Nevada casinos win record $819.6 million in September

Brendan Riley

Tuesday, Nov. 9, 1999 | 10:21 a.m.

CARSON CITY - Nevada casinos won $819.6 million from gamblers in September - a record for any month and the 19th consecutive month of positive revenues for the clubs.

Frank Streshley of the Gaming Control Board said today the September win, fueled by a big fight and a new Las Vegas Strip megaresort opening, represents a 23.1 percent jump compared with the same month in 1998.

The win is what's left in casino coffers after payouts to gamblers are subtracted from money that's bet on tables or in slots. It's a gross figure, with no operating costs or other expenses deducted. And it is casino revenue only - separate from hotel, restaurant or bar revenues generated by clubs.

The GCB also said the state's percentage fees based on the win amounted to $49.4 million in September, up 27.5 percent compared with fees collected in September 1998.

Casino-related taxes along with sales taxes account for three-quarters of all revenues needed to run state government.

A breakdown of the casino win shows Las Vegas Strip resorts collected $424.4 million in September, up 40.7 percent. Main factors were the opening of the new Paris megaresort and the Trinidad-De La Hoya fight during the month.

Downtown Las Vegas clubs took in $56.7 million in September - another flat month with a gain of just under 1 percent. A wave of new hotel-casino openings on the Strip has bolstered the statewide casino win - but has cut into the downtown area's action.

Elsewhere in the state, Reno casinos won $72.8 million, up 3.5 percent, and clubs in neighboring Sparks won $14.7 million, up 3.2 percent. Streshley said the Labor Day weekend and an out-of-town crowd on hand for the Oregon State-UNR football game helped the clubs.

Resorts on Lake Tahoe's south shore won $28.1 million, down 3.7 percent, largely because of winning blackjack players.

Statewide, the September win included $294.3 million from table games, up 38.7 percent; and $520.4 million from slots, up 5.4 percent.

Among table games, craps won $40.6 million for the clubs, up 15.5 percent in September compared with September 1998. Blackjack was up 17.7 percent, winning $96 million, and baccarat was up 128 percent, winning $54.1 million.

Quarter slots won $223.4 million, up 7.7 percent; dollar slots won $132.6 million, up 13.1 percent; and nickel slots won $102.2 million, up 40.9 percent.