Credit card processing and merchant services in Las Vegas, NV
In the city of Las Vegas, accommodation and food services sales passed $5 billion in 2022. At that volume, card fees, surcharge rules and the FTC's pricing rule all matter.
If you sell hotel rooms, vacation rentals or show tickets in Las Vegas, start with the FTC. Its Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees has covered short-term lodging and live-event tickets since May 12, 2025, and it requires covered businesses to show the total price with mandatory fees included. A fee every guest or ticket buyer has to pay belongs in that total.
Nevada's own rules are lighter. We found no state statute capping surcharges, and the Attorney General's 2020 consumer alert treats them as legal when they're posted at the entrance and the register, itemized on the receipt, and no higher than the merchant's card cost. Sales tax starts from Nevada's 6.85% minimum statewide rate and depends on the county, so confirm the current Clark County rate with the Department of Taxation when you set up a terminal.
The volume is what makes the details matter. The Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 679,817 in July 2025, and the 2022 Economic Census counted about $5.2 billion in accommodation and food services sales within city limits, not counting the rest of the county.
Debit deserves a quick look too. On a $12 debit sale with a card from a large bank, Regulation II caps interchange at 21 cents plus 0.05% of the sale plus 1 cent, about 22.6 cents. You can't surcharge that card, so the processor's markup on top is the part you can control.
Send us a recent statement for a free statement review and we'll show you what that markup costs you, or see how we work with restaurants.
Rules that matter in Las Vegas
Federal total-price rule for lodging and tickets
This one is federal, but it reaches many Las Vegas businesses. The FTC's Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees has applied since May 12, 2025 to businesses that sell short-term lodging or live-event tickets, such as hotels, vacation rentals and ticket sellers. Covered businesses must show the total price, including mandatory fees. Restaurants and retail shops fall outside this rule.
Source: FTC, FTC rule on unfair or deceptive fees to take effect on May 12, 2025
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Common questions
What sales tax rate do I charge in Las Vegas?
Clark County's rate, which the Department of Taxation's county map lists as 8.375% since January 1, 2020. That is above Nevada's 6.85% statewide minimum because the county adds its own share. Rates can change, so confirm the current Clark County rate with the department rather than copying one from an old receipt.
Does the FTC fee rule apply to my Las Vegas business?
It does if you sell live-event tickets or short-term lodging, such as hotel rooms or vacation rentals. The rule took effect on May 12, 2025 and requires covered businesses to show the total price, including mandatory fees. Restaurants and retail shops aren't covered by it, though Nevada's own consumer protection rules still apply.
Can a Las Vegas bar or restaurant add a credit card surcharge?
Yes, as far as Nevada law goes; we found no statute that caps them. Follow the Attorney General's 2020 guidance and the card networks: post signs at the entrance and the point of sale, show the charge on the receipt, keep it at or below your cost, and never apply it to debit or prepaid cards.
Why can't I surcharge debit cards in Las Vegas?
Because Visa and Mastercard don't allow it anywhere in the US, Nevada included. Debit from large banks is already cheap, though: Regulation II caps interchange at 21 cents plus 0.05% of the sale, plus a 1 cent fraud-prevention adjustment. On a $50 sale, that's 24.5 cents.
More Nevada cities besides Las Vegas
Disclaimer: general information, not professional advice
This page is general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Rules and rates vary by place and change, so confirm them with the official source and a qualified professional before you act. Full terms are in our Terms of Service.
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