In January, Nevada casinos experienced their second-highest monthly win ever, following their record-setting performance the previous month. According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the state saw a 12.5% increase in casino wins, reaching $1.43 billion. The Las Vegas Strip reported a significant 22.5% rise to $840.1 million, largely due to a substantial boost in baccarat winnings, which increased by 121% from the previous year.
While Clark County as a whole saw a 13.3% increase, downtown Las Vegas experienced a 2.3% decline. Across Nevada, seven of the 20 monitored markets saw double-digit percentage increases, with the Strip leading, closely followed by South Lake Tahoe and Elko County.
The positive results for January helped lift the state’s fiscal year gaming revenue to a slight increase of 0.03%, totaling $9.28 billion. This also improved tax revenue, with gaming percentage fees rising 0.58% compared to the previous fiscal year.
Economic analyst Michael Lawton suggested that softer gaming numbers in January 2024 might have been due to visitors delaying trips for the Super Bowl in February. Additionally, numerous special events in January 2025, such as concert residencies and sports games, likely contributed to the strong performance.
Visitor numbers showed mixed results, with overall visitation down slightly by 1.1% to 3.3 million people, despite a 12.8% increase in convention attendance. The hotel occupancy rate increased to 81.9% due to a reduction in available rooms, leading to a higher average daily room rate of $195.35.
Transportation figures indicated stable passenger traffic at Harry Reid International Airport, while highway traffic into Las Vegas increased by 2.7%. Laughlin and Mesquite recorded visitor increases, with Laughlin’s volume up 8% and Mesquite’s up 15.3%. However, Laughlin’s occupancy rate dropped slightly, whereas Mesquite saw a significant rise in occupancy.
