Vegas CEO Denies Sin City Doomsday Talks as Gaming Revenue Rises Downtown

The neon lights aren’t dimming—they’re just flickering at a different rhythm. That’s the word from Circa Resort & Casino CEO Derek Stevens, who’s pushing back against apocalyptic whispers that Sin City has gone bust.

Las Vegas welcomed just 3.1 million visitors in June, an 11.3 % drop from a year earlier, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Social-media funeral processions started immediately: “Vegas is empty,” “Casinos are museums,” “Bring your own tumbleweed.”

Stevens refuses to RSVP to the pity party. “Some of these stories are exaggerated,” he told reporters. Dig into the data, he argues, and the Strip isn’t a monolithic disaster zone. Nevada’s statewide gaming revenue actually climbed 3.5 % to $1.33 billion in June. “Not everything is terrible,” he quips.

The urban anatomy lesson continues: Downtown, where Circa sits, feels “booming.” Stevens credits value pricing and a laser focus on sports. UFC fight weeks pack the sportsbook, fantasy-football draft crews roam the halls, and entries flood into the $10 million Circa Millions and Survivor contests. “We sell fun in bulk,” he says.

The CEO concedes, though, that international traffic is sagging. Harry Reid International Airport traffic dipped 4.1 % year-over-year; missing Canadians alone may shave two million U.S. visits this year. Currency headwinds and global jitters are keeping Maple Leaf wallets at home.

Stevens predicts brighter chips ahead: “In six months, Vegas tourism—driven by finalized trade deals and seasonal momentum—will be in a much better place.” Translation: buy sunscreen early; the tables are heating up again.