Nevada’s gaming industry has once again broken records, with a total revenue of $1.32 billion in May. This marks the 39th consecutive month that the state has surpassed the $1 billion mark in gaming revenue. The latest figures from the Nevada Gaming Control Board show that this is the eighth-highest monthly total in history, representing a 2.45 percent increase from the same period last year.
The Las Vegas Strip played a significant role in this record-breaking month, reporting $742.4 million in revenue. This was a substantial increase of 11.5 percent from April and a 3.7 percent increase from the previous year. Slot machines on the Strip brought in $403 million, exceeding expectations, while table games generated $339.5 million, a 5 percent increase year-over-year despite a 7 percent drop in baccarat revenue.
In Clark County, the locals market saw a 12 percent increase in revenue, reaching $168 million in May. This growth was largely attributed to the opening of Red Rock’s new Durango casino, contributing to a 7 percent year-to-date increase. However, Laughlin experienced a significant decline of over 20 percent in revenue compared to the previous year, marking the most substantial drop among all markets reported by the NGCB.
Moving north, Washoe County’s overall revenue stayed relatively flat year-over-year at $90.4 million. Reno saw a slight decrease of 1 percent, bringing in $65.2 million, while Sparks reported a 2 percent drop to $15.3 million. North Lake Tahoe recorded the largest increase in revenue at 17 percent, albeit with the lowest total revenue of $2 million. Conversely, South Lake Tahoe experienced a nearly 10 percent decrease in revenue, totaling $17.6 million.
State sportsbooks had a successful month, generating $36 million in revenue from a handle of $515.1 million. This marked a 20 percent increase from the previous May, with year-to-date revenue up by 5.6 percent despite a 5 percent decrease in handle. Visitation for the month reached 3.66 million, driven by events such as the Electric Daisy Carnival music festival and a slight increase in convention travel, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Moreover, Harry Reid International Airport reported 5.2 million passengers for the month, the second-highest total on record. These figures indicate a continued positive trend for Nevada’s gaming industry, with strong performance across various markets contributing to the state’s overall record-breaking revenue.
