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May 11, 2026

2025 Was an Awful Year for the Strip. Will 2026 Be Any Better?

City Cast Las Vegas

2025 Was an Awful Year for the Strip. Will 2026 Be Any Better?

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Last year, the Las Vegas Strip had its worst tourism year since the pandemic, with a visitation falloff supercharged by steep declines in international tourism. Still, some of the Strip’s biggest casino operators have trumpeted strong numbers to start 2026. Could it be a sign the Strip has finally broken its slump – or an outlier in an economy filled with mixed signals? Host Jesse Merrick sits down with longtime casino gaming and tourism reporter Howard Stutz to break down why answering that question is more complicated than you might think. 

Learn more about the sponsors of this Monday, May 11th episode:

The Neon Museum

Zen Leaf

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