Strip gaming win drops 9 percent in August

By Cy Ryan

Published Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009 | 8:32 a.m.

Updated Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009 | 9:46 a.m.

CARSON CITY – Gambling winnings at the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip plummeted 9 percent in August, the 20th straight month of a decline.

“I don’t know if we’re at the bottom yet,” said Frank Streshley, chief of tax and licensing for the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which released the monthly gaming win this morning.

The board reported casinos statewide won $897 million, down 9.3 percent, also the 20th straight month of falling revenue. Total wagering fell by 13.4 percent, said Streshley who added that players are spending less time at the tables and slot machines.

August was an “unfavorable month," Streshley said. The Labor Day holidays, usually good tourist times, fell in September this year.

The 40 casinos along the Strip won $449.5 million before taxes and business expenses. Strong play in Baccarat, which rose by 48.5 percent, saved the Strip from suffering a double-digit decline.

Streshley said casinos along the Strip reported they saw a return of “premium international players” because of the weak dollar. The only strong points in slot machine play were the penny machines, which were up 17.5 percent, and $100 machines, which rose 15.4 percent compared to August 2008.

Gross win in the 21 games fell 26.2 percent; craps was off 54.5 percent; roulette fell 42.5 percent and the sports pool gross win dropped 70.1 percent.

Slot machine play on the strip was off 8.9 percent.

The 9 percent decline on the Strip compares to a 7.4 percent drop in August a year ago. But the 9 percent is only the second single-digit decline in the last 11 months. All the rest have been double-digit drops.

The board reported casinos in downtown Las Vegas won $41.9 million, off 3.8 percent. Casinos in North Las Vegas rose 21.9 percent to $22.1 million. But that increase was due to the new Aliante casino, which wasn't open a year ago.

Laughlin casinos reported $38.1 million in gross win, down 13.8 percent. Casinos on the Boulder Strip posted a 21.5 percent increase to $63.4 million in gross win. However, the M Resort, included in the Boulder Strip numbers, wasn't open a year ago.

Casinos in the balance of Clark County recorded $84.3 million, down 12.2 percent.

Washoe County posted a 20.9 percent decline with $73.8 million in gross win. It was the 26th straight decline in Washoe County. And it was the smallest gross win in the month of August since 1989.

South Lake Tahoe casinos won $21.9 million, down 28.9 percent. Casinos in the Carson Valley area reported gross win of $8.6 million, off 17.1 percent and Elko County clubs fell 14.9 percent to $22.2 million.

The state collected $49.6 million in taxes, down 13.4 percent from a year ago.