When you visit Foxwoods or other regional casinos, you see buses pull in, but you never see a big influx of people in the casino.
That’s because those passengers, usually an older crowd, aren’t coming to play blackjack, poker, slot machines, or any other traditional casino game. They’re there for the bingo hall.
And while bingo has, perhaps, fallen somewhat out of favor outside of older demographics, the game continues to have a devoted following. Most younger players, however, have moved online.
“The global online bingo games market has demonstrated steady expansion driven by increasing digital entertainment adoption and mobile-first gaming behaviour. The market size was valued at $3.22 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $3.42 billion in 2026,” according to data from Global Growth Insights.
Bingo has been missing from the Las Vegas Strip since 2015, when the Riviera casino closed. Now, Circus Circus, a north Strip staple that still caters to families, has brought it back, launching a new bingo hall.
Circus Circus brings back bingo
Bingo remains popular at off-the-Strip casinos, and it’s played on cruise ships, but for prizes and cruise gift certificates, not cash. In a traditional casino, players pay a set amount for cards, and you can pay for and play multiple cards, with cash prizes awarded.
It’s different than the low-stakes bingo my great-grandparents played in their retirement home, but the principles are the same. In a casino, playing bingo allows players to gamble for an extended period without risking much money.
That’s actually why Las Vegas Strip casinos dropped bingo halls.
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“Because its revenue potential is much lower than table games or slot machines, it fell out of favor in the modern era. In addition, bingo halls require large footprints — and the game’s association with sleepy retirees didn’t appeal to Vegas casino executives,” SFGate reported on Yahoo.
As a frequent Las Vegas gambler, it’s easy to see why bingo players don’t appeal to Strip casinos. I can easily drop a few hundred dollars in an hour playing $10 a hand blackjack (a low bet by Las Vegas standards), which is a better use of casino space than a huge room filled with people risking $20-40 for multiple hours of play.
Circus Circus still offers circus-style acts and attractions.
Circus Circus Hotel
Circus Circus brings back Bingo
Circus Circus has, in recent years, tried to be a Las Vegas Strip casino that offers a differentiated product. While the rest of the Strip has abandoned the idea of being family-friendly, the north Strip resort casino owned by Phil Ruffin has continued to market to all ages.
Now, it’s betting that with the struggling economy, some Las Vegas Strip visitors will be looking for some lower-stakes gambling options.
“The new bingo hall embraces the true vintage Vegas bingo experience, built around paper cards, ink daubers, cheap eats, and live gameplay. Guests can purchase a full session package for $30, which includes 14 games, with prizes starting at $50 and reaching up to $1,500,” Circus Circus shared via email to TheStreet.
Outside of the bingo hall, the property also added a concession stand and coin-operated slot machines.
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“The debut of the bingo hall is part of a broader, property-wide effort to resort to an ‘old school Vegas’ feel in Las Vegas,” a Circus Circus spokesperson added.
Circus Circus is in the process of refreshing its gaming floor with updated carpeting and paint, and enhancing several food outlets.
Bingo has made a comeback in the U.K.
I’ve seen people of all ages play bingo on cruise ships, sometimes in a theater, and on other occasions, poolside. It’s a game everyone knows how to play, and which requires no skill, but still manages to be exciting.
The game has actually been growing its younger audience in the United Kingdom.
“Rank Group, which operates 52 Mecca bingo venues across the U.K., said 44% of the 187,000 new customers to its halls in the year to June were under 35 years old, up from about 39% in 2019, according to chief executive John O’Reilly, the Financial Times reported.
The game’s popularity has increased as economic struggles have grown.
“It’s because young people are increasingly discerning about where they spend their money, and [are] looking for significant value,” he said. People typically spend about £25 on a night out at bingo, excluding winnings, with a pint of beer costing £3.40 and a bottle of rosé wine £12,” FT added.
Las Vegas has seen a downturn in spending.
Nevada’s gaming industry reported $1.4 billion in gaming win for December 2025, which was 1.6% less than the same month in 2024, according to figures published by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
The Las Vegas Strip reported the largest decline, but some smaller markets reported increases.
“The softer December gaming results aligned with a broader slowdown in Las Vegas tourism across most of 2025. Visitor numbers declined by nearly 7.4% compared to 2024, according to figures released by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA),” the LVCVA reported.
Daniel Kline has been a leading voice on the Las Vegas Strip and casinos for over 30 years.
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