March Madness Puts Las Vegas Back in the Game NYT | Top Stories By: Ken Belson 1 April 2026 at 03:46 The influx of fans during this month’s college basketball tournament is a welcome lift to the city’s casinos and hotels after a dismal 2025, when the number of visitors fell 7.5 percent. © Roger Kisby for The New York TimesCrowds pack the Las Vegas sportsbooks to place bets on the N.C.A.A. March Madness basketball tournament and then watch who wins the games.