The clock is approaching midnight in 2025. Soon, Auld Lang Syne, party poppers, and fireworks will beckon in 2026, and as we look towards a fresh 12 months, it’s time to reflect on the year that’s been.
You name it, we’ve covered it
Here at VegasSlotsOnline News, we’ve had a tremendously busy year keeping up with the latest in gambling news. You name it, we’ve covered it. Everything from arrests in South East Asian illegal gambling centers, to poker cheating controversies, and major jackpots in Las Vegas.
As we slowly say goodbye to 2025, VSO News has searched back through the top stories of 2025 to make sure you’re entirely up to date on the latest. Check out our top stories of 2025 below, and make sure you join us for 2026.
Layoffs in Las Vegas as Sin City “Dies”
Perhaps unsurprisingly for a news site names VegasSlotsOnline, Las Vegas featured heavily in our news stories this year. However, unlike previous years, this time it was for the wrong reasons as the American gambling capital struggled to maintain profit levels amid declining tourism.
One result of this was layoffs in major casinos. In one of our top performing stories of 2025, Excalibur laid off workers and cut housekeeper hours. The MGM Resorts International-owned property laid off valets, bell desk staff, and doorpersons in March.
MGM followed up this action in September with further layoffs, this time axing the majority of its Corporate HR Vice Presidents.
VSO News investigated the claim reported by many news sources this year that Las Vegas is “dying.” While Sin City has certainly had a more difficult time of late (tourism has declined around 8% from 2024), casino revenue has actually remained solid, up around 4% year-on-year in the summer.
The next 16 months are going to be the best convention months this city has ever had or ever seen”
Casino executives are also confident visitation will bounce back. Bill Hornbuckle, MGM CEO, is confident the next few months will bring Vegas back to its former glory. “The next 16 months are going to be the best convention months this city has ever had or ever seen,” he explained during the recent Global Gaming Expo, adding that Vegas isn’t “broken in any way shape or form.”
Bettor Refuses to Cash Out His $270k Parlay
We have covered plenty of big bets this year, from Adin Ross’s $2m wager on Jake Paul to a number of eye-watering bets courtesy of Canadian rapper Drake. It was a wager from an unknown gambler though that gained the most attention on VSO News this year.
In June, news surfaced of a gambler who had a $13 parlay involving five teams who had to win their respective leagues. When we began covering the story, the DraftKings bettor had already bagged three of those picks, including the LA Dodgers, NY Liberty, and Philadelphia Eagles. He just needed the Edmonton Oilers to win the NHL and Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA.
At that time, the gambler, named Drew Hirschmann, had a cash out of $123,614 on his bet, which stood to win $270,762 if it proved successful. That means he managed to get odds of +2,082,680 on the outrageous bet, which was placed before any of the seasons had begun.
while the Thunder won in the NBA, the Oilers lost the Stanley Cup four games to one
Ultimately, it wasn’t to be for the unemployed college graduate. He let the bet run, and while the Thunder won in the NBA, the Oilers lost the Stanley Cup four games to one. Although his bet may have lost, the gambler managed to walk away with some cash after hedging his bet on the Florida Panthers and Thunder winning their respective series, returning him $59,243.
Card Counter Goes Viral After Casino Refuses Payout
While card counting might be looked down upon in the world of casino gambling, it’s actually not illegal. Casinos often throw patrons out if they see them engaging in the behavior, but if they win money then they are legally obligated to pay out. This issue came to a head in one of our most popular stories this year.
Brutal Chameleon is a TikTok star and self-confessed card counter. On his TikTok page, he provides tips on how to count cards, and shares videos of himself using the strategy in casinos. One particular video went viral this year when he won $18,887 in an unspecified American casino. When he went to secure his payout though, the staff refused.
The video shows a staff member begin to count out the funds before security arrive and tell the gambler that he won’t be receiving his money. By this point, he had already received $10,000 of the cash though, and he told the security guard he could “go ahead and call the cops” if he wanted that money back.
According to the TikTok content creator, he did manage to secure the rest of his cash after complaining to the gaming regulator with the help of his attorney.
Xposed Suffers Biggest Single-Day Gambling Loss Ever
Gambling streamer Xposed is often in the VSO News headlines, whether its in our Big Win Wednesday feature or because he has been streaming with rap superstars like Drake and Snoop Dogg. But the Canadian streamer will not be best pleased about one of our most popular articles this year.
went on to try his look at Caesars Palace and lost even more money
The content creator, real name Cody Burnett, lost a substantial playing blackjack and then baccarat at Resorts World in Las Vegas. He went on to try his look at Caesars Palace and lost even more money. He was streaming at the time, and confirmed that the $3m he lost was the biggest he had ever suffered in one day.
Xposed stated with $100,000 in chips at Resorts World and kept reloading, before he moved on to baccarat. When he continued to lose at Caesars, one of his friends on camera said they would not return to Las Vegas in a long time after the dealer dealt five banker wins in a row in baccarat.
Xposed shocked his fans in March last year after swapping Stake for Roobet as his official partner. The Canadian spent two years with Stake before decided to return to its competitor. Stake owns Kick, which is the streaming platform Xposed uses to make his content.
The Big Beautiful Tax on Gamblers Bill
Undoubtedly, US President Donald Trump has littered the headlines across the world this year. From his tariff war to his deadly war on drug traffickers and clamp down on illegal immigrants through ICE, the 79-year-old has never been far from the spotlight.
the legislation proposed limiting gambling losses to just 90% of winnings
Among those headlines, was the story of the One Big Beautiful Bill. It was a budget reconciliation bill passed by the House of Representatives in May. Among a large amount of other polices, the legislation proposed limiting gambling losses to just 90% of winnings, affecting the tax returns of professional gamblers.
Our very own poker pro David Lappin provided a detailed analysis of the bill and how it would impact those in his profession.
Some are fighting back against the legislation though, namely Congresswoman Dina Titus and her supporters. She vowed to fight the federal ta law changes through her FAIR Bet Axt, which she attached to the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act in August. That failed the following month though, as the House Rules Committeee rejected her add-on.
The gambling law change is due to become reality on January 1, 2026 for the new tax year. It is unclear what the outcome will be, but no doubt pro gamblers are watching on with bated breath.
