Silver State gaming regulators announced on Thursday that Nevada poker rooms collectively brought in $8.24 million from their cash game tables during August. [toc]
The amount was 3.23 percent lower than the $8.51 million earned in August 2015.
In August, statewide, there were 67 poker rooms that had a total of 655 poker tables.
Nevada’s poker revenue encompasses earnings from regulated internet poker. However, as there are less than three operators, the state does not provide a separate report for live and online revenues.
Strip performance
During the month, poker rooms on or near the Las Vegas Strip earned $5.02 million, demonstrating a year-over-year decline of 2.17 percent. In August, there were 21 poker rooms operating a total of 314 tables.
Approximately 50% of casinos in the Strip area provide cash game poker.
Summer 2016 Nevada poker results
Nevada poker rooms earned $36.71 million between June and August. However, there was a decrease in August after two consecutive months of year-over-year increases.
In the summer of 2015, the poker rake amounted to $35.81 million.
This year, the World Series of Poker took place at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino from June 1 to July 18.
The schedule has been more or less consistent for the past decade, although this year, May saw a few less days of activity. July 2016 experienced four additional WSOP days compared to July 2015.
Here’s an insight into the poker revenue in Nevada for 2016, including the year-over-year change:
- January: $9.5 million (decreased by 2.85 percent)
- February: $8.98 million (Increase of 5.44 percent)
- March: $9.68 million (Decrease of 0.01 percent)
- April: Increase of 0.86-percent to $8.57 million
- May: $8.88 million (Decrease of 13.92 percent)
- June: Increase of 1.88-percent to $16.14 million
- July: $12.33 million (Increase of 7.63 percent)
- August: $8.24 million (decreased by 3.23 percent)
How does August compare to previous years?
Research from the University of Nevada Las Vegas revealed that the $8.23 million result in August was the poorest in over a decade.
Here’s an overview of August rake records since 2004:
- 2004: $8.78 million
- 2005: $11.72 million
- In 2006, $13.79 million was the amount for WSOP, which concluded on August 10th of that year.
- 2007: $12.97 million
- 2008: $13.07 million
- 2009: $11.14 million
- 2010: $10.10 million
- 2011: $9.85 million
- 2012: $9.00 million
- 2013: $9.46 million
- 2014: $9.01 million
- 2015: $8.51 million
Looking at the past 12 months
From September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016, poker rooms in Nevada accumulated a rake of $117.7 million, which was almost the same as the total from the corresponding period the previous year.
In the calendar year 2015, the poker rooms generated slightly more than $118 million, showing a 1.57 percent drop compared to the $119.9 million in 2014. In 2013, the poker revenue stood at $123.9 million.
In 2007, Nevada poker hit its all-time high with cash game revenue reaching $167.9 million.
What’s next
Nevada poker usually slows down in the fall compared to the summer and around New Year.
Here’s the rake from the last four months of 2015 to provide an insight into how 2016 might conclude:
- September: $8.34 million
- October: $8.73 million
- November: $8.97 million
- December: $9.36 million
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