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Nevada casinos win $11 billion in 2015

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Marlene Lynch, of Keyesport, Ill, a member of Harrah’s Total Rewards program, plays a slot machine at the Caesars Palace hotel and casino in Las Vegas on Sept. 25, 2008.

CARSON CITY, Nev. >> The house ended up winning about $11.1 billion of all the money gambled in Nevada in 2015 — an increase of 1 percent from 2014 but still below Nevada’s peak year in 2007.

Las Vegas Strip casinos accounted for most of that, keeping $6.3 billion in 2015, according to Nevada Gaming Control Board statistics released today.

“Gaming has increased in four of the last five years,” said Michael Lawton, senior analyst with the agency. “We had a broad increase across the whole state.”

Aside from the 0.4 percent downturn in Las Vegas Strip gambling revenue, most other parts of the state posted gains. Reno casinos saw a gain of 3.3 percent and won $571 million last year, while downtown Las Vegas casino revenue was up 5.9 percent last year to $542 million.

“A lot more people are going down there,” Lawton said about downtown, pointing to revitalization efforts led in large part by Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh. “Properties down there have done a good job figuring how to get the critical mass in the casino.”

While statewide gambling revenue has grown since the recession, the pace is modest and reflects Las Vegas visitors’ overall shift from gambling toward food, shopping and shows. The casino win statistic has not rebounded to its 2007 record of $12.8 billion.

Revenue has also suffered as gamblers pour less money into baccarat, a high-stakes game favored by high-rollers from Asia. Nevada casinos won $1.3 billion from baccarat in 2015, down 14 percent from 2014.

Slot machines, which accounted for 63 percent of the total casino win in 2015, had a good year. Revenue from machines was up 3.8 percent from 2014 and crossed the $7 billion mark for the first time since 2008.

As for next year? Lawton said he expects low fuel prices, job growth and housing market improvements to continue, all of which could spur record visitation numbers in Las Vegas and encourage gambling.

“We feel pretty good about calendar year 2016,” he said.

8 responses to “Nevada casinos win $11 billion in 2015”

  1. justmyview371 says:

    If they made their rooms cheaper, I would come back. Casino-Hotels need to give patrons a break somewhere!

  2. primowarrior says:

    I’m proud to say that I contributed to their success last year.
    Wait a minute…

    • sarge22 says:

      Headline should read gamblers lose $11 billion in Nevada casinos in 2015, up from 2014 levels. Oh, but they had fun.

    • RetiredWorking says:

      primo, I’m proud to say I have contributed to Las Vegas’ billions less than 10 times in my lifetime. My wife is having her union there in May. Since I choose not to go with her, I get to spend $4,000 on myself. Woo hoo! New SUP board, alligator sandals, AC for my old truck. Dis guy going beach in style!

  3. mikethenovice says:

    OK, SA. Keep on teasing us in Hawaii about winning in gambling in the mainland.

  4. primo1 says:

    “We feel pretty good about calendar year 2016” I would too after all they raked in from the AFC Championship.

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