Vegas has been touted as the one-trick pony, and to an extent it is...however as I sit at a bar in the Mirage, the classic, revamped 1989 vintage mega-hotel/casino, it would appear to the naked eye that things have never been better.
The lobby bar is full, the line for Jet is long and winding, guests are moving through the casino and the registration desk is swamped for 12:30 in the morning. And honestly, why wouldn't they be? Deals are rampant in this city and people who have never been here are now flooding in. Here lies the problem with Vegas' bottom line...
Guests that pay $50 to $60 dollars a room night and get free drinks, free food, and discounted shows and entertainment are not going to gamble. I REPEAT, ARE NOT GOING TO GAMBLE. Why? Because they are here for the deal. And why wouldn't they be? Vegas is the biggest bargain going.
Yes, this fills the rooms, bars, restaurants, shows, etc., but at half the profit and realistically these areas have the smallest profit margins. Bottom line gaming is suffering.