Nevada’s gambling sector is making headlines this month, with crucial maneuvers showcasing the state’s potential for further expansion. BonusFinder, an online casinos comparison site, explores all.
First, Sin City lawmakers have loosened restrictions on high-roller gaming rooms – allowing for greater access to VIP salons. Seconding that pivotal motion is August’s gaming revenue report, which outlined a $1.23bn haul across all verticals.
Do these developments demonstrate Nevada’s propensity for consistent growth, or will the state slip backwards, as was seen in July?
High-roller gaming salons now open to more players…
In late September, the Nevada Gaming Commission unanimously approved a proposal to unwind tight restrictions on VIP gaming salons. The government-led agency announced the changes during the first week of Autumn, following a year of multi-department cooperation.
VIP gaming salons serve as Nevada’s primary means of attracting big spenders (commonly dubbed ‘whales’). For decades, these individuals have represented a not-insignificant portion of the region’s total gaming revenue, with deposit guarantees of $300,000 ensuring that every participant is adequately positioned for sizable wagers.
The most recent modifications to Nevada’s VIP salons occurred in 2001 and 2008, both in the wake of crises and uncertainty. This time around, state-based operators are seeking to maintain holistic consistency and drive player attraction and retention strategies.
Nevada has performed quite well since 2020’s global shutdown – though 2025 represented its first post-COVID dip.
Rolling back longstanding restrictions could inject appreciable investment into an industry currently stalling somewhat…but there are no guarantees of success.
What changes has Nevada made to VIP gaming salon access?
Nevada introduced gaming salon restrictions in 2001, as part of a wider plan to generate income from international players with deep pockets. Anyone who ventured to Monaco, London, Macau or Marina Bay for private, high-stakes gambling was a target.
However, such stringent measures created issues for operators – with many viewing Nevada’s high-roller limits as overly restrictive. Hence, 2008’s round of adjustments. After those alterations, Nevada’s main provisions for VIP gambling were as follows…
- Players were required to deposit at least $300,000 to enter a VIP gaming salon.
- A $500 minimum limit for slots wagers applied.
- Salons must have operated at least one active table game.
- Guests of VIP patrons could continue playing for up to six hours after their partner departed the game or venue.
Nearly two decades on from the last gaming salon revamp, the Nevada Gaming Commission agreed to refine the aforementioned rules via a proposal titled Senate Bill 459 (SB459).
Several core amendments will now be rolled out, as per SB459:
- Entry threshold lowered from $300,000 to $20,000 per player.
- The $500 betting floor for slots is no more; venues may choose in-house limits.
- Poker is now allowed in VIP salons, with $10,000 minimum buy-ins.
- Guest visitation period extended from six hours to 24 hours.
A group of vital Nevada operators and bodies spearheaded the changes seen in SB459, as MGM, Hard Rock, Wynn and the Nevada Resort Association (NRA) all sought to relinquish industry constraints.
Premium salon revisions follow promising August revenue report
Although 2025 was Nevada’s weakest period post-2020, the state’s revenue report for August suggests forward-thinking and accessibility-focused changes – like those included in SB459 – could see Sin City recapture prior prosperity.
Word of the region’s improving gaming sector comes by way of the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), which released its industry figures for August this week.
Most pertinent is an impressive 5.5% year-on-year total revenue increase to $1.23bn. That places August 2025 above results for the same month in 2022 ($1.21bn), 2023 ($1.21bn) and 2024 ($1.16bn).
Baccarat also enjoyed success throughout August, driving a 52.6% revenue increase on the previous year. Similar favorable data favored card and table games, each posting 12.6% growth. Together, these sectors accounted for 43% of overall gaming yield.
And, relevant to changes set out in SB459, industry onlookers suspect that much of that cash flow was derived from high-roller players.
Other arenas reported generous earnings, too – as mobile sports betting jumped 98.6% to $29.4m, while remote and retail sports betting rose 68.1%. Football attracted $16.3m in revenue, and is expected to deliver positive returns through the Fall.
Las Vegas Strip gets back on its feet with $652m haul
The famous Las Vegas Strip endured a difficult summer in terms of retail visitation. However, the US’s gambling hub remains a stalwart for revenue – improving 2% to $652.1m in August.
While deeply reliant on whales for the time being, Vegas operators hope that looser VIP gaming restrictions will encourage previously excluded groups to partake in high-stakes gaming.
The demise of penny slots in August reaffirmed an industry-wide understanding that The Strip is struggling to retain and attract budget-aware players; this division took a 31.2% hit, descending to $93.1m. On the flipside, flexible-credit slot machines soared to $508.5m, a 14.2% increase.
Clark County (for which Las Vegas is the seat) constitutes the majority of Nevada’s gaming revenue – and accounted for $1.02bn of the state’s $1.21bn total in August.
Will Nevada’s accessible VIP gaming rooms guarantee improved revenue?
Nevada’s month-to-month revenue reports continue to display strong expenditure in baccarat and table games, with weaker results across traditional products, such as penny slots.
Data accumulated by the NGCB indicates that players are shifting away from low-cost games in favor of multi-denomination and more expensive titles. As such, the decision to loosen VIP gaming salon restrictions may present significant upside.
Those who were earlier priced out of high-stakes games might now be able to enter these specialized gaming rooms. Meanwhile, patrons can familiarize guests with facility accoutrements for extended periods.
Of particular interest is the newfound ability for venues to set unique entry requirements – potentially paving the way for limit-free access.
This could make for steady revenue escalation – but only time will tell whether Nevada experiences tangible revenue expansion off the back of the more lax VIP rules..
