State gaming revenue totals in Nevada often reflect discrepancies, especially when a month concludes on a weekend. The lack of a uniform statewide requirement regarding how casinos record their slot machine revenues allows properties to decide whether to report winnings for the current month or defer them to the following month.
This situation was evident as August transitioned into September.
The Boulder Strip, encompassing casinos along the Boulder Highway and Henderson, illustrates this issue starkly. While statewide gaming revenue fell by 3.8 percent to $1.6 billion in August, Boulder Strip casinos experienced a dramatic 21.8 percent decline, three times higher than any other region in Nevada.
Casinos in the Boulder Strip, primarily operated by Boyd Gaming and Red Rock Resorts, reported revenue of $64.8 million in August, down from $82.9 million the previous year when the period ended on Thursday, October 4. Slot revenue accounted for 23.3 percent of the overall decline, while table games and sports betting fell by less than 10 percent.
Despite these declines, statewide slot machine wagering reached nearly $1.1 billion in August, reflecting an eight percent increase year-over-year. Meanwhile, August’s total slot machine wagering of $12.4 billion marked the highest single-month total for the year.
The Boulder market has undergone significant changes since the pandemic, particularly with the permanent closure of both Fiesta Henderson and Eastside Cannery in 2020. Red Rock demolished the Fiesta and sold the site to the city of Henderson for $32 million, while Boyd Gaming has yet to announce plans for the Eastside Cannery. However, in July, the company revealed plans for Cadence Crossing Casino, intended to replace the aging Jokers Wild Casino on Boulder Highway.
Conversely, other regions in Nevada saw gains due to the extra weekend days in August. Mesquite’s small casinos benefitted from a promotional calendar, leading to a 10.2 percent increase in gaming revenue to $14.2 million. Meanwhile, casinos in Sparks reported an 11.3 percent increase in gaming revenue to $17 million.
On the Las Vegas Strip, however, gaming revenue declined by 3.5 percent to $643.6 million, primarily attributed to a significant drop in high-end baccarat revenue, which fell nearly 39 percent. Excluding baccarat, Strip gaming revenue would have risen by 2.8 percent in August.
Furthermore, the U.S. gaming industry has significantly increased its investment in responsible gambling research and education, raising spending by 72 percent since 2017. According to a study conducted for the American Gaming Association, over $471.8 million has been allocated in the last seven years to develop and sustain responsible gaming programs, research, and support services.
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