Las Vegas, known for its vibrant neon lights, bustling casinos, and exhilarating high-stakes action, is now experiencing a more subdued atmosphere.
The latest downturn in tourism is taking a toll on the Strip, with casino dealers bearing the brunt of the impact.
In a surprising turn of events, numerous prominent resorts and hotels have begun to discreetly reduce their workforce, particularly affecting table game dealers, amid a noticeable drop in foot traffic on casino floors.
Analysts indicate that a combination of escalating travel expenses, a decline in foreign tourists, and economic instability is contributing to the decrease in visitor figures.
“Fontainebleau announced some layoffs, as well as Resorts World. We want those casinos to be successful, active, and robust because that gives our break-in dealers an opportunity to transition, that’s the goal,” CEG Dealer School Managing Director David Knoll said.
In a recent report from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation, it has been revealed that the Las Vegas metro area concluded 2024 with an unemployment rate of 5.9%, marking it as the highest among all large metro areas nationwide.
The leisure and hospitality sector, encompassing casino dealers, experienced a significant loss of thousands of jobs in the past year.
Experts in the field indicate that certain properties are shifting towards increased automation, including the adoption of electronic table games that necessitate a reduced workforce. Some are just scaling back expenses in response to disappointing earnings updates.
“We’ve seen our enrollment drop, and people interested in becoming a dealer. We used to have a lot more people transition from out of state and come to Las Vegas for the opportunities here,” Knoll said.
In April, hotel occupancy rates experienced a slight decline, with an overall drop of one percent, while downtown hotels faced a more significant decrease of 2.6 percent.
In 2024, casino dealers in Nevada earned an average hourly wage of $19.96, which is in close proximity to the national average of $19.25.
Although Nevada is a major player in the casino sector, it surprisingly falls short of being one of the top five states that offer the highest salaries for this profession.
