Las Vegas takes aim at notorious tourist trap, and warnings appear along iconic Strip

Aggressive tipping demands from costumed performers onthe Las Vegas Striphave prompted a warning from local authorities.

Officials are reminding tourists that paying for street performances or character photos is never required, as

Digital messages began appearing on billboards along the Strip Oct.16 with a direct warning to tourists.

Read More → ENES KANTER FREEDOM: I know the price of silence and won’t stop defending women’s sports

LAS VEGAS PRICES SQUEEZE EVERYDAY TRAVELERS AS POPULAR CITY EMBRACES EXPENSIVE MAKEOVER

Read More → Brewers’Back-To-Back HRs Dent Dodgers’Hopes: 3 Takeaways From NLCS Game 3

“When watching performances or taking a photo, tipping is NOT required,” the signs read, according to reports.

Clark County officials said the campaign is not intended to discourage voluntary tips, however.

Women dressed as showgirls wave to visitors walking along the Las Vegas Strip Aug.7, 2025, in Las Vegas.(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

 

“It negatively impacts the economic lifeblood of not just Clark County but the entire state tax base is dependent on the Las Vegas Strip,�

The new warnings arrived after atipping dispute involving costumed showgirlson the Strip allegedly turned violent.

Two visitors from North Carolina stopped for photos with three women dressed as showgirls outside Planet Hollywood on Sept.30 and

Local officials are reminding visitors that they are not required to give tips after taking photos or watching street performances.(Candice Ward/Getty Images)

After the tourists began walking away, performer Jennifer Ortiz allegedly followed them and demanded between $60 and $180 for the photos, according to an arrest report.

The confrontation escalated into a fight thatleft both tourists injured. 

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Police said one visitor was struck more than 22 times and suffered a nearly 2-inch cut to the forehead after Ortiz allegedly hit the person with a high-heeled boot.

Read More → Massage clients report bizarre flu-like reaction after popular spa treatment

Ortiz and another performer, Magdelena Romero, were arrested. 

Ortiz was charged with battery and obtaining money under false pretenses involving less than $1,200, while Romero was charged with battery.

The push to addresstipping pressurehas since drawn reactions from both travelers and Las Vegas residents online.

Read More → Rare cancer cases strike in California community as families demand answers

The new effort is aimed at performers who pressure visitors for money or lead them to believe payment is required.(L.E.Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

“Good, it is getting a little crazy,” one Reddit user wrote.“I am glad they are clamping down after that brawl a couple of weeks ago.”

Another commenter claimedaggressive tipping demandshave been an issue for years, recalling seeing costumed performers pressure tourists for money.

onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.

Some users also offered their own thoughts about avoiding uncomfortable encounters with performers.

“Best advice is not to engage them,” one commenter advised.

She and the team cover travel, food and drink, health, relationships and more.She also produces the weekly American Culture Quiz and handles other special projects.