Nevada casinos win over $1B for the first time since pandemic

The Nevada Gaming Control Board reported Tuesday that the state's casinos took in more than $1 billion in "winnings" in March, the biggest take since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The latest figures also represent a 72% gain from March 2020, when the pandemic shutdowns started, and significant growth from the $772 million figure in February 2021. The $1.07 billion reported last month topped even the $1.02 billion the board charted in March 2019.

Las Vegas Strip casinos took in more than $501 million last month, a 67% increase from last year, with downtown casinos winning $70 million, a 63% year-over-year growth. 

“I don’t believe anyone imagined this level of gaming win,” said Michael Lawton, senior Nevada Gaming Control Board analyst, as reported by Las Vegas Sun. He called March 2021 “the perfect storm for gaming activity in Nevada.” “Demand was obviously a driver, in addition to capacity being increased to 50% on March 15 and the NCAA basketball tournament being played, after last year’s cancellation,” Lawton said.

Also, Lawton said spikes in five other reporting markets set all-time records for casino winnings: downtown Las Vegas, the Boulder Highway area, the rest of Clark County surrounding Las Vegas, Elko County and the Carson City area.

Statewide slot winnings totaled $772 million — the second-highest total in history — and slot machine volume was the highest since July 2008, Lawton said.

Nevada sportsbooks handled almost $641 million in March and won $39.3 million, second in the nation to New Jersey where sports pools handled $859 million and won $60.7 million.

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak loosened occupancy limits statewide from 35% to 50% on March 15, and plans to leave coronavirus mitigation measures to local jurisdictions on May 1. He has set a June 1 target for lifting all statewide restrictions except face coverings, which will still be mandated.

The Gaming Control Board said Friday that casinos in Clark County can go to 80% occupancy starting May 1.