The 37 casinos on the Las Vegas Strip won $6 billion in 2011, an increase of 5.1 percent from the previous year, the state Gaming Control Board reported Thursday.
Fueled by the boost on the Strip, where win rose 3.5 percent from slots and 6.5 percent from games and tables, gaming operations statewide won $10.7 billion in 2011, a 2.8 percent increase from 2010.
Michael Lawton, senior research analyst for the board, said the figures "show a broader recovery" in the gaming business. Some of the Strip business is starting to overflow into the local markets, he said. In Clark County, he said the only market that posted a decrease for the year was Laughlin.
To illustrate his point, Lawton said the statewide win this year, excluding baccarat, was up 2.4 percent compared to a decline of 2.1 percent in 2010.
That figure illustrates a broader market, he said because baccarat tends to attract the high rollers.
Although the win increase wasn't in double digits and the state economy continues to struggle amid foreclosures and high unemployment, Lawton said he was optimistic for 2012, hoping for increased visitors and special events.
Elsewhere in its report, the board said win statewide averaged an increase of 1.5 percent over a 10-year period, with slot win rising 1.1 percent and table win up 2.2 percent.
The report showed Clark County provided $9.2 billion of the state's $10.7 billion gaming win in calendar 2011.
Downtown Las Vegas gaming operations registered a win of $496.6 million, only a 0.7 percent increase for the year.
Casinos in Mesquite and the balance of Clark County posted strong increases for 2011. Gaming win in the balance of Clark County jumped 12 percent, and it was up 10 percent in Mesquite.
Laughlin casinos reported a decrease of 3.7 percent. Clubs on the Boulder Strip had a 2.9 percent increase and North Las Vegas casinos reported a small 0.2 percent increase for the year.
The report showed that gaming win in Washoe County, Carson City and South Lake Tahoe was down. Washoe County dropped 3.2 percent, while Carson City was off 1.1 percent and South Lake Tahoe was down 10 percent. The $745.6 million win in Washoe County was the lowest since 1987. And the $209.5 million at South Shore Lake Tahoe was the lowest since 1984 when records started being kept.
Casinos in Elko County posted a 3 percent increase for the year.
For December, Las Vegas Strip casinos reported a win of $518.4 million, an increase of only 3.6 percent.
The showing was due to a slowdown in baccarat, where the win was down 4.5 percent. But slot win grew by 6.4 percent for the month.
Also in December:
• Sports pool win was up 30.2 percent due to heavy betting on basketball. But football win totaled $2.8 million, down 38.1 percent.
• The blackjack win jumped 33.1 percent, while craps win fell by 39 percent and roulette rose 36.8 percent on the Strip.
• Win statewide inched up 2 percent totaling $885.6 million.
• Win in the downtown Las Vegas casinos fell by 10.7 percent. North Las Vegas casinos suffered an 11.3 percent decline, Laughlin was off 8.2 percent and the Boulder Strip fell 7.3 percent.
• Win in Mesquite rose 3.1 percent for the month, and the casinos in the balance of Clark County increased 4.1 percent.
• Casinos in Washoe County closed out the year with a 10.2 percent gain. South Lake Tahoe casinos reported a 6 percent gain, Carson Valley casinos were up 4.9 percent and Elko County rose 12.1 percent.