Rick Harrison blames “COVID hangover” and steep fees for Vegas tourism lull
Pawn Stars star sees pricing and pandemic fallout hurting the Strip
Rick Harrison of Pawn Stars is raising eyebrows with his candid take on Las Vegas’s current tourism slump. In a recent interview, Harrison pointed to what he called a lingering “COVID hangover” and mounting resort fees as key reasons visitors are staying away.
“For a couple of years, everyone was making crazy COVID money,” Harrison said. “The government was giving money left and right. Everybody had tons of money to spend.”
With such exuberant spending, casinos and hotels loaded prices with additional fees, Harrison argued:
“They’ve gotten a little insane with their prices… People check out and there’s $500 in stupid fees on their bills—resort fees and parking fees and this fee and that fee.”
Tourism numbers decline, but gaming remains strong
Las Vegas welcomed just 3.1 million visitors in June, marking an 11% year-over-year decline. Hotel occupancy fell about 6.5 percentage points, and the average room rate dipped to $164 per night—a 6.6% decrease.
Despite fewer tourists, gaming revenue tells a different story: casinos pulled in $1.36 billion in July, a 4% increase, with a healthy uptick on the Strip.
Industry insiders weigh in
Circa Resort CEO Derek Stevens pushed back on doomsday scenarios, noting that not all sectors are down. Some boutique venues and downtown properties are thriving by offering better value.
Still, sources estimate Las Vegas lost nearly 300,000 fewer passengers through Harry Reid International Airport this July, a 5.7% drop compared to last year.
Harrison urges a shift in strategy
Harrison sees a clear path forward:
“If you’re trying to scrape every penny out of a customer, eventually you’re going to turn them off. Casinos on the Strip have to straighten out a little bit.”
He stressed that Las Vegas still has unparalleled value for visitors—thanks to blockbuster shows, major sporting events, and lavish entertainment experiences—but winning back visitors will require making them feel welcome, not nickel-and-dimed.
Image Sources: https://www.foxnews.com/travel/pawn-stars-rick-harrison-calls-strip-casino-prices-insane-blames-covid-hangover
Category: Local News
Subcategory: Business & Tourism
Date: 09/2/2025
