Why Las Vegas Feels Empty: Joe Rogan and the Casino Crisis Exposed
On episode 1987 of his podcast, Joe Rogan sat down with a longtime Las Vegas casino executive and revealed the uncomfortable truth: Las Vegas is dying a slow death. While the official numbers might suggest recovery, the reality on the ground is a city losing its soul—and its visitors.
Las Vegas welcomed 42.5 million tourists in 2019, its pre-pandemic peak. But after the 2020 shutdown, numbers plunged to 19 million. Though visitor counts rebounded to 40 million by 2023, the Strip feels emptier than ever. Rogan and his guests noted that the crowds are thinner, the energy subdued, and the city’s legendary party atmosphere is fading.
The real crisis is in the changing type of visitor. Vegas was once a playground for the middle class, a place where $500 could buy a weekend of thrills. Now, that same amount barely covers a hotel and a couple of drinks. In 2010, the average Strip hotel room cost $92 per night; by 2024, it’s $199, with weekends and suites costing far more.
Mandatory resort fees ($30–$45 per night) and paid parking ($18–$35 per day) add hundreds to every trip. Food and entertainment prices have soared, with buffets now $35–$50 and cocktails $18–$22. Wages haven’t kept up, making Vegas unaffordable for regular families.
Visitor spending has jumped 37% since 2019, but that’s because only wealthier tourists remain. The middle class—the backbone of Vegas for decades—has disappeared. Casinos are making more money per visitor, but fewer people are coming.
The Strip’s slot machines sit empty, restaurants have open tables, and shows run at reduced capacity. Locals see it clearly: tips are down, shifts are cut, and the party feels half empty.
The casino industry’s strategy is risky. By shifting focus to high rollers, convention groups, and international travelers, Vegas has priced out the masses. When the economy turns, these upscale customers are the first to vanish. Atlantic City’s collapse after 2008 is a cautionary tale: when regular visitors stopped coming, the city never recovered.
The convention business, once Vegas’s safety net, is also in decline. Attendance dropped from 6.6 million in 2019 to 5.8 million in 2023, with 2024 tracking even lower. Remote work, virtual events, and competition from cities like Orlando and Nashville have made conventions less essential. Rising hotel and event costs further discourage companies.
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Online sports betting has eliminated another Vegas draw. Visitors once flocked to the city for big events and the thrill of betting in person. Now, with mobile betting legal in over 30 states, people gamble from home. Casinos tried to adapt but lost the guaranteed revenue of in-person bettors.
Millennials and Gen Z aren’t interested in traditional casino gaming. The average slot player is now over 50. Younger visitors prefer nightclubs, pool parties, and Instagram-worthy experiences, but these are less profitable than gambling. Casinos face a paradox: they need younger guests to stay relevant, but those guests don’t spend like older gamblers.
Looking ahead, Vegas will see more automation, higher prices, and a widening wealth gap. Smaller casinos will close or be absorbed; labor will be cut. The Strip will become a playground for the ultra-rich, while everyone else is just a tourist being squeezed for cash.
Joe Rogan’s investigation exposes a city at risk—not from lack of interest, but from greed and short-sightedness. The lights are still on, but the party is winding down. The real Vegas is slowly disappearing, as the very people who made it famous are priced out.
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