Resorts World Las Vegas is closing its poker room on March 30 and will introduce new gaming opportunities to replace it, the resort announced. Once Resorts World's poker room closes, there will be just eight poker rooms on the Las Vegas Strip, according to the Vital Vegas blog. This reduction comes amid a broader tourism decline in the city.
5% decrease from 2024, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Steve Hill, President and CEO of the authority, stated that Las Vegas operates at a scale that few destinations can match, and 2025 required the city to remain nimble as conditions evolved. According to The Independent - World, Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG, described the spending slowdown as real, noting consumers are stressed and this is where it's seen first in domestic flights, hotels, and other service-sector spending.
The spending slowdown is real. Consumers are stressed, and this is where we're seeing it first: in domestic flights, hotels, and a lot of other service-sector spending.
Meanwhile, the MGM Grand buffet is closing permanently on May 31, KLAS-TV reported. MGM officials have no immediate plans for the buffet space after it closes. Only a handful of traditional buffets will remain on the Strip after MGM Grand's closure, including Bacchanal at Caesars Palace, Buffet at Wynn, Wicked Spoon at Cosmopolitan, and buffets at Excalibur, Circus Circus, Palms, and Main Street Station.
It is unclear what new gaming opportunities Resorts World will introduce or what specific plans MGM has for the buffet space. The exact reasons for the tourism decline beyond general consumer sentiment and international travel considerations have not been detailed.