Las Vegas tries to lure Canadian travellers with dollar-at-par deals

The Circa Resort & Casino is one of three Las Vegas destinations taking Canadian money at par to try to lure more visitors. Photo by Ryan Gobuty /For Circa Resort & Casino

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It’s no secret that travel to the U.S. has plunged since American President Donald Trump started his war of words with Canadians and began slapping tariffs on everything from steel and softwood to cars and trucks.

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Canadians responded with their wallets at the grocery store and by spending their travel dollars either at home or “anywhere but the U.S.,” as one travel agent summed it up.

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Passenger traffic on cross-border flights was down for the 14th consecutive month in March, according to data released last week by Statistics Canada. The numbers fell seven per cent compared with March 2025 at about 1.2 million screened passengers.

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As with other major U.S. destinations like Hawaii, California and Florida, Las Vegas has been hit hard.

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According to statistics reported by Vegas TV station KLAS last week, Canadian travel to the city dropped 17.4 per cent in 2025, to about 1.2 million visitors — down from about 1.45 million a year earlier. Before COVID-19, Vegas could regularly count on hosting 1.4 million to 1.8 million Canadians each year.

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The numbers from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority show that, despite the drop, Canadians remain the largest cohort of international visitors to the tourist mecca. Which explains why resorts are trying so hard to keep them coming.

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There are signs that the 2025 slump is starting to ease. Visitors Authority numbers for the first few months of 2026 show upticks in visitors of about two per cent compared with the previous year. While those monthly reports don’t break down the visitor numbers from individual countries, promotions aimed at luring Canadians might be helping turn the tide for Vegas.

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The bar at the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino. The resort is one of three in Las Vegas taking Canadian money at par throughout the summer to try to draw more visitors. Photo by Courtesy of Golden Gate Las Vegas

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Earlier this year, a group of Las Vegas destinations — Circa Resort & Casino, the D Las Vegas, and Golden Gate Hotel & Casino — began offering Canadian visitors a deal where their dollars were treated at par with the still-mighty U.S. greenback.

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“Within three months, the promotion has drawn more than 50,000 Canadian visitors, generated more than 5,100 hotel room bookings and produced over $10 million in slot play,” said the ownership group for the three casinos.

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The promotion has been successful enough that the resorts are continuing it through Aug. 31, and adding free concerts by Canadian artists Tiga on May 15 and Finger Eleven on June 27. The at-par program doesn’t require that guests stay at the hotels to take advantage of it for gambling, drinks and entertainment offerings.

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The D Las Vegas even has a drinking establishment inside called BarCanada that celebrates Canadian sports and culture, complete with hockey on TV and maple leaves on the backs of the bar stools.

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BarCanada in The D Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas. Photo by Courtesy of The D Casino & Hotel

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“Canadians have always played a meaningful role in downtown Las Vegas, and we’re incredibly appreciative of the loyalty they continue to show our city,” said Derek Stevens, owner and CEO of Circa, The D and Golden Gate. “The response to our at-par program has been tremendous and we look forward to creating more exciting moments for our guests from the Great White North.”