Nevada gaming revenue topped $1 billion in May, with Clark County boasting a particularly good month, the state reported today.
The Gaming Control Board said the slightly more than $1 billion won by state casinos marked a 3.33 percent increase from May 2014. For the fiscal year, however, gaming revenue is still down 0.99 percent.
Michael Lawton, senior research analyst for the gaming board, said May was the first time state gaming revenue hit the $1 billion mark since December 2013.
It was a big month for events, particularly in Clark County, where the Mayweather-Pacquiao boxing match and the Rock in Rio music festival were held.
Statewide, baccarat revenue dropped 36.39 percent to $109.8 million, while slot revenue rose 8 percent to $601.4 million.
“It was just basically a really strong month in your non-baccarat business,” Lawton said. The state has seen eight consecutive increases in gaming win excluding baccarat, he said.
Every reporting area in Clark County reported revenue increases compared to 2014.
On the Strip, which accounts for more than half the state total, gaming revenue rose 1.39 percent from last year to $601.2 million.
Slot revenue there increased 11.93 percent to $272.5 million and sports pool revenue rose 92.2 percent to $9.7 million. Baccarat revenue, meanwhile, decreased 36.09 percent to $109.2 million.
Areport from Union Gaming Group said the Strip’s strength for month likely had something to do with the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, which was held May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“The increased visitor volumes during the fight weekend contributed to some of the uptick in slot and table volumes, suggesting the big fight played a significant role in the Strip’s performance in May,” the report said.
The fight, as well as Rock in Rio, also helped drive a new high for tourism figures in May. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said May’s more than 3.7 million tourists gave it the record for most visitors in one month. The figure was also up 4.8 percent from last year.
Downtown Las Vegas casinos reported $44.6 million in revenue, up 15.45 percent from last year. North Las Vegas and the Boulder Strip also saw double-digit increases for the month, with gaming revenue in those areas rising 14.96 percent and 10.47 percent, respectively.
In Laughlin and Mesquite, gaming revenue increased 1.55 percent and 3 percent, respectively.
Washoe County casinos had a good month, too — revenue there was up 2.42 percent from 2014 to $70.6 million. In Reno, gaming revenue was $52.9 million for the month, up 1.53 percent from last year.
The state collected $62.8 million in taxes on May’s revenue, up 14.26 percent from 2014.