As Las Vegas Strip Goes Quiet, Neighborhood Casinos Stay Busy

In Las Vegas, two gaming landscapes have emerged: the Strip is “dead,” as some doomsayers put it. Away from the neon lights and mega-resorts, locals are keeping neighborhood casinos humming.

Business on the four-mile Strip has cooled as tourists recoil at the rising costs. Parking for a night out is $25, resort fees can reach $50, a bottle of water can set you back $26 and a coffee costs $12. That doesn’t mix well with squeezed discretionary wallets amid subdued consumer sentiment and persistent inflation.