Las Vegas bets big on March Madness amid city's tourism slump that worries many

The metropolis of Las Vegas is going each successful connected March Madness arsenic it tries to reignite tourism and reverse a increasing slump. 

Resorts crossed the Strip are rolling retired large-scale ticker parties, sportsbook events and themed experiences tied to the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments — drafting crowds for 1 of the busiest betting periods of the year, according to reports.

It is estimated that Americans volition wager $3.3 cardinal connected this year’s tournaments — with Nevada historically seeing hundreds of millions successful bets during the event, the American Gaming Association said.

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Travel advisor J.R. Longstaff, based successful Florida, told Fox News Digital that the tourney continues to beryllium a large gully for visitors.

"Las Vegas is the eventual sports instrumentality playground to ticker the NCAA tournament," helium said. "The metropolis draws groups of fans to ticker the games unneurotic connected a expansive scale, which helps boost tourism and income astir the city."

Las Vegas is going each successful connected March Madness events and experiences to boost tourism and antagonistic a caller diminution successful visitant activity. (iStock)

"Las Vegas does everything bigger and bolder than conscionable astir anyplace else," Longstaff added.

He pointed to ample viewing venues and all-day experiences centered astir the games.

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Major venues crossed the metropolis are leaning into that approach.

Resorts World is opening its theatre for large-scale viewing, portion the Cosmopolitan is hosting its "Hoops and Hops" ticker parties with stadium-style screens and games. Fontainebleau is besides offering a monolithic viewing acquisition with an 80-foot LED surface and on-site betting stations, the website noted.

Major venues crossed the metropolis are leaning into March Madness events, with resorts hosting ample ticker parties and immersive viewing experiences for the tournament. (iStock)

The propulsion comes arsenic Las Vegas faces broader challenges successful attracting visitors.

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About 38.5 cardinal radical visited the metropolis successful 2025 — down 7.5% from the twelvemonth prior, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Gaming gross connected the Strip has besides declined, falling much than 11% twelvemonth implicit twelvemonth successful aboriginal 2026, the Nevada Gaming Control Board said.

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Fox News Digital antecedently reported that the slowdown has coincided with changing question and gambling habits.

In-person betting has go little communal among younger visitors, galore of whom present similar online platforms.

Las Vegas has been seeing a large driblet successful tourism, with less visitors and declining gaming gross compared to erstwhile years.  (Ashley J. DiMella/Fox News Digital)

Some accepted attractions are besides disappearing, arsenic casinos set to shifting demand.

A Resorts World typical confirmed to Fox News Digital that its poker country is closing astatine the extremity of March, leaving conscionable 8 poker rooms operating connected the Las Vegas Strip.

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Robby Starbuck, big of "The Robby Starbuck Show," antecedently told Fox News Digital that younger generations are moving distant from accepted casino experiences.

"Now astir everyone nether 40 who bets seems to bash it online," helium said. "I don’t cognize 1 idiosyncratic nether property 40 who goes to Vegas regularly to stake oregon play slots."

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Ashley DiMella of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.