Las Vegas was built on a promise: Come here, have fun, and leave your worries behind.
It was a town where you could get a cheap steak, see a great show, and maybe even win a little money. But those days? Long gone.
The corporate executives who now run the Strip have turned Vegas into a nickel-and-diming nightmare, squeezing every last penny out of tourists while the world-famous Strip itself fall apart.
Remember when casino parking was free?
It wasn’t that long ago. The idea of charging guests just to pull into a lot would have been laughable. Not anymore.
Now, most major casinos charge between $15 and $30 just for self-parking. Want to valet? Be ready to shell out anywhere from $40 to $50 a day.
And these rates change based on demand, meaning if there’s a big event in town, you’ll pay even more.
A few places still let you park for free—Treasure Island, Sahara, Casino Royale, and Circus Circus—but good luck finding a spot.
For everyone else, the message is clear: Pay up or stay away.
Locals get a small break—some casinos offer up to three hours free with a Nevada ID. But why should locals have to show ID just to park in their own city?
Resort Fees: The Hidden Ripoff
If you’ve ever booked a hotel on the Strip, you’ve probably seen a great deal online—only to get hit with a ridiculous “resort fee” at check-in.
These fees, which were once rare, now add anywhere from $30 to $50 per night on top of the advertised room rate.
What do you get for that money? Usually, just Wi-Fi, a gym you’ll never use, and maybe a bottle of water.
The worst part? These fees aren’t optional.
You can’t decline them. Even if you don’t touch the so-called “amenities,” you still pay. It’s legalized robbery.
High Prices, Low Quality
Once upon a time, Vegas was known for cheap eats and great deals. Casinos knew that if they gave you an affordable meal, you’d stick around and play.
But today’s corporate bosses don’t think like that.
Want a buffet? That’ll be $80 per person at places like the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars.
A simple beer on the casino floor? $12 or more unless you’re gambling.
A burger and fries? Easily over $20.
Everything is overpriced, and yet service has never been worse.
The fun, affordable Vegas experience is dead.
And in its place? A money-grabbing machine that treats tourists like walking ATMs.
The Strip’s Decline
While casinos charge more and more, the town itself is going downhill fast.
Walk down Las Vegas Boulevard today, and you’ll see something that would have been unheard of in the past: vagrants sleeping in front of casinos, aggressive panhandlers, and crime creeping into tourist areas.
A town built on entertainment and excitement now looks more like a failing downtown district.
Instead of investing in security, cleanliness, and guest experience, casino executives seem content to let the place rot—as long as the money keeps coming in.
So why has Vegas changed so much?
Simple. It’s not run by casino visionaries anymore.
The men who built Vegas—people like Steve Wynn, Kirk Kerkorian, and Benny Binion—understood that making guests feel welcome was the key to long-term success.
Today’s Strip is run by corporate bean counters who only care about quarterly profits.
MGM, Caesars, and other mega-casino corporations own almost everything on the Strip. That means less competition, which means higher prices and worse service for everyone.
Of course, defenders of the new Vegas will tell you these changes were “necessary” and that high fees help keep the city running.
They argue that paid parking helps control traffic and that resort fees are just part of the modern travel industry.
Some even claim that higher prices improve the quality of visitors.
But ask the average tourist, and they’ll tell you the truth: Vegas isn’t as fun as it used to be.
More people are choosing to take their money elsewhere—to tribal casinos, to Florida, to cruise ships—because they’re sick of getting gouged at every turn.
Can Vegas be saved?
There’s still hope for Vegas, but only if the casinos wake up. If they don’t stop the price gouging, stop the hidden fees, and start taking care of the city, people will simply stop coming.
And once the magic is gone, it won’t be easy to bring it back.
The choice is clear: Go back to what made Vegas great, or watch it turn into just another overpriced, soulless tourist trap. Your move, Vegas.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
