Las Vegas Tries to Woo Canadians Back with New Promotions

Las Vegas is stepping up its efforts to attract Canadian visitors as travel from Canada continues to decline, adding pressure to a tourism sector that is already facing a rough patch. 

In a bid to lure Canadians back, one Las Vegas casino operator has launched a promotion accepting Canadian dollars at par with the US dollar until the end of August. 

The offer applies across all three Circa Resort & Casino properties and covers hotel stays, bars, and gaming, including up to $500 in gambling funds. Canadians staying at other hotels can also redeem the promotion by presenting valid Canadian identification.

The move comes amid a sharp decline in Canadian travel to Las Vegas, which is hurting the Nevada sports betting industry. Passenger volumes on Air Canada and WestJet flights to the city fell by over 30% in 2025, and Flair passengers fell by 62%. The decline is a significant concern for the Las Vegas economy, after Canadians spent around $3.6 billion in Sin City in 2024.

Las Vegas has also felt broader tourism headwinds, with last year marking the city’s weakest tourism performance in more than 20 years, excluding the pandemic. Rising prices appear to be a key factor, with visitors increasingly pointing to higher costs for hotel rooms, food, and drinks along the Strip, as well as worse gambling odds than they once were. 

There is also some evidence that changing travel priorities is having an impact. More travelers appear to be booking wellness or nature-based trips, while demand for traditional Las Vegas bachelor and bachelorette weekends may be lower.

Formula One Grand Prix provided timely lift

While overall tourism has softened, the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix has emerged as a critical bright spot, after receiving a two-year extension, remaining on the schedule until at least 2027, with talks between the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority looking to extend the contract even further.

According to Bill Hornbuckle, the Chief Executive Officer of MGM Resorts International, last year’s race provided a critical boost. 

He added that the three-day event draws roughly 150,000 visitors who would not otherwise go to Las Vegas, driving occupancy rates of about 98% across MGM’s Strip properties and leaving resorts near the Bellagio Fountain Club fully booked. 

Steve Hill, Chief Executive Officer of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, has also revealed that organizers applied lessons from the first two races to ensure smoother logistics and fewer disruptions last year. Race organizers also lowered ticket prices by an average of 30%, a move credited with helping sustain demand and attract locals. 

With new partnership extensions in place through 2030, city leaders see sporting events like the Formula One and, in the past, Super Bowl LVIII, as increasingly vital anchors for Las Vegas tourism as it works to counter broader declines in visitation.