Las Vegas casinos replace live dealers with electronic games amid tourism drop

The tourism industry in the United States, particularly in Las Vegas, has seen a significant decrease in visitors, particularly during the summer months. Reports indicate that July 2025 experienced a 12% drop in the number of visitors compared to the previous year, highlighting ongoing challenges for the area’s economy. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority outlines the visitor tally to be 3,089,300, down from over 3.5 million in July 2024, with hotel occupancy on the famous Strip falling by 7% from 86.5% the previous year. Several factors are attributing to this decline, which includes the adverse effects of tariffs, the seasonal slowdown commonly seen during summer, and a notable surge in online gaming usage. This combination of issues has pressured casinos to reevaluate their gaming strategies and offerings in order to attract visitors. As a result of this shift, the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino recently announced a transition to electronic table games, foregoing live dealers in an effort to modernize their gaming experience and appeal to different demographic segments of players. Derek Stevens, the CEO and owner of Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, remarked on the evolution of the gaming industry. Stevens highlighted that electronic table games (ETG) are proving to be more effective at drawing in guests, indicating that the traditional slot machines are undergoing a transformation from solitary gameplay to engaging experiences shared among groups. The introduction of ETGs has already contributed to an uptick in traffic at his other establishment, Circa Resort & Casino, signaling a potential positive change in dynamics for Las Vegas gaming. Stevens also spoke on the broader economic landscape affecting the tourism sector, pointing out a bifurcation of the market where high-end casinos continue to thrive while others struggle. He noted that the current interest rate levels are disproportionately impacting lower-end markets, and he believes that as interest rates decline, it could lead to an improved situation for Las Vegas’s economy as a whole, potentially revitalizing tourism in the future.