The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has just published its ultimate gaming revenue report for 2021, marking another strong year for casino operators.
In 2021, casinos broke records in terms of the amount of money won from players.
For the 10th month in a row, Silver State casinos earned $1 billion or more from gamblers in December. Throughout the year, the casinos amassed a total of $13.4 billion.
Prior to 2021, Nevada casinos had their largest win in 2007, amounting to $12.85 billion.
2021 Nevada Gaming Abstract
The NGCB released its Gaming Abstract for the fiscal year in January. However, this report is a bit unique because the fiscal year in Nevada extends from July to June.
The Gaming Abstract provides data only for the initial six months of 2021. This report presents revenues from both gaming and non-gaming sources. Although it’s not a like-for-like comparison, some intriguing insights can be derived.
In the fiscal year, gambling made up 52.4% of total revenue in Nevada casinos that earned more than $1 million. However, the percentage was lower on the Vegas Strip, where gambling revenue constituted 41.1% of total revenue.
Revenue from slot machines and table games once again constituted the bulk of gambling during the fiscal year.
In this period, sportsbooks in Nevada contributed to only 4.4% of the total gaming revenue at casinos generating over $1 million in revenue. Meanwhile, sportsbooks located in Vegas Strip casinos comprised 3.2% of the total gaming revenue.
While the rest of the nation is in a frenzy over sports betting revenue, it merely represents a small fraction of the earnings for Nevada’s casinos. As per the NGCB report, sportsbook revenue saw a substantial increase of 69.4% from 2020, yet it remains a minor part of Nevada casinos’ overall income.
Nevada casinos still gain a larger percentage of their revenue from sportsbooks compared to poker rooms and pari-mutuel horse racing. Sports betting continues to be a significant element in Nevada’s gaming assortment.
Sports betting in Nevada attracts visitors to casinos who may not typically frequent such places. The additional revenue generated can be traced back to the bars and restaurants.
2021 Nevada gaming revenue
2021 was not only a recovery year from 2020 when casinos were temporarily shut down due to Covid-19, but also a year of significant growth. Casinos saw an 11.6% increase in profits compared to 2019, before the global slowdown in business caused by Covid-19.
Throughout the year, Nevada casinos emerged victorious in gambling, raking in $1 billion on ten occasions within a 12-month period. The surge in gaming revenue is understandable given that non-gambling entertainment was largely restricted for most of the year.
The reduction in activities at casinos affected both tourists and locals. For several months, tourists were deprived of shows and spa treatments. Likewise, locals were unable to enjoy buffets or visit movie theaters for a few months of the year.
Despite shows, spas, and theaters reopening, casino guests remained at the tables and machines to gamble. Casinos saw an increase in winnings in December, surpassing their profits from November, which in turn were higher than those of October.
In 2021, every gambling district in Nevada experienced an increase in gaming revenue compared to 2020. The contrasting clientele of casinos across various parts of Nevada is reflected in the gaming win figures.
The Vegas Strip, which relies on tourists and business travelers, experienced a modest growth of 7.4% over 2019 in this region of Nevada.
The gaming revenue in Downtown Las Vegas, a part of Nevada frequented by both locals and tourists, saw a 23% increase from 2019.
2021 Nevada gambling win by game
Despite casinos making a record-breaking $13.4 billion from gamblers, the NGCB report reveals that slot machines continue to be the favored gambling method in Nevada.
Casinos made over $9.23 billion, more than double the amount from all other games combined, primarily from slot machines. The majority of this income, $3.75 billion, was attributed to penny slots, with their vibrant lights and loud noises once again proving to be the biggest moneymaker for casinos.
Keno, video poker, and other electronic and stadium games are considered slot machines in Nevada.
Blackjack games outnumber any other table games in Nevada casinos. This aligns with another year of blackjack being the top earner at casino tables.
Casinos won $1.13 billion from blackjack in the year. Despite only being played in 30 casinos, baccarat came in second, earning casinos $939,142 million.
According to the NGCB report, Blackjack was available in 119 casinos.
Related Articles
