BMM qp strip CI Feb26.indd 1 STATESIDE It’s that time again!


It’s that time when enough data has accumulated from the prior year to assess the U.S. industry. The American Gaming Association (AGA) President/CEO Bill Miller recently made some bold predictions for 2026. Sharon Harris explains…


characters sitting with me at the table was half the fun. If I played my cards right (not to make a pun!) I could spend hours winning and losing for the same $20.


Apparently, millions of others also prefer a quieter, more subdued environment. CRBE Capital Advisors Director, Equity Research John DeCree says his firm has an “upbeat” view of the local Las Vegas market in 2026 and 2027. He cites the tax cuts under the 900-plus-page Trump One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB Act), which I wrote about in last month’s column. There are two components impacting the local’s market.


First is the concentration of employees living across Clark County whose income is significantly affected by tips. They are no longer taxed on the tips or overtime.


s 2025 came to a close in Q4, industry leaders voiced a much more positive attitude towards gaming’s status than in Q1 of 2025. The stock market is much improved, including some of my own investments, from 12 months ago. Because so many casino companies are publicly traded on the stock exchanges, executives nationwide anticipate these conditions could also translate into higher revenues, heavier customer traffic and better accounting in 2026.


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While 26 percent voiced excitement for improved business, no one believed a decline was imminent. Those positive thinkers cite revenue growth, a healthy balance sheet, fewer worries about inflation and interest rates


14 FEBRUARY 2026


and steady capital investments in better casino food and beverage services. Almost every American jurisdiction’s gaming is restricted to designated casino zones, but Nevada’s law allows it everywhere statewide. Most people only think of the Las Vegas Strip in Clark County, but there are hundreds of neighborhoods or smaller, less glitzy properties across the southern Nevada region.


I’ve always preferred the neighborhood casinos across Las Vegas and found my way at many with $2 blackjack over the years. I’ve even taken Casino International colleagues for a fun evening.


Those days are long gone, but the entertainment value of the fascinating cast of


Second is how many retirees have relocated to Nevada from neighboring states, like California, to escape the onerous taxes. It reminds me of the migration to Florida, with lower taxes, from the Northeast states along the East Coast. In the Atlantic City region, home to thousands of retirees and veterans, a large percentage enjoy gambling, as long as they remain within their budget. The social experience, plus the thinking when placing their bets, keeps them coming.


The Gaming Conditions Index (GCI or the Index) reveals actual economic activity gaming in Q3, as compared to the prior year. The Index measures gaming revenue, employment, employee wages and salaries, gaming executive opinion and future activity at casino hotels. While all sounds favorable, certain variables will always impact the revenues. For example, a massive snowstorm hit more than 40 states and


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