Las Vegas is feverishly trying to change the narrative that Sin City no longer provides value. The message didn’t resonate in August.

On Wednesday (Sept. 30), the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) issued its August 2026 gaming revenue report. The disclosure showed that casinos on the Las Vegas Strip generated gross gaming revenue (GGR) of $684.1 million last month, a negligible 0.7% increase from the prior year.

Blackjack (-20%), roulette (-39.5%), sports betting (-32%), and penny slots (-22.5%) were major drags, nearly offsetting an exceptionally strong month for baccarat.

The banker versus player table game, popular among Asian players and high rollers, reported GGR of $155 million, up 34%. Baccarat tables experienced an unusually high hold rate of 18.5%, compared with 10.5% in August 2025. The amount bet on baccarat was lower year-over-year.

In downtown Las Vegas, GGR was $61.5 million, down 3%. Almost every table game, with Let It Ride the lone outlier, was lower. Sports betting and most slot denominations were, too.

Statewide, gaming fared better, with the 314 licensed facilities posting GGR of $1.26 billion, up 3.1% from August 2025.

Over the past 12 months, GGR on the Las Vegas Strip totaled nearly $9 billion, a 1.5% increase. While gaming has improved, the overall health of the Las Vegas economy remains under the weather.

The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) reported that visitor volume totaled a little more than 3.03 million travelers in August. That marked a 4.3% year-over-year decline and pushed year-to-date visitor volume into the red.