Strip casino gaming win jumps 12.8 percent in March

Fireworks explode over the Las Vegas Strip just after midnight Jan. 1, 2011. This photo was taken from Mix atop The Hotel at Mandalay Bay.

CARSON CITY – After three declining months, casinos on the Las Vegas Strip in March posted a 12.8 percent increase in gaming win fueled by strong showings in baccarat and other table games.

The state Gaming Control Board reported today the Strip casinos reported $527.2 million in win. The Boulder Strip was the only other region of Clark County to register an increase.

Strip casinos were the only area in the state to post a double-digit increase in gaming win, which is computed before business expenses and taxes.

Michael Lawton, senior research analyst for the board, said the Las Vegas area drew 118,000 people to the ConExpo-Con/Agg construction convention in March, which is held every three years. He said the Miguel Cotto-Ricardo Mayorga fight was another attraction, while Celine Dion made an eight-show appearance.

The Strip win of 12.8 percent compares to a 2 percent increase in win in March 2010.

Since November, the win at Strip casinos had declined compared to the same month of the previous year. But Strip casinos saw a 55.1 percent increase in baccarat win, a 23.9 percent gain on blackjack and a 62.4 percent increase in roulette win.

The win from slot machines increased 0.9 percent, while the sports book win fell 38.8 percent with losses in football betting.

The control board reported gaming win statewide increased by 5.1 percent to $958.7 million.

In Clark County, the casinos on the Boulder Strip reported a slight gain, up 0.1 percent. Casinos in downtown Las Vegas were off 0.2 percent; North Las Vegas casinos were down 2.8 percent; Laughlin was off 3.2 percent; Mesquite dropped 0.1 percent and the rest of the county fell 1.5 percent.

Win at casinos in Washoe County fell 7.3 percent and South Lake Tahoe casinos dropped 29.8 percent in win compared to March 2010. Gaming win in Elko County was up 2.1 percent and the Carson Valley area increased 0.9 percent.

The board said tax collections from the gross win totaled $79.6 million based on the March win. That was a 0.35 percent decrease compared to last March.

Gaming

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