Gaming win respectable

Thursday, June 10, 1999 | 11:23 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Buoyed by strong slot machine play, Nevada casinos won $689.3 million in April, up 5.5 percent from a year ago, the state Gaming Control Board reported today.

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

But it displayed a slowing of growth. The gaming win in each of the first three months of the year produced double digit increases compared to the 5.5 percent in April.

Part of the reason was Baccarat, Guindon said. The win on that game fell by 20.8 percent. But Guindon said that is compared to a strong showing in Baccarat in April 1998. In addition, he said other table game win was "pretty weak."

Statewide, casinos reported a 9.6 percent increase in slot machine win but gross revenue from table games fell 2.4 percent. There was a 55.6 percent, or $6.6 million, drop in revenue from Megabucks. Guindon said a year ago, players were chasing a record jackpot for Megabucks and the activity was down this year.

Casinos along the Las Vegas Strip produced a win of $326.2 million, up 6.1 percent. Guindon pointed out, however, that Bellagio and Mandalay Bay were not operating a year ago. Gross revenue from slot machines jumped 15.4 percent but table win fell by 3.4 percent. Baccarat win dropped 21 percent.

In each of the first three months of the year, Strip casinos posted 20 percent increases in gross revenue, but April fell far below that.

"It was not that strong a month, especially when you have two new properties," Guindon said, referring to the Strip showing.

For the second straight month, gross revenue reported by downtown Las Vegas casinos was down. It dropped .6 percent to $56.4 million.

"It was not a particularly good month" for the clubs in 'Glitter Gulch,' " Guindon said. Winnings from slot machines rose by 1.5 percent but revenues from the gaming tables were down 6.4 percent.

Clubs in North Las Vegas posted $17.5 million in win, up 13.8 percent. It was the second straight month these casinos reported double digit revenue increases. Slot win rose 11.7 percent and table win jump nearly 28 percent. "There was a lot of activity and a good month," for these clubs, Guindon said.

For the eighth consecutive month, Laughlin clubs registered increased win, hitting $45 million, up 6.8 percent. Slot revenue grew 8 percent and table games were up .7 percent.

Casinos along the Boulder Strip rebounded from two mediocre months, reporting winnings of $46.3 million, up 17.1 percent. The board said slot machine revenues rose 17.5 percent and game win jumped 14.6 percent.

Casinos in Mesquite reached $8 million in revenue, up 12.5 percent.

In Northern Nevada, Washoe County clubs posted their second straight month of decreased win. Gross revenue totaled $83.3 million, down 3.5 percent. Guindon said that was probably due to the absence of a national bowling tournament that was in Reno last year.

Casinos at South Lake Tahoe reported win of $19.9 million, up 1.43 percent; Elko County posted a 7.2 percent increase to $18.2 million and the Carson Valley clubs registered $6.7 million, up 4.11 percent.