Once a bustling casino and shopping stop for Southern Californians "who couldn't wait for Las Vegas," Primm has all but turned into a complete ghost town, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.

“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid,” said one Southern Californian as a second Primm resort announced it would cease full-time operations. The casino resorts at the California-Nevada line have been on “a slow decline,” said one expert.

Las Vegas casinos are stepping up efforts to draw crowds for the NFL season, as sports betting grows in the U.S. Local sportsbooks face increasing pressure to offer more than just betting odds, as the popularity of online betting is now available in many states.

Tourism experts are convinced visitation to Las Vegas will take a turn for the better in the fall and into 2026 despite the cold local reception its initial “Fabulous Las Vegas” television ad received.

After years of selling indulgence and excess, Las Vegas is pivoting to value. The city’s tourism agency just launched a campaign focusing on its broad appeal and affordability, while casinos throughout the valley are rolling out deals and incentives designed to bring back the bargains that once defined Las Vegas.

According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, it's estimated that 320,000 people will be coming to Las Vegas. That's a decrease from the 326,000 who visited in 2024, but the LVCVA still anticipates a $12 million increase in spending this holiday weekend compared to last year.

Immigration policies and evolving tariff proposals have taken a toll on the city’s economy and job prospects, affecting tourism, housing and the cost of living. Those factors, alongside rising costs for tourists and locals, along with a high unemployment rate, suggest people are spending their money elsewhere. And residents are feeling the squeeze.

Despite what you may have seen on the internet lately, Las Vegas is not dead. The casinos are not empty. The streets aren't bare. If I'm being honest here, I wouldn't have minded a little less crowding during my little mid-August gals' jaunt to Sin City in an ill-fated attempt to see Kelly Clarkson, who canceled her residency there this month. But the vibe in Vegas is different. It's a slow summer, and it shows.