Nevada casino gaming revenue hit $970.2m in May, an 8.1% rise over the same month last year. The gains were largely due to a boffo performance by casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, where gaming revenue rose 17.3% to just under $593m.
As we’ve become accustomed to writing, baccarat was responsible for most of the Strip’s good fortune, with revenue from the Asian high-rollers’ game of choice rising 85.5% to $172.4m thanks to a healthy 16.5% win rate. Baccarat’s bonanza helped offset a downturn in statewide slot machine revenue, which fell 4.4% to $556.2m.
Blackjack placed second in the table game rankings, with revenue rising 15.6% to $96.2m. Roulette and craps went neck and neck for third place, generating revenue of $32.9m (+2.9%) and $32.6m (-2.4%) respectively. The rest of the table games ranked as follows: three-card poker ($12.9m, -2.7%), mini-baccarat ($9.7m, +12%), pai gow poker ($8.1m, -9%), let it ride ($3.2m, -9%), keno ($2.4m, -11.3%), bingo ($850k, -43.4%) and other games ($13.3m, +3.2%).
Nevada sportsbooks had a very good month, as revenue doubled year-on-year to $11.5m on a 5% hold. (The comparison was helped by the fact that last May’s sports betting revenue was particularly dire thanks to a paltry 2.8% hold.) Baseball led the earnings with $8.3m, up 96% on a 7.75% hold. Basketball brought in $2.9m, up 61.2% on a 3.1% hold. Other sports were up 48% to $1.8m, while laggard bettors cashing in winning football bet slips cost the books nearly $1.6m. The state’s racebooks saw revenue rise 10% to $6.5m on a 16.3% hold.
Nevada poker revenue was flat at $10.2m, with online poker contributing $862k to the total, $70k higher than April’s total. The state’s three online poker operations welcomed a new addition this week as Peppermill Resorts officially joined Station Casinos’ Ultimate Poker offering. Players can now sign up via Peppermill’s website and make deposits or withdrawals at Peppermill’s five casinos in the northern part of the state, including the Peppermill Resort in Reno.
