Nevada casinos hit jackpot with record haul for May

Nevada casinos raked in $1.14 billion from gamblers in May, setting a one-month record.

The state Gaming Control Board reported Thursday that the casinos’ “win” for May was about $2 million higher than the previous record, set in January 2006, and a 1.5% gain compared with the same month a year ago.

“Win” is a gross figure, with no operating costs or other expenses deducted. It represents casino revenue only, not hotel, restaurant or bar revenues.

The record fell despite a slump in baccarat winnings.

“This could have been a little stronger but the casinos took a hit on baccarat,” Control Board analyst Frank Streshley said.

Craps and roulette were big factors in a gain of 6.5% for all live games combined. The win from slot machines was up 2.6% in the same period.

Gov. Jim Gibbons said that along with the record win for casinos the state saw an increase of 16.4% in its percentage fee collections from resorts, which enabled the state to end its fiscal-year collections from the casinos slightly ahead of earlier projections.

Gamblers wagered $14.7 billion in Nevada during May, betting $11.8 billion on slot machines alone.

Resorts on the Las Vegas Strip reported a 1.4% gain while downtown Las Vegas casinos were up 0.3% in May.

Increases also were reported in Mesquite, the Boulder Strip, Sparks and Stateline, on Lake Tahoe’s south shore.

The state collected $83.3 million in percentage fees based on the May win. That was up 16.4% over the same month a year ago. Total fiscal-year collections hit $821 million, up 3.4%.

A breakdown of the statewide win for May showed that slots accounted for about $762 million of the total. That included $319.2 million won by multidenomination slots, up 3.6%. Penny slots were second with a win of $143.6 million, up 31%.

Live games, including poker, accounted for the balance of the $1.14 billion May total. That included $134.3 million won on blackjack tables, up 5.1%; $40.8 million on craps, up 19.8%; and $37.2 million on roulette, up 15.1%.

The win on baccarat was $71.2 million, down 18.2%; and the win on mini-baccarat was $13 million, down about 54%.

Sports books won $5.8 million in May, up 479%. Poker games took in $14.1 million, up 6.5%.