What happens in Vegas… isn't happening: Tourist numbers drop, casinos sit empty; internet declares Sin City 'dead, bro'

Las Vegas is no longer the unstoppable tourism titan it once was, with visitor numbers plunging and online chatter echoing a grim reality — empty casinos, rising costs, and a hospitality industry struggling to keep up appearances.By the numbers: Vegas feels the burnAccording to the latest figures from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), only 3.1 million tourists visited Las Vegas in June, a sharp 11.3% drop from the same time last year. Hotel occupancy rates slipped 6.5%, while average daily room rates fell 6.6%, landing at $163.64. Even Harry Reid International Airport is feeling the slowdown, with a 4.1% year-to-date drop in traffic, according to a news report from Fox News.

According to Fox News, Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg didn't sugarcoat it during a recent earnings call, calling this season a "soft summer" to local reports.Empty casinos and internet cries: 'Vegas is dead, bro'The story isn't just in the stats. Social media platforms like X and Reddit are flooded with firsthand reports painting a bleak picture. One user claimed, "Casinos are empty … people are being laid off … there is no tourism." Another shared a photo of a deserted gaming floor with the caption: "Las Vegas is dead, bro."

Reddit's r/lasvegas thread is buzzing with similar concerns. One user blamed aggressive pricing tactics:"While the economy is going downhill, the Strip nickel and diming folks is gonna result in this, and it's gonna get worse."Others pointed to seasonal factors and fewer events compared to last year, like the absence of the NHL Awards and Draft, which had brought in thousands of out-of-towners in June 2024.And then there's the ultimate Reddit kiss of death:"Vegas will never recover."More than just empty rooms: Lawsuits and bedbugs add to woesLas Vegas' image isn't just suffering from a tourism dip — it's also grappling with lawsuits that could further damage its hospitality reputation. Earlier this year, three lawsuits were filed against two Strip resorts over alleged bedbug infestations during the summer of 2024.Attorney Brian Virag, founder of My Bed Bug Lawyer, is representing the plaintiffs."We wanted to not only make sure to represent them, but also to bring awareness that bedbugs in Las Vegas hotels are a real problem," he told Fox News Digital.The price problem: Vegas isn't cheap — but can it still be worth it?Mallory Dumond, a travel adviser at Travelmation, told Fox News that while the cost of visiting Las Vegas has surged, travellers can still find value with the right strategies."Opt for a Sunday through Thursday stay if your schedule allows," she advised, "you can find 5-star rooms at half the weekend rate."Dumond recommends lunch over dinner at upscale restaurants to cut costs and suggests happy hour menus for wallet-friendly indulgence.