One of the reasons this economic downturn seems to have caught people off guard (stock markets, builders, casino operators, me, everyone) was because Las Vegas is not as dependent on casino gambling as it has been in the past.  There is a lot more to do on the strip now, and the casino companies make about half of their revenue on non-gaming activities, which really fluctuates with a consumer’s discretionary income.  People may come to Vegas, but they may not eat at the fancier restaurant, not buy as many drinks, or skip that extra show.

So chalk this up as a lesson learned to the new Vegas, and take a second to read through this nice article that discusses this phenomenon:  Read more

Four smart guys who are experts about Las Vegas discuss and look into their crystal balls to make predictions about the Las Vegas economy.  Read more