Downtown on the rebound

Thursday, Sept. 12, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Downtown Las Vegas casinos rebounded in July, with a 25 percent increase, and resorts along the Strip posted their highest percentage increase in winnings this year.

Carried by Clark County, resorts statewide reported $641.4 million in winnings, up 5.5 percent from July 1995, the State Gaming Control Board said today.

"It was a pretty good month," said Russell Guindon, senior research analyst for the board.

"The regional results were not as good. Most of the strength was in Clark County."

Casinos along the Strip registered $312.1 million in winnings, computed before taxes and business expenses, up 10.8 percent from a year ago. It's ironic, Guindon said, that gaming winnings on the Strip were down 10.8 percent a year ago.

He said the higher gross revenue was due to the opening of the Monte Carlo and a 106 percent increase in winnings on baccarat, the game of high-rollers.

The baccarat games in Strip casinos won $31 million more this July than a year ago.

The 10.8 percent increase on the Strip was the biggest percentage gain since December 1995 when there was a 20 percent gain.

Table game play on the Strip rose by 20.1 percent to $157.3 million and slot machine play inched up 2.9 percent to $152 million.

Business at downtown Las Vegas casinos, down 2.9 percent in gross revenue in June, skyrocketed by 25 percent in July with gross win at $56.6 million. Guindon said this includes the Stratosphere, which was not operating a year ago, and overall strength in gaming. And it includes the added marketing attraction of the Fremont Street Experience, which opened in December.

Slot machine play in downtown rose by 18.3 percent to $41.8 million. And table games increased to $14.3 million, up 52.6 percent. Guindon noted that a year ago downtown casinos lost $3.3 million in "other games" which include baccarat. This year they only lost $1 million.

It was "the same old story," Guindon said for Laughlin casinos which reported $37.7 million in revenues, down 10 percent, the largest percentage decline in at least the last two years. And it was the fourth straight month that gaming win has dropped on the border town on the Colorado River, once the hottest spot in Nevada gambling.

The Boulder Strip continued its strong run. Casinos posted a 19.7 percent increase in gross revenue. Guindon said that compared to a 40 percent growth in July 1995. There are three additional casinos in the area but the other clubs are also experiencing strong growth, he said. The Strip collected $29.2 million in winnings, up about $4.8 million.

Gaming revenue from North Las Vegas reached $12 million, up 13 percent and casinos in the balance of Clark County posted a $42 million win, down 7.2 percent.

Northern Nevada casinos has their problems. In Washoe County, gaming revenue declined 5.2 percent to $86.5 million in July. And at South Lake Tahoe, play was off by 10.5 percent to $33.6 million.

Guindon said one explanation is that there was one less weekend in July this year than in 1995 and these two gaming areas depend heavily on weekend traffic.

Elko casinos reported $17.4 million in gross win, up 6 percent and Carson Valley clubs had a $6.7 million win, up 7.7 percent.