Nevada gaming revenue up more than 5 percent in April

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun

Dice roll across the craps table during the opening of the Downtown Grand Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Sunday, October 27, 2013.

Nevada gaming revenue rose significantly in April, with some particularly strong increases in the Las Vegas area, the state said today.

The Gaming Control Board said state casinos won $897.9 million last month, up 5.39 percent from the same month a year ago. For the fiscal year, however, gaming revenue is still down 1.44 percent.

On the Strip, which accounts for more than half of the state total, casinos won $498.9 million in April, up 7.77 percent from April 2014. Slot revenue there increased 11.07 percent to $262 million, while baccarat revenue increased 5.33 percent to $95.2 million.

Although baccarat has often moved the needle for the state, Michael Lawton, senior research analyst for the gaming board, stressed the month’s strong slot numbers. Slot revenue was up statewide by 6.12 percent; baccarat increased 5.64 percent statewide.

“This was one of those months where baccarat didn’t hurt us,” Lawton said, but “it wasn’t necessarily the driver.”

Another plus for baccarat numbers: betting volume for the game was up year-over-year for the second consecutive month, Lawton said. Before that, it had declined for six straight months.

A report today from Union Gaming Group highlighted the Strip’s strong month in both slots and baccarat.

“Overall, the gaming trends on the Strip in April exceeded expectations, with solid baccarat performance, stable non-baccarat table game trends and a nice lift in slot win,” the report said.

It was a mixed story for the other areas of Clark County.

In downtown Las Vegas, gaming revenue rose 12.56 percent from last year to $49.6 million. But casinos North Las Vegas saw a drop of 0.44 percent, while revenue on the Boulder Strip declined by 8.3 percent.

In Laughlin and Mesquite, gaming revenue rose year-over-year by 0.12 percent and 1.41 percent, respectively. Clark County’s overall gaming revenue increased 5.46 percent.

Washoe County casinos won $57.4 million for the month, down 1.56 percent from a year earlier. In Reno, gaming revenue dropped 2.74 percent to $42.3 million.

The state collected $53.4 million in taxes on April’s revenue, up 11.58 percent from 2014.

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