are more selective on destinations.

“Destinations that offer similar casino experiences but at lower prices are becoming more popular – whether that’s still in the US in Atlantic City and Biloxi or across Europe in cities such as Prague and Budapest. Value is becoming the key driver for tourists’ decision-making.

“However, continued growth of online gambling is giving players more flexibility than they’ve ever had. In some cases, this reduces the need to travel altogether whilst others choose short, cost-effective trips with digital play.

“Sin City isn’t going anywhere, though. It remains a world class destination but it’s operating in a much more competitive global market compared to previous years.”

The post New Research Shows Stark Reality of Tourism Decline in Las Vegas appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Gambling in the USA

SkillOnNet rolls out Ready Play Gaming slots in Ontario, Canada and Mexico

Published

11 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

skillonnet-rolls-out-ready-play-gaming-slots-in-ontario,-canada-and-mexico

SkillOnNet has launched Ready Play Gaming’s slot portfolio across Ontario, Canada and Mexico, with additional international markets planned to follow later this year.

The content is now available across SkillOnNet’s iGaming brands including PlayOJO, PlayUZU, Slingo, Mega Casino and LuckyNiki.

Titles going live include Ready Play Gaming’s Reel Jackpots series, including Reel Bingo and Reel Triple, which the studio describes as “soft slot” experiences aimed at the bingo generation.

Jani Kontturi at SkillOnNet said: “We are proud to welcome Ready Play Gaming as we continue to strengthen our global content offering with innovative and high-performing studio partners. In a crowded market, they’ve focused on building games with personality and strong entertainment value, and we believe that’s exactly the kind of content today’s players respond to.

Christoph Härtel, COO at Ready Play Gaming said: “Partnering with SkillOnNet is a major milestone for Ready Play Gaming as we continue to expand our international footprint. SkillOnNet’s strong presence in regulated markets and extensive operator network make them an ideal partner to help bring our games to even more players globally.”

The post SkillOnNet rolls out Ready Play Gaming slots in Ontario, Canada and Mexico appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Aviator

Aviator crash game launches in US via Ruby Seven’s Lucky North Casino

Published

11 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

aviator-crash-game-launches-in-us-via-ruby-seven’s-lucky-north-casino

Aviator has launched in the United States for the first time through Lucky North Casino, a free-to-play social casino from Ruby Seven Studios serving Delaware North casino customers across the country.

The crash game is now live on Lucky North Casino, the official app of the Lucky North Rewards program. According to the announcement, Aviator is available on Android and Apple devices, as well as on the web via LuckyNorthCasino.com.

The company said the launch is the first step in a broader US expansion plan. Aviator is currently available across all eligible US states excluding Washington, and is expected to roll out to “more than a dozen” additional retail-branded social casinos in the coming months via the Ruby Seven Studios network.

Ruby Seven Studios’ network supports nearly 50 retail casino properties across 25 US states, which the company said will extend Aviator’s reach. The release added that a demo version of Aviator had previously been accessible to US audiences through the company’s website.

The launch follows Aviator’s expansion across several markets throughout 2026, with the company pointing to increasing demand for crash-style gaming experiences globally as it broadens distribution in North America.

The post Aviator crash game launches in US via Ruby Seven’s Lucky North Casino appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

1X2 Network

1X2 Network launches iCasino content in West Virginia with Rush Street, Caesars and Fanatics

Published

13 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

1x2-network-launches-icasino-content-in-west-virginia-with-rush-street,-caesars-and-fanatics

1X2 Network has launched in West Virginia, marking its second regulated US market. The supplier said a first set of games went live on 3 June 2026 with Rush Street, Caesars Entertainment and Fanatics Casino.

The company entered North America in Michigan two years ago and said it is expanding US distribution off the back of performance there. 1X2 Network did not disclose commercial terms or rollout timelines by operator.

Among the initial titles going live in West Virginia are 3 Hot Chilli Peppers and 3 Porky Banks Hold and Win. The company said both games have been “ranked as top performers in North America” and are aimed at West Virginia’s “core 30-39 year old iGaming demographic.”

Kevin Reid, CEO at 1X2 Network, said: “Buoyed by the performance of our top tier titles in Michigan, we felt the time was right to step up our US expansion plans, and in Rush Street, Caesars Entertainment and Fanatics Casino, we couldn’t think of three better operators to debut our launch into West Virginia.

“Having already worked with these brands in the Great Lakes State, we’re confident that games like 3 Hot Chilli Peppers and 3 Porky Banks Hold and Win will deliver the same great results for them in West Virginia. We also have deals in the pipeline to go live with a number of other big-name operators which will further cement our presence in North America.”

The post 1X2 Network launches iCasino content in West Virginia with Rush Street, Caesars and Fanatics appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.