slot machine return percentages las vegas

That move helped fuel the narrative that slots were a thing of the past. Casino executives made the conscious decision to shift away from Las Vegas history as a gambling mecca to that of an international resort destination. Instead, the major players focused their attention on big-name entertainment, nightlife, fine dining, group business travel, and conventions. Lombardo noted that the Strip absolutely backed away from casinos. The shift away from slots on the Strip was partially due to the recession and partially intentional, observed Charlie Lombardo Lombardo was formerly head of Bally’s Las Vegas slot operations. Until very recently, that trend continued. The one place in Nevada that saw a definite move away from slots was the Strip.īy 2010, casinos along the Strip saw table games generating more revenue than slot machines. Since 2004, slots have accounted for on average 65% of Nevada’s total annual gaming revenue.Īccording to data from the UNLV Center for Gaming Research, despite the ups and downs, slot machine revenue has grown more over the decades than table games. However, historically, slots have been a relatively stable revenue source for the state’s gaming industry.

While slot revenue for the state remained slow, table game revenue also bounced back to pre-recession levels by 2013. Table game and sportsbook fell by less, from $4.2 billion to $3.6 billion during the same three-year period. The Numbers Prove ItĪcross Nevada, slot machines generated $8.5 billion in gaming revenue in 2007, but that income had fallen by over 20% by 2010, to $6.6 billion.

“Now, slots are more popular than they’ve ever been,” said longtime slot game developer, Joe Kaminkow. Higher-risk games and big entertainment branding have secured slot machines a place on casino floors. Many were left uncertain whether the machines tucked into every corner of Nevada would ever bounce back.īut, those fears proved unfounded, as slots have surged in popularity. In fact, revenue from the state’s ubiquitous slots fell faster than table games and sports betting. During the Great Recession of 2007 through 2009, slot play all across Nevada dropped to an unprecedented low.

Slot machine return percentages las vegas