Share 
Las Vegas has always been a city of extremes. While a lot has changed, Sin City is still a town for high rollers and low rollers.
Over the past year, visitors have complained about rising prices in casinos for everything from coffee to concert tickets. It does not have to be that way.
There are still fairly priced restaurants and bars throughout the city. During its most recent Q4 2025 earnings call, MGM Resorts said visitors can expect creative value promotions later this year.
How Las Vegas lost its reputation for value
Visitors have long been drawn to both the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip and the ability to find value during a vacation.
In the 1960s, the Rat Pack represented the high-roller lifestyle, even though tickets to see the group perform cost just $5.95. The price included dinner and two drinks.
Adjusted for inflation, that ticket would cost about $65 today. That is far less than the $100 to $300 tickets for many Las Vegas shows today, which do not include dinner or drinks.
Visitors could also enjoy a $2 buffet dinner at most casinos. Even after adjusting for inflation, that is a significant difference from paying around $80 for dinner at the Wynn buffet today.
Las Vegas still caters to a wide financial spectrum. However, the city began to change once large corporations came to dominate ownership of the Strip.
How corporate ownership changed the Strip
In the 1960s, many different owners operated casinos. Today, two companies — MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment — operate 18 of the 25 Strip casinos.
With limited competition, there is less incentive to lower prices or improve service. Companies can focus more on shareholder returns and profitability than on the customer experience.
That said, the corporations operate properties at different price tiers. MGM Resorts, for example, offers value-oriented properties such as Excalibur and Luxor, while Aria, Bellagio and The Cosmopolitan target higher-spending visitors.
Despite growth elsewhere in the valley, most visitors still stay on the Strip and face its higher prices. According to the 2024 Las Vegas Visitor Profile, 69% of visitors stayed at a Strip hotel, even though less expensive options exist downtown and in surrounding neighborhoods.
While 58% paid standard rates, only 19% stayed in a discounted or complimentary room.
Many visitors still expect the value Las Vegas offered decades ago. At the same time, casino marketing increasingly highlights premium dining and luxury experiences over budget options.
Why affordable Vegas exists but feels invisible
Businesses raise prices until customers stop paying them. Economic conditions and travel trends recently slowed visitation, which fell 7.5% to 38.5 million visitors, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
It took about nine months of declining visitation for the tourism board to respond to the drop. The Fabulous 5-Day sale and other marketing initiatives did little to reverse the trend.
Strip operators are unlikely to abandon premium pricing, but deals still exist. An informed visitor can find $3 or $5 drinks at casino bars that also sell $23 cocktails.
The challenge is knowing where to look. For example, a $3 frozen margarita may be available at a video poker bar, while a standard cocktail costs around $20.
Sometimes finding deals on the Strip is similar to ordering from the secret menu at In-N-Out Burger. Guests have to know the options exist — and where to find them.
Casinos could simplify this by clearly communicating which properties focus on value and which focus on luxury, without alienating either customer. It is easier said than done, but MGM Resorts’ upcoming value promotions may address that issue.
Ultimately, casinos can charge what they want, and customers can choose where to spend their money. The quickest way to influence a business is through spending decisions, not social media complaints.
Where the real Las Vegas deals are
One way to find value in Las Vegas is to leave the Strip. That could mean a three-minute walk, a 20-minute drive or something in between.
For example, a cheeseburger meal at Gordon Ramsay Burger at Planet Hollywood costs about $27. A similar meal at nearby local casinos can cost under $10.
Palace Station, west of the Sahara Casino, offers a $7 burger special all day and overnight deals ranging from $4 to $10 after 11 p.m.
Gambling offers similar differences. Many Strip casinos spread 3:2 blackjack with $25 minimum bets. Downtown casinos often offer the same game for $10 or $15, and neighborhood casinos may offer $5 limits in the morning.
Visitors may not even need to leave the Strip. While the average nightly rate at Wynn Las Vegas exceeds $400 before fees, midweek rates at lower-tier Strip properties can fall below $20 before fees.
How smart planning makes Vegas affordable again
Las Vegas has always rewarded visitors who plan ahead.
Choosing an inexpensive hotel instead of a luxury resort is the simplest step. Travelers should always include resort fees when comparing prices.
Off-Strip casinos typically offer cheaper dining, drinks, and gambling. Visitors can do most of their spending there while visiting the Strip for sightseeing and select experiences. This approach also helps earn reward points that can later be used for discounted meals, drinks and rooms.
Not everything needs to be cheap. Controlling major expenses allows visitors to enjoy occasional splurges.
I experienced this both as a tourist and as a local. I used to spend most of a trip staying and gambling off the Strip, then dedicate one day to enjoying a luxury experience.
Living in Las Vegas works similarly. Cooking at home most nights makes it easier to enjoy a special dinner with friends without financial stress.
When there’s a will, there’s a way. Here are a few things to consider before visiting Las Vegas again:
- Sign up for reward programs
- Compare hotel rates and consider all options
- Visit convenience stores on the Strip for drinks and snacks
- Curate a list of happy hour deals
- Look at bars and restaurants in casino malls
- Check near-Strip casinos for dining and gambling
- Use and earn reward points whenever possible
These are quick tips that require little time and can be done while watching TV or a movie.
