Live Stream Host Steven Campbell Discusses Factors Contributing to the Decline of Las Vegas
In the heart of Nevada, the city of Las Vegas, once a global tourist magnet, is experiencing a downturn in its tourism sector. Steven Campbell, host of the popular "Not Leaving Las Vegas" YouTube channel, attributes this decline to a combination of economic pressures on travel costs, restrictive immigration-related policies, and evolving customer behaviours.
Campbell highlights the high overall visitor costs as a significant factor. The city, once known for its affordable lodging, resort fees, meals, shows, and attractions, has become less affordable. The costs, encompassing all aspects of a visit to Las Vegas, make it less appealing to budget-conscious travellers.
A significant slowdown in international tourism is also linked to new U.S. policies. The imposition of "$250 visa integrity fees" deters overseas tourists, particularly from Canada, who traditionally contribute significantly to the local economy.
The combined factors have led to a decrease in hotel occupancy in July 2025, with occupancy falling to around 67%, a nearly 17% drop from the previous year.
Another contributing factor is the shift in entertainment patterns. Younger generations are opting for online gambling instead of visiting casinos, contributing to the decline.
Campbell's livestreams have shown a decline in crowds on the Las Vegas Strip. He believes the downturn in Las Vegas tourism is worse than the official numbers suggest.
Interestingly, Campbell's livestreams have revealed another issue - the behaviour of some individuals on the Strip. He occasionally encounters inappropriate behaviour, such as almost-full frontal nudity from costumed characters, which can lead to deletion of the stream or violation of YouTube's content guidelines.
Additionally, the guards in the casinos are more likely to approach streamers when the casinos are not busy, but they ignore streamers during peak hours. Streamers are not allowed to film inside the casinos, and guards may demand to see ID and ask them to leave if they are caught filming.
The city's casinos have also undergone changes. Buffet spaces have been transformed into food halls, where multiple restaurants pay high rents, leading to higher prices for consumers. Casinos are also charging high prices for items like water and early room check-ins, which Campbell believes is pricing customers out of the market.
The downtown of Las Vegas might face competition from new destinations. The United Arab Emirates is opening casinos, which could potentially impact the tourism in Las Vegas. New York City is also expected to have a significant impact on Las Vegas tourism due to the large amount of money involved.
Campbell started livestreaming the Las Vegas Strip as a creative outlet, inspired by the YouTube channel 'Jacob's Life in Vegas'. He has been doing so regularly since 2019.
However, the decline in tourism is not just affecting the casinos. Canadians are avoiding travel to Las Vegas due to political reasons, specifically the statements made by Donald Trump about the city. The days of small, cheap weekend trips to Las Vegas are ending, as the city becomes more expensive for visitors.
Visitors in Las Vegas for the first five months of 2025 were 16.45 million, a decrease of 6.5% compared to the same period in 2024. Whether Las Vegas can bounce back from these challenges remains to be seen.
[1] Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal [3] Source: USA Today
- Steven Campbell, a vlogger on the "Not Leaving Las Vegas" YouTube channel, ascribes the decrease in tourism in Las Vegas to economic pressures on travel costs, restrictive immigration-related policies, and evolving customer behaviors.
- In contrast to the past, the costs of visiting Las Vegas, including lodging, resort fees, meals, shows, and attractions, have become less appealing to budget-conscious travelers, contributing to the city's downturn.
- The imposition of "$250 visa integrity fees" for overseas tourists, particularly from Canada, is also linked to the slowdown in international tourism, which has significantly impacted the local economy.
- Hotel occupancy in Las Vegas saw a decrease in July 2025, with occupancy falling to around 67%, marking a nearly 17% drop from the previous year.
- The entertainment industry in Las Vegas has seen a shift, with younger generations opting for online gambling instead of visiting casinos, further contributing to the decline.
- Jacob's Life in Vegas, a popular YouTube channel, has inspired Campbell to livestream the Las Vegas Strip since 2019, showcasing both the city's casino-culture and the changing behaviors on the Strip, including inappropriate behavior from costumed characters and regulatory issues with filming inside casinos.
