Nevada casinos win $827.6 million in July

Brendan Riley

Monday, Sept. 11, 2000 | 12:42 p.m.

CARSON CITY - Nevada casinos opened the fiscal year by winning $827.6 million from gamblers during July - up nearly 13 percent from the same month a year earlier.

The state Gaming Control Board said Monday the money represents the amount kept by resorts after gamblers bet $12.3 billion.

"It was a real strong month from start to finish, weekends and weekdays," said the GCB's Frank Streshley. He added that the 4th of July fell on a Tuesday and it's apparent from the casino win that many gambling tourists arrived on the preceding weekend and had a 4-day holiday.

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

Statewide, the July win included $277.5 million from house-banked table games, up 13.8 percent. A breakdown shows craps was up 11.5 percent, roulette was up 25.7 percent, baccarat was up 18.5 percent and blackjack was up 2 percent.

The statewide win on slots totaled $544.6 million, up 12.5 percent. A breakdown shows Megabucks was up 29.3 percent, quarter slots were up 2.2 percent, dollar slots were up 6.9 percent, and nickel slots were up 35.5 percent.

A market-by-market breakdown shows clubs on the Las Vegas Strip won $397.3 million, up 15.3 percent; and downtown Las Vegas casinos won $54.4 million, up 4.3 percent.

Resorts in the Reno-Sparks-North Tahoe area won a record $110.1 million, up 10.6 percent. Reno's share was $83 million, up 13 percent; while Sparks casinos won $14.5 million, up 1.2 percent; and North Tahoe clubs won $5.7 million, up 12.3 percent.

On Tahoe's south shore, the casino win was $42.4 million, up 5 percent. The dollar total is the highest for the area since a record $44.5 million win in December 1994.

State taxes collected based on the July win totaled $48.8 million. That's up 6 percent compared with taxes collected for the same period a year earlier.