Airline cuts, gas woes making Vegas tougher ticket

Feldman said MGM Mirage has put together programs to entice visitors, wooing them with package deals, free nights and vouchers for show tickets and food.

With the airline industry expected to lose $2.3 billion this year, airline industry analyst Robert Mann said it may be up to big casinos to subsidize travel into Vegas, by land and by air.

"There's such an interest among hoteliers for arrivals that you may see more charter flying going back into Las Vegas," he said.

But the gambling industry in Las Vegas and Atlantic City is bracing for a hit this year, too.

Nevada will see revenues dip this year and next year, to $12.4 billion in 2009 compared to $12.8 billion in 2007, according to a forecast of worldwide gambling released Wednesday by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

The financial consulting company said it expects Nevada to rebound in 2010 and see gambling revenue grow to $14.8 billion in 2012.

"It's going to take a little while for the market to right itself, but I do think that that's what will happen," Feldman said.

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