Las Vegas tourism officials are going the extra mile to attract California gamblers. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) sent a pair of showgirls to a gas station in Southern California last week to offer free gas to drivers, with the goal of getting them to consider a trip to Sin City.
Las Vegas is about a four-hour drive from Los Angeles, and the LVCVA tagged the promotion as “fuel up and win big,” with up to $100 in gas for drivers.
“We’re really doing this ahead of the summer travel season,” LVCVA Vice President of Public Relations Molly Castano told Reuters. “About half of our visitors arrive by car, and those top-feeder markets are Southern California (and) Arizona.”
Hoping To Reverse Tourism Trends
Drivers across the country have seen gas prices spike during the military actions against Iran by the US and Israel. According to AAA, the current average price for a gallon of gas stands at $4.52 per gallon. However, Californians face the highest average prices in the country at $6.16. Arizona drivers are paying a per-gallon rate of $4.81, while Nevadans see an average price of $5.24 when fueling up.
The promotion comes as Las Vegas saw a major visitor downturn in 2025. Numbers dropped by more than 3 million people to 38.5 million, according to the LVCVA. Convention visitation was mostly flat at almost 6 million.
Also in 2025, total hotel occupancy dropped from 83.6% in 2024 to 80.3%. For those who visit by car, average daily auto traffic fell from 44,072 in 2024 to 43,301 a year later.
Despite the rough numbers last year and even into January, February and March saw casino gaming revenue gains, perhaps signaling a turnaround. The LVCVA is hoping the trend continues and that a free fill-up might coax a few more Californians to make the drive.
Watch the showgirls at the gas pumps below.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is giving away free gas to people in Southern California in hopes they’ll use it to visit Circus Circus. pic.twitter.com/Jd3ypshWai
— Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) May 8, 2026
Visitors from California will have to drive a bit farther to play some craps, slots, and poker overall. Several casinos will be shuttered in July in the city of Primm, which is located on the Nevada-California border. Primm has long been a popular spot for Californians seeking a quick gambling getaway.
