State gaming win declines for second straight year, but Carson-Tahoe up

The amount of money Nevada casinos won decreased in the calendar year 2002 for the second year in a row.

Before 2001, gaming experts say the state had not had a decline in revenue for 20 years and, in fact, winnings had increased an average of 5 percent a year for the past decade.

Total win dropped three-tenths of a percent in 2002 to $9.448 billion after a 1.2 percent drop in 2001.

Two areas which defied the trend are South Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley reporting area.

At South Lake Tahoe, win was up 2.4 percent in 2002 after a 6.9 percent drop blamed on the economy in 2001 following the terrorist attacks. The Carson Valley, which includes valley portions of Douglas County as well as the capital city, reported a 4.2 percent increase in 2002 on top of the 3.6 percent increase in 2001. Carson City has averaged 4.7 percent annual increases over the past decade.

But the numbers were bleak at North Shore. After a 4.6 percent decrease in win for 2001, the closure of the Crystal Bay Club drove numbers down another 7.3 percent in 2002.

But Frank Streshley of the Gaming Control Board said some signs indicate the gaming business is recovering. He said win dropped 6.9 percent in the first six months of 2002 but increased 5.5 percent in the second six months as customers began to come back to Nevada.

He warned, however, the increase from July through December of 2002 looks better because it is being compared to the period in 2001, which includes the months following the terrorist attacks.

A large share of the problem was the loss of "high-end" customers during the economic slump and especially following Sept. 11, 2001. Baccarat -- which attracts the biggest players -- was down 4.9 percent in 2002 after an 18.6 drop last year. The total amount wagered on Baccarat in 2002 was $1.9 billion, the lowest in nine years and less than half the $4.1 billion wagered on that game in 1995.

Streshley said blackjack, craps and roulette were all down as well -- particularly in high-limit play.

Overall, game and table win decreased 2.9 percent in 2002 while slot win increased, but only by 1.2 percent.

Slots now account for two-thirds of the total winnings by Nevada's casinos.

Streshley said there are also signs of recovery in the December numbers which were up 5.95 percent. Total December win was $731.7 million. But that, again, compares to a very weak December 2001, which was 7.3 percent below the same month in 2000.

Streshley said despite the increase, December 2002 numbers were down 1.9 percent from the December win two years earlier -- before Sept. 11, 2001.

South Lake Tahoe, again, was up 3.3 percent for the month while Carson City was up 3.9 percent.

For December, North Lake Tahoe was down 21.1 percent but the decline is almost entirely because the Crystal Bay Club closed this past year.

Highlights of 2002 revenue report on Nevada casinos

By The Associated Press

Major details from Thursday's state Gaming Control Board's report on 2002 winnings by Nevada's casinos:

--STATEWIDE: $9.45 billion win in 2002, down 0.3 percent. In December, clubs won $775.3 million, up 6 percent.

--LAS VEGAS STRIP: $4.65 billion 2002 win, down 1 percent. The December win was $382.2 million, up 3 percent.

--DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS: $656.7 million 2002 win, down 3.9 percent. The December win for the downtown clubs was $52.8 million, down 0.9 percent.

--NORTH LAS VEGAS: $202 million 2002 win, down 4 percent. The December win was $19.6 million, up 19.7 percent.

--LAUGHLIN: $551.2 million 2002 win, up 1.1 percent. In December, the casinos took in $41.1 million, up 6.6 percent.

--BOULDER: $665.8 million 2002 win, up 8.4 percent. In December, the clubs took in $65.8 million, up 30.6 percent.

--RENO: $755.4 million 2002 win, down 5 percent. The December win was $52.4 million, down 6.5 percent.

--SPARKS: $161.6 million 2002 win, down 2.5 percent. The December win was $12.5 million, down 1.3 percent.

--NORTH TAHOE: $38.4 million 2002 win, down 7.3 percent. The December win was $2.4 million, down 21.1 percent.

--STATELINE: $336.4 million 2002 win, up 2.4 percent. In December, the win was $26.2 million, up 3.3 percent.

-- ELKO COUNTY: $228.4 million 2002 win, up 2.7 percent. In December, the clubs took in $16.2 million, up 2.8 percent.

-- CARSON-GARDNERVILLE-MINDEN: $97.2 million 2002 win, up 4.2 percent. In December, the win was $8 million, up 3.9 percent.

-- CHURCHILL: $16.1 million 2002 win, up 3.7 percent. In December, the win was $1.5 million, up 6.7 percent.

-- HUMBOLDT: $16.6 million 2002 win, up 2.9 percent. In December, the win was $1.4 million, down 2.8 percent.

-- WHITE PINE: $5.4 million 2002 win, up 5 percent. In December, the win was $371,000, up 8.8 percent.