Nevada casino win dropped in July

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001 | 10:47 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- For the third time this year, Nevada's casino win has declined. The amount lost by gamblers fell 2.3 percent in July, partly due to mediocre business during the July 4th weekend.

The state Gaming Control Board today reported only downtown Las Vegas and the Boulder Strip reported increased gross revenue during the month in Clark County.

Frank Streshley, senior research analyst for the board, said there was one less Saturday this July than in the same month of 2000. And July 4th this year fell on Wednesday compared to a year ago, when it was on Tuesday and visitors took a four-day weekend.

Streshley said the win statewide fell to $808.2 million, a decline of about $18 million from a year ago, which was a strong month registering a 12.8 percent increase.

Slot win rose by 2 percent statewide but game and table win fell 10.8 percent.

The board reported casino win, computed before business expenses and taxes, fell 3.7 percent on the Las Vegas Strip to $382.4 million. This was also the third decline in the seven months this year and it comes after the Strip enjoyed two consecutive months of double digit increases.

Table win on the Strip dropped 13.5 percent but slot win rose 5.3 percent. Baccarat fell 28.2 percent; 21 was down 3.2 percent; roulette declined 14.6 percent but winnings in craps rose 12.8 percent.

Downtown Las Vegas clubs recorded their ninth consecutive month of gains, reporting $55.7 million in win, up 2.5 percent. Slot win rose 1.7 percent and game and table revenues were up 5.6 percent.

The board said Laughlin registered its sixth straight month of declining revenues. Total win reached $42.9 million, a drop of 4.1 percent. Slot revenues fell 2.7 percent and game revenues were off 11.3 percent.

North Las Vegas clubs reported an 11 percent drop in revenues to $18.7 million. It was the fourth consecutive month of decline. These casinos are now competing with the nearby Sun Coast casino that apparently has siphoned off business from the North Las Vegas clubs. Game and table revenues fell 27.6 percent and slot win was down 8.7 percent.

Washoe County clubs were hard hit. The board said casino revenue fell to $99.7 million, down 9.3 percent. It was the fourth consecutive month of decline and this is the largest drop since January 1997 when the floods hit downtown Reno. Slot win fell 7.8 percent and game and table win were off 14.2 percent.

Casino revenues at South Lake Tahoe fell for the fifth straight month. They reported $41.7 million, a decrease of 1.4 percent. Slot win was off 1.8 percent and game and table revenues fell .8 percent.

Elko County casinos fell to $19.4 million, a drop of 6.8 percent. Nine of the last ten months in Elko County have registered declines. Slot win was off 4.9 percent and game and table win was off 13.9 percent.

Carson Valley casinos were one of the few places in the state that registered an increase. The board said they reported $8.6 million in gross win, up 2.3 percent. Slot win rose 4.7 percent but game and table dropped 15.5 percent.