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April gaming revenue was the lowest of any month this year. However, the revenue collected was a record for April.
Nevada’s gaming revenue in April was $1.24 billion, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB). While this was slightly less than Nevada’s March 2024 gaming revenue, it was a 6.95% increase over the same period last year when the state collected $1.15 billion from gaming for the month. This was good enough to set an April gaming revenue record.
Gaming revenue for the fiscal year in the Silver State continues to outpace last year. Nevada has collected $13.16 billion during its fiscal year from July 1, 2023, through April 30, 2024. This is 4.67% higher than this time last year.
Through May 28, the state collected $70 million in taxes from Nevada’s nonrestricted gaming licensees, according to the NGCB. The tax collection is based on April’s gaming revenue.
The Las Vegas entertainment and sports calendars continue to grow and this helps bring tourists and locals to the casinos. The Vegas Golden Knights fizzled in the playoffs but the few games played in April helped bring locals to the Vegas Strip.
Garth Brooks and Mariah Carey’s residencies at Caesars Palace and Park MGM, respectively, gave some tourists an excuse to visit the Vegas Strip on the weekend. The NAB Show saw 61,000 attendees during its midweek convention in April.
Nevada does not have online casinos. There is one online poker room, but the NGCB doesn’t report the monthly revenue.
This month WSOP.com was rebranded as WSOP Online.
There’s no push to legalize full online casinos. However, Nevada could have as many as three online poker rooms by this time next year if BetMGM and Z4 meet their tentative timelines.
Year-over-year gaming revenue increase in April boosted by Southern Nevada
Southern Nevada casinos led the way toward the increase over last April. Clark County casino revenue was up 8.48% to $1.08 billion.
Despite the Tropicana closing on April 2, Vegas Strip casinos again led the way with $666 million in gaming revenue during the month. This was 6.62% higher than last year.
Downtown Las Vegas casinos not only rebounded from last month but revenue was up compared to last year. The $82.78 million in revenue was up 11.1% from last year.
The increase in gaming revenue in Southern Nevada wasn’t only in the tourist areas. The recently opened Durango Casino helped boost the rest of Clark County’s gaming revenue by 24.5% to $163.3 million.
Laughlin and North Las Vegas were the only segments in southern Nevada to report lower gaming revenue than in April last year.
Downtown Las Vegas’ increase in revenue was the second-largest in the state. Meanwhile, South Lake Tahoe casinos won a whopping 31.59% more than a year ago.
Northern Nevada casino markets mostly fell in April. Reno’s gaming revenue of $59.2 million was 5.92% lower than last April. Sparks and Wendover also saw a decrease in gaming revenue compared to last year.
Baccarat and blackjack are player favorites in Nevada
Once again, revenue was lower than a year ago for most casino games in Nevada. Baccarat and blackjack were two exceptions that helped push overall gaming revenue higher than last April.
In April, baccarat generated $76.1 million in Nevada casinos. That’s 72.5% higher than a year ago.
Nevada casinos collected more revenue from blackjack than any other game. April’s blackjack revenue in Nevada was $110 million, a 16.01% increase compared to last year.
Slot machine revenue, which includes video poker and keno, was greater than table games as usual. Overall slot machine revenue increased by 5.86% to $886.8 million. However, revenue from the most popular penny slots fell by 21.48% to $216.58 million.
