Las Vegas enters 2026 from a strong position, even as questions about affordability and long-term sustainability remain. Tourism has moderated post-Covid peaks, but gaming revenue for Strip and downtown casinos is stable or trending up, signaling a market that is adapting rather than shrinking.
That tension between stability and change will shape many of the most watched casino and gaming developments in the coming year. Major construction projects, regulatory scrutiny, evolving tourism patterns and the role of conventions in supporting visitation will all affect how Las Vegas casinos position themselves in 2026, especially as operators balance high-end growth with concerns about value and accessibility at the lower end of the market.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas and Guitar Tower construction update
The Hard Rock hotel-casino and Guitar Tower project is one of the biggest current construction projects on the Strip. Following the closure of the Mirage hotel-casino in July 2024, the venue has seen rapid change, with the distinctive guitar silhouette beginning to rise.
Industry stakeholders will closely monitor progress in 2026 as the complex moves towards its planned fourth quarter 2027 opening.
The highly anticipated resort will feature thousands of new hotel rooms, significant casino space, live entertainment venues and dozens of unique dining options, all of which represent a major new competitor to the Strip’s resort landscape.
Bally’s casino resort at the former Tropicana site and the A’s ballpark construction
The transformation of the former Tropicana hotel-casino site into a new mixed-use casino and entertainment center anchored by a Major League Baseball stadium remains one of the city’s most consequential projects.
Rhode Island-based Bally’s Corp. unveiled detailed plans for a sprawling hotel-casino complex surrounding the Athletics’ Las Vegas ballpark, with phased construction expected to roll through the late 2020s.
The project’s completion could reshape the southern Strip’s skyline and tourism draw, bringing a major sports anchor to the heart of the casino corridor.
Fontainebleau and Resorts World in the midst of visitor pressure
Two megaresorts on the North Strip will be under the microscope next year.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas, set to open in December 2023, continues to define its place in a market where demand for conventions and leisure is in flux, even as the property attracts luxury retail and dining. Meanwhile, Resorts World Las Vegas has faced ongoing operational and financial headwinds, including soft performance metrics in recent quarters and high-profile regulatory scrutiny over compliance issues involving illegal bookmaking.
How these properties navigate a landscape of declining overall attendance but pockets of strong luxury and high-end gaming could signal broader trends for high-stakes gaming in Las Vegas.
Regulatory discipline and oversight of casino operations
Regulatory compliance and enforcement expectations are likely to remain a priority in 2026 after several Las Vegas casinos settled multi-million dollar disciplinary cases to allow people tied to illegal gambling activities to gamble with impunity.
The industry will be watching to see if other major operators will face scrutiny or disciplinary action as regulators stress internal controls and a culture of compliance.
The increase in regulatory measures may lead to changes in operational standards and affect how casinos monitor and manage risk.
Conventions, tourism dynamics and the wider market outlook
Las Vegas tourism has seen attendance declines even as gaming profits remain strong in some categories, and industry leaders are pinning hopes on a robust year for conventions in 2026 to balance other macroeconomic headwinds. Receipts for room tax and gaming fees recently lagged expectations, underscoring the importance of diversifying demand.
Meanwhile, analysts predict the $600 million expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center and an increasingly robust trade show calendar could help drive record attendance at the convention next year.
Whether conventions can offset softness in leisure travel and support broader hotel occupancy and gaming revenue will be a key story for casino operators and the hotel sector.
Contact David Danzis at ddanzis@ theplayerlounge.com or 702-383-0378. Follow @AC2Vegas_Danzis on X.
