Nevada casinos are experiencing a positive trend, albeit a small one, as figures from 2015 emerged this week. The house won just over $11.1 billion of the money wagered by players in Nevada casinos last year. This was 1% above what was recorded in 2014, according to the figures released.
The bulk of that sum came from casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, with the house winning $6.3 billion in 2015.
Gaming analysts note that gaming in Nevada has increased in four of the last five years, with a broad increase noted across the state.
The numbers are still below Nevada’s peak year in 2007 when $12.8 billion was recorded, but the Nevada Gaming Control Board is pleased with the statistics nonetheless.
A slight dip in Las Vegas Strip gambling revenue was reported (0.4%) although across most of the rest of the state, casinos showed gains. Downtown Vegas casinos saw an impressive growth of 5.9% to $542 million, while casinos in Reno posted a 3.3% win.
An analyst with the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Michael Lawton, said that many more people were visiting downtown Vegas casinos, due to increased efforts by property owners to “figure how to get the critical mass in the casino.”
One of the factors which affect house wins is the type of game played. High stakes baccarat is always a favorite among Asian players and it was noted in 2015 reports that less money was spent on baccarat overall. A drop of 14% from 2014 was felt last year, with Nevada casinos winning $1.3 billion from the game.
However, when it came to slot machines, Nevada casinos celebrated with the numbers. Revenue grew by 3.8% year on year, and for the first time since 2008, the house won $7 billion from these machines – accounting for 63% of the total win last year.
Nevada sportsbooks saw a 2.1% growth from 2014, setting a new annual revenue record for the third subsequent year. Thus, despite a fall in football winnings.
Looking ahead, the Nevada gaming authority believes that the positive trend will continue into 2016. This is due to the fact that the housing market continues to improve and grow, bringing with it new jobs and revived industries. In addition, lower fuel prices will allow more visitors to travel to Vegas and stay in casino resorts, thereby pushing gambling numbers up.
