July is twelfth straight record month for gaming

Nevada broke a record for gaming win for the 12th month in a row in July, and Carson City area casinos posted their 27th straight month of growth.

The $958.4 million was a 17.9 percent increase over the same month last year.

Every jurisdiction in the state reported increased winnings except downtown Las Vegas, which was off 2.4 percent.

The Carson Valley Area, which includes valley portions of Douglas as well as casinos in the capital city, matches the statewide numbers with its own 17.9 percent increase.

That is the area's 27th consecutive month of growth in gaming win. Unlike the rest of the state, Carson did it on the strength of a better than 20 percent increase in slot win, more than offsetting an 11.6 percent drop in game and table win. Total win in Carson was $11.68 million.

For the rest of the state, according to Gaming Control Board Analyst Frank Streshley, the story was dramatic increases in game and table numbers - 30.5 percent statewide with Baccarat leading the way at $50 million. That is a 59.9 percent increase over July 2004. The slots were no slouches at bringing in the cash, either, turning in a 12 percent increase for July.

Streshley said the overall statewide increase was Nevada's strongest growth month since November 1999.

He said casino operators told him the biggest single factor was the fact July 4 fell on a Monday this year. In addition, there was one more weekend day for visitors this year than in 2004.

In Southern Nevada, he said, casinos were helped by the Bernard Hopkins-Germaine Taylor fight as well as the World Series of Poker. Poker is drawing more and more fans, producing double-digit increases in casino win as well as huge increases in fans for the World Series of Poker.

Even Washoe County, where gaming win has been slipping steadily for several years, had a great month. Win there increased 9.6 percent and broke the $100 million mark for the first time since August 2002, driven by a 14.4 percent increase in game and table totals. Total win by Washoe casinos was $101.1 million.

North Shore casinos lagged behind most other parts of Washoe but still increased win by 2.1 percent even though slots, the vast majority of North Shore play, brought in 1.4 percent less than last July. Total win was $5.2 million.

Stateline casinos won 36.2 percent more this July - just under $42.5 million.

The Strip produced a 22.7 percent jump to 483.5 million - the majority of Clark County's $765.6 million total.

-- Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.

Area Win Percent change

Vegas Strip $483 million 22.71%

Washoe County $101 million 9.59%

Reno $72 million 10.56%

North Shore $5.2 million 2.12%

South Shore $42 million 36.24%

Carson Valley $11.6 million 17.93%

Statewide $958 million 17.93%