Carson City's string of gaming win increases came to an end in July.
After 17 months of growth, the area, which includes valley portions of Douglas County as well as the Capital, reported a 5.3 percent drop in gaming win compared with July 2001.
Gaming Control Board analyst Frank Streshley said area casinos blamed the numbers on the fact that Highway 395 south along the Walker River was closed because of forest and brush fires there during part of July. That cut off tourist traffic from the south for days.
Even through the month after Sept. 11, 2001, the Carson Valley area had continued to log increases over the previous year, seemingly immune to the state's overall economic problems.
Total winnings reported for the area were $8.22 million compared with $8.3 million a year ago.
While the Strip was down 2.8 percent for the month, there were some bright spots in western Nevada.
South Lake Tahoe casinos reported nine-tenths of a percent increase in winnings for the month, $42.1 million, and North Lake Tahoe was three-tenths up to $5.2 million despite closure of one casino earlier this year.
Statewide, total win for July was $804.3 million.