Baccarat Revenues Soared in Nevada This January

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Clearly, baccarat is a game that is loved in all its forms, not just online baccarat, but also at land casinos. For proof, just look at Nevada’s gambling industry, which enjoyed truly impressive results in January, driven by exceptional growth in baccarat revenues.

Overall gaming revenue for the state hit $1.44 billion, which was an impressive 12.5% increase compared to January 2024. It was also the second-highest monthly win total in Nevada’s history. Furthermore, it was the forty-seventh consecutive month that saw revenues of more than $1 billion.

120% Baccarat Growth Nationwide
Baccarat truly stood out from the crowd with extraordinary growth of nearly 120% statewide, which translates into revenues of $215.2 million. On the Las Vegas Strip, baccarat revenues grew even more, up by 121% to $214.3 million. Importantly, this steep increase in baccarat winnings was central to overall revenue gains. It shows that the casinos had a favorable month against gamblers, particularly given the rise in casino hold percentage from 16.43% last year to 26.74% this January.

The growth in baccarat, traditionally popular with high rollers, offset declines seen in several other table and card games. Blackjack, typically a major contributor to Nevada’s casino revenues, fell by 12.3% and generated $86.1 million statewide. Roulette was a bit better, with revenues increasing by 27.4% to $34.9 million. Despite these mixed results, the huge increase in baccarat revenue suggests that there has been a change in gambling preferences this year.

Slot machines, which are traditionally the backbone of casino revenues, also posted modest growth. Overall slot revenue rose by 3.4% to reach $915.3 million statewide. Multi-denomination slot machines performed particularly well, generating $656.8 million, a 15.9% increase. In contrast, penny slots and high-denomination slots, including $100 machines, reported declines of 23.7% and 40.6%, respectively.

Sports betting was another growth area, with statewide revenues climbing by 12.1% to $72.6 million. American football betting alone accounted for $38.5 million of this figure. This was largely due to the lead-up to the NFL’s Super Bowl, which was held in Las Vegas in early February. Basketball and hockey betting also delivered good returns, generating $18.4 million and $3.1 million, respectively.

Clark County Leads the Way
Clark County, home to the famous Las Vegas Strip, reported total gambling revenue of $1.27 billion, a 13.3% increase from January last year. The Strip itself contributed the majority of this, reporting $840.1 million in gaming revenue, which was a substantial 22.5% increase year-on-year. This was driven by a 45.7% rise in table, counter, and card games revenue on the Strip and nearly equalized the earnings gap traditionally dominated by slots.

Despite the Strip’s impressive results, some local markets reported downturns. Downtown Las Vegas revenue dipped slightly by 2.3% to $83.7 million, while Boulder Strip and Laughlin operators saw declines of 6.2% and 4.96%, respectively. Conversely, North Las Vegas and Mesquite saw moderate increases.

The strong baccarat month also had a positive impact on state finances, with tax collections from gambling revenues increasing nearly 9%, totaling $108.7 million in January. This figure contributed to a turnaround in the state’s fiscal performance, bringing year-to-date gaming revenue to a modest 0.03% increase.

Entertainment Draws in the Crowds
Analysts have attributed January’s strong numbers partly to favorable calendar positioning and high-profile entertainment events drawing crowds. Performances by major acts such as Janet Jackson, The Killers, Eagles, and Mariah Carey, along with sporting events like the Raiders-Chargers NFL game, drove increased visitation despite overall tourist numbers dipping slightly by 1.1%.

The results from the baccarat tables in January clearly demonstrate its importance to Nevada’s gaming industry, especially on the Las Vegas Strip. The growth it saw not only boosted overall revenue figures but also helped to ensure that Nevada will enjoy continued financial health and this way, it has secured its place at the heart of the state’s casinos.

Hi, I’m Caroline, an experienced editor with a rich background in journalism. My career began at several Boston-based newspapers, where I specialized in editing and …