Nevada gambling revenue up 1.4 percent from May 2012

By Cy Ryan

Published Thursday, July 11, 2013 | 7:41 a.m.

Updated Thursday, July 11, 2013 | 10:04 a.m.

CARSON CITY — Nevada casino revenue inched up 1.37 percent in May from the same month a year ago, due mostly to gains on the Las Vegas Strip and in Northern Nevada.

The state Gaming Control Board reported Thursday that revenue reached $897.3 million, compared to $885 million in May 2012.

Michael Lawton, senior research analyst for the board, said gaming officials expected a better month, but revenue in the Clark County locals market was down.

Slot machine revenue was down statewide by 3.6 percent.

Lawton attributed the downswing to revenue being counted on a Friday before the weekend at the end of the month.

Las Vegas Strip casinos reported that gross win before taxes and expenses rose 6.3 percent to $505.4 million.

Baccarat win on the Strip jumped 25.3 percent; blackjack was up 19.9 percent; craps increased 24.3 percent. The roulette win was off 0.2 percent.

But in an emerging trend, revenue from roulette for the past 12 months has surpassed craps. Lawton said Strip casinos are trying to attract Latin American players who favor roulette.

In Clark County, gaming win fell by 7.3 percent in downtown Las Vegas, was off 19.6 percent in North Las Vegas, dropped 4.5 percent in Laughlin, was down 17.8 percent on the Boulder Strip and declined 4.5 percent in Mesquite.

For the balance of Clark County, revenue was up 0.4 percent.

For the third straight month, Washoe County casinos posted revenue gains, up 7.4 percent compared May 2012.

Revenue at South Lake Tahoe casinos was 9.7 percent. In the Carson Valley area, after eight straight months of decline, revenue was up 7.4 percent.

For the 11 months of this fiscal year, the state has collected $687.7 million in taxes from casinos, up 3.8 percent from the same period in the previous fiscal year.