In Las Vegas, high prices are nothing new. Still, a short video filmed inside the MGM Grand has struck a nerve and reignited debate about how far casinos can push their prices before visitors push back.
“Is That Out of Control or What?”
Michael Levitt, a Hollywood television producer known for shows like Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List and the Billboard Music Awards, posted a 31-second TikTok on February 15 while standing in the hotel’s gift shop. In the clip, he holds up a Snickers bar and tells viewers it costs $13.
“People wonder why people aren’t coming to Vegas,” he says. “Is that out of control or what?”
The video initially gained modest traction, picking up around 14,700 likes. As expected, however, things escalated quickly after the X account @WallStreetApes shared it three days later. Within a day, it had been viewed more than 1.2 million times.
“This is why Las Vegas needs to be boycotted,” the account wrote. “This price on this isn’t just a scam. It should be considered criminal.”
Some Tried to Justify the Price Tag
The reactions came fast. Many people said the price was a perfect example of why some travelers feel priced out of Las Vegas. Others pointed out that the candy bar was not a standard Snickers, but a Cherry Whip version that is imported and usually costs more.
“This is disingenuous, that’s an imported candy bar,” one commenter noted. “Try finding one in a regular store.”
Some also questioned the video because Levitt did not show the price tag. He responded with another clip later the same day, this time buying a different candy bar at the same shop. The register showed $12.99.
“Told ya, 13 dollars!” he said.
Local outlet Las Vegas Locally offered a more practical take on the situation. The reason for the price, it suggested, was simple convenience.
MGM can charge $13 “because enough of you are willing to pay that much,” the outlet wrote, adding: “Also, you‘re not paying $13 for a Snickers. You’re paying $13 to not have to make the short walk down the street to the Walgreens, where they cost $2.”
Not Their First Rodeo
This is far from the first time casino pricing has sparked backlash. Visitors have complained about everything from $2 tap water to $50 early check-in fees across major Strip resorts, a $50 cord-unplugging fee at Paris Las Vegas.
Even Bill Hornbuckle, chief executive officer of MGM Resorts International, has admitted that prices sometimes go too far.
“When we think about pricing and things that got everyone’s attention, whether it’s the infamous ($26) bottle of water or Starbucks coffee at Excalibur that cost $12, shame on us,” he said.
“We should have been more sensitive to the overall experience at a place like Excalibur. To those customers, you can’t have a $29 room and a $12 coffee.”, the CEO added.
