Although Nevada casinos don’t make nearly as much money from slots as they did before the recession hit, the machines are starting to make a comeback.
Slot revenue dropped sharply in 2008 and 2009, much like the rest of the state’s gambling business, and still remains far below its peak from before the economic downturn. After a few years of more stable performance, however, recent financial indicators suggest that the situation is improving.
Through May of this year, statewide slot revenue increased 4.3 percent compared with 2014, according to Michael Lawton, senior research analyst for the state Gaming Control Board. On the Strip, which accounts for the bulk of Nevada’s total gaming revenue, slot revenue is up 6.1 percent for the calendar year.
At the same time, statewide slot volume — the amount gamblers actually spend — is up 2.1 percent for the year, according to Lawton. It’s up 2.6 percent on the Strip.
To be sure, the raw numbers remain far from where they once were. When statewide gaming revenue peaked at $12.8 billion in 2007, slots accounted for $8.4 billion — more than 65