February gaming win continues in double digits

Nevada casinos followed their record January with another double-digit increase in winnings for February.

Total win reported by non-restricted licensees was 13.97 percent - a total of $751.6 million.

That follows on the heels of the millennium celebration in January which netted the resorts $866.5 million.

Gaming analyst Frank Streshley said every part of the state except one - Stateline - reported increases over the same month of 1999. There, winnings were off nearly 15 percent. But he pointed out that drop is from a 43 percent increase reported by Stateline area casinos in February 1999.

Even downtown Las Vegas, which has shown declining numbers most months in the past year, reported a 2.3 percent increase in winnings.

Tahoe casinos had no solid explanation for the drop, however, since weather was good through the month. Total win was $19.6 million.

Streshley said the good month elsewhere could be partly attributed to Chinese New Year, which draws a large number of high-rollers from Asia to Las Vegas. He said that New Year fell close enough to the beginning of February that many gamblers stayed over from the Super Bowl.

The month also had a solid President's Day weekend and, with leap year, there was one extra day to gamble this February.

He said throughout the state, it was increased game and table play that boosted winnings. While slot win was up 10.8 percent, game and table play was double that.

And baccarat reported a 25 percent increase over a year ago and its highest win since December 1997 at a total of $85.5 million.

But he said other games were also up, including blackjack, which increased total win by nearly 24 percent for the month.

Slot play statewide was also very strong, led once again by double-digit increases in nickel slots - 46.4 percent in the past year on top of a 37 percent increase the previous year. The new, progressive nickel machines have proven so popular that Streshley said many resorts are putting in more of them - even replacing some of the quarter machines that are the perennial big money makers. There are 9,000 more nickel slots in the state now than there were a year ago and about 3,000 fewer quarter machines.

"Some of them are moving from quarters to nickels, changing the mix on the floor," said Streshley.

The Carson City area recorded one of the smaller increases of any reporting area with a 5.13 percent increase in total win to $6.25 million. While slot winnings increased 3.8 percent, game and table winnings were up 21 percent in the area that includes the capital and valley portions of Douglas County.

North Lake Tahoe showed a 9.3 percent increase to $2.66 million. Slot winnings were flat but game and table win rose 39 percent.

Reno and Washoe County were up 11.5 percent for February with total win in the county just shy of $75.7 million.

The best gain in the state was in North Las Vegas where several new or expanded casinos have opened in the past year. Totals were up 35.3 percent over last year to $21.1 million.