CASINO WIN: State gaming revenue falls again

"The lingering effect of the war in Iraq contributed to a second straight down month for state casinos in May, with the 347 properties winning $805.7 million from gamblers, down 4 percent from $838.9 million in May 2002.

Strip casinos reported a 5.6 percent drop, winning $404.9 million, compared with $428.7 million, the Nevada Gaming Control Board reported in numbers released Thursday.

"It was a pretty quiet month," control board statistical analyst Frank Streshley said. "The casino operators told us in advance (of May) that there would be very few concerts or special events," because of the war.

The April and May downturns followed eight straight positive monthly comparisons, increases largely owed to the ease of comparisons with the poor results from the months following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The May win was down 4.6 percent compared with the pre-terrorism slowdown month of May 2001.

But May results improved from the beginning to the end of the month, and operators are saying that their late spring and early summer numbers look promising, Streshley said.

"We hear June will benefit from pent-up demand. In May, (operators said) weekends were good, visitor volumes were good, but spending was down," Streshley said. "The Memorial Day weekend was good, but not great. Reno reported a particularly good Memorial Day weekend."

The weekend and good weather fueled Reno's 3.4 percent monthly increase, to $70.5 million from $68.2 million, he said.

The Strip's monthly decline was fueled by a 9.5 percent decline in slot machine winnings, to $207 million. Table-game winnings for the 44 Strip casinos, the nation's biggest casino market, were down 1.3 percent, to $194.5 million.

Streshley said he was surprised by the 6.9 percent jump in the Strip's baccarat win, to $8.1 million, because international high-rollers were reported to be staying home during the war and its aftermath.

Results in Las Vegas locals markets were mixed, with downtown, Boulder Strip and "balance of county" numbers all down while the North Las Vegas numbers were up.

Laughlin casinos reported the market's first increase after three straight monthly declines, to $47.1 million from $45 million.

Mesquite casinos reported a 9.3 percent increase, to $9.8 million.

The control board also reported:

• A 21.5 percent increase in the money won from craps bettors, to $38.8 million.

• A 5.6 percent drop in the amount won from blackjack players, to $98.6 million.

• A 203.2 percent increase in the amount won from baseball bettors, to $3.2 million.

• A 110.1 percent drop in the amount won from the state's $100 slot machines. The 300 machines with $100 units lost $563,000 in May."