Aladdin helps boost Strip win in August

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000 | 11:02 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Nevada casinos won $814.4 million in August, a 6.7 percent increase from a year ago and the 30th straight month of percentage gains.

The state Gaming Control Board reported today that winnings in slot machines and table games both grew by 6.8 percent in the month.

Frank Streshley, senior research analyst for the board, said the numbers included winnings from the Aladdin hotel-casino, which opened Aug. 18 on the Las Vegas Strip. The performance statewide may have been affected, he said, because there was one less Saturday in the month than in August 1999. Saturday is rated as a strong casino playing day.

The board said revenue from baccarat, the game favored by high-end players, fell by 43.4 percent to $26 million. Streshley said without counting baccarat, the table and game win would have been a 20 percent increase for the month.

Roulette is starting to show a rebirth. Winnings from that game grew 41.9 percent. Streshley said that last year, roulette had one of the biggest increases in the last decade.

Sports bettors did better in August than a year ago. The casinos reported winnings of $1.4 million, down 42.6 percent.

On the Strip, the board said casino win, figured before business expenses and taxes, rose 9.3 percent to $402.5 million. That's on top of a 15.6 percent increase of a year ago in August. Winnings from slot machines rose 14 percent and revenues from the table games increased 5.2 percent. But baccarat win fell 34.4 percent or $21.7 million.

For the seventh straight month, downtown Las Vegas casinos posted increased revenues. The board said they won $53.4 million for a gain of 1.1 percent. Slot winnings fell by 0.1 percent but game and table win rose by 5.6 percent.

North Las Vegas clubs posted a total win of $21.1 million, up 6.7 percent. Streshley said this was on top of a 29 percent increase in August 1999. Slot win grew by 6.5 percent and game and table revenues rose 10.3 percent.

Casinos in Laughlin posted their 24th consecutive month of growth. Total win rose 5.5 percent to $42.2 million. Winnings from slot machines increased 7.6 percent, but revenues from table games fell by 5.3 percent.

The board said clubs on the Boulder Strip won $50.6 million, a 10.4 percent increase. Slot win rose 12.2 percent but game revenue was down 0.5 percent.

After 15 months of growth, casinos in Washoe County registered a 0.3 percent decline in the month to $100.8 million. Slot win inched up 1.7 percent but table revenues fell by 6.2 percent.

Clubs at South Lake Tahoe registered their strongest growth since December 1994. They won $44.1 million, an increase of 28.7 percent. That compares with $44.5 million in December 1994. Game and table wins were up 80.1 percent due to a big showing on the 21 tables. Winnings from that game increased 112 percent. The clubs "held" or won 22.7 percent from the game in August compared with 11.4 percent of a year ago.

Elko County casinos registered $18.7 million winnings, up 4.3 percent. Slot win rose 4.5 percent and game revenue was up 4 percent.

Carson Valley casinos posted a win of $8.4 million, or a 5 percent growth. Slot win rose 5.6 percent but table games fell by 0.3 percent.