One of the great unwritten rules of Las Vegas is about to be sent to the grave with MGM Resorts announcing it will start charging for parking at its Strip properties within the next few months.
It has long been one of the great perks of travelling to Las Vegas that free parking – an increasingly rare commodity around the world – was in abundance with casino owners reluctant to scare visitors into the arms of their competitors.
But there aren’t anywhere near as many competitors as there used to be after a number of mergers and acquisitions has narrowed the number of owners and operators along the famous gaming and entertainment hub.
MGM Resorts now owns MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Bellagio, the Luxor, the Mirage, Aria, Vdara, Monte Carlo, New York New York, Excalibur and Circus Circus.
Rival operators such as Caesars have remained quiet since MGM Resorts announced the change but if history tells us anything they will follow suit in the not too distant future.
Las Vegas is famous for its perks such as free drinks and complimentary room upgrades so the news won’t go down well with visitors travelling by car. However, it has been supported by county officials, while a number of industry experts say it’s amazing free parking has survived as long as it has given the huge costs of operating properties on the Strip.
It is also a sign of the times and we expect to see many more of Las Vegas’ famous perks phased out in the next few years.
