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Las Vegas Gambling News - Visitor Numbers Tank & NBA Player Pinched for Not Paying Marker

There's big news from Las Vegas as visitor numbers are in, and it's not pretty. An NBA veteran gets arrested for fraud due to his unpaid casino markers at a Vegas property. We have all the Vegas updates you need to know.

Steve Lapinski
Steve Lapinski

Last updated: 2025-07-28

Chad Nagel

4 minutes read

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Latest Las Vegas Visitor and Occupancy Numbers Show Steep Declines

Trouble is brewing in the Las Vegas economy, fueled by falling hotel occupancy rates, dropping visitor counts, and decreased spending.

Hotel occupancy dropped to an anemic 66.7% in early July, according to statistics obtained from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Revenue per available room sunk to $102.75, an enormous drop of nearly 29%.

Traffic through Harry Reid International Airport fell by 4% overall, while domestic arrivals dropped by 6.5% and international visitor numbers plunged by 13% in the month of June.

Tourists Irritated by Nickel-and-Diming

Online forums and commenting on social media channels echo the complaints heard on the streets and in casino properties, with tourists increasingly annoyed by $20+ bottles of water, oppressive resort fees and parking charges, and fees for items that were previously complementary, such as early check-in (when available.)

Politics and Economic Fears Fueling Drop in Demand

In what some are labeling the "Trump Slump" due to increased visa fees, excessive immigration interrogation, and less foreigner-friendly policies, overseas travelers and our Canadian friends are often looking for other places to spend their tourist dollars.

Put that on top of the perceived price gouging by Strip properties, and the recipe for falling visitor numbers and spending is complete.

13 Year NBA Veteran and ESPN and Yahoo Sports Analyst Pinched at Airport for Unpaid Casino Marker

Former 13-year NBA veteran and ESPN and Yahoo Sports Analyst Marcus Morris learned the hard way that you must always pay your casino markers at Nevada casinos.

Morris, 35, was with his family at Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport when he was arrested for the felony charge of writing a bad check. According to Morris' agent, the arrest stemmed from an unpaid casino marker at a Las Vegas casino.

Casino markers are interest-free loans that casinos extend to valued patrons so they can continue to play, with the balance due within a certain amount of time. Most properties set this period at thirty days.

If the marker remains unpaid, the casino property can attempt to collect the marker as a check on the borrower's bank account.

So, Morris allegedly bounced a check? Should that get you arrested at the airport in front of your family?

In most cases, no, an unpaid debt won't get you tossed in jail. However, Morris' alleged debt was to a casino in the form of a marker, and Nevada law takes two things very seriously, cheaters and unpaid debts at casinos.

In fact, an unpaid marker over $1,200 that results in a bounced check is considered a Class D felony in the state of Nevada. Potential consequences are up to four years in prison and $5,000 in fines. That is in addition to the charge for the uncollected marker debt.

It is unclear what's next for Morris.

Steve Lapinski
Steve LapinskiCasino Editor

Steve Lapinski specializes in just about everything related to slot machines and casino games, both online and in land-based casinos in the USA. With over 25 years experience in the online gaming industry and nearly 40 years as a recreational gambler, the breadth of his knowledge on these topics is matched by few. Steve is passionate about casinos, and he takes great pride in sharing his knowledge of the subject with his readers.