Nevada’s major casinos raked in total revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal 2021.
In part because of the pandemic, that is 12.1 percent less than the $18.3 billion total revenue they reported for fiscal 2020.
But gaming revenue in fiscal 2021 was up 25.3 percent to $8.45 billion, according to statistics in the Gaming Control Board’s annual Abstract, which tracks Nevada’s 302 casinos that made more than $1 million in gaming revenue. Gaming recovered from the impact of the pandemic much more quickly than other revenue generators in the major resorts.
Gaming Control Board Analyst Mike Lawton said pandemic restrictions “severely impacted revenue across all departments with the exception of the casino department.” He said actual gaming revenue was the “lone bright spot” in this year’s abstract.
“However, non-gaming revenues which include room, food, beverage and other only accounted for 58.9 percent of total revenue, down from their combined share recorded last year which was 72.1 percent.”
He said pandemic restrictions limited restaurant, bar and entertainment offerings as well as special events. In addition, he said the lack of international travelers, conventions and low leisure travel contributed to the dramatic slump in non-gaming revenue.
When all taxes paid by those resorts are totaled, they paid $802.3 million. That includes not only the gaming percentage fees paid to the state but local gaming taxes in southern Nevada, sales and use taxes and other levies such as business and property taxes.
The Carson Valley Area, which includes valley portions of Douglas County as well as the capital, reported $37.4 million in net income from $160.6 million total revenue. Carson reported $111.3 million in gaming revenue, a 40.3 percent increase over fiscal 2020.
South Shore Lake Tahoe casinos reported net income of $24.4 million on total revenue of $361 million. Of that, $204.5 million game from gaming, an increase of 55.8 percent from fiscal 2020.
Washoe County casinos reported $775.3 million in net income from total revenue of $1.3 billion. That includes $695.3 million in gaming revenue, a 46.4 percent increase from the year before.
Elko reported $132.2 million in net income from total revenue of $405 million. Of that, $281.4 million came from the casino floors, a 55.8 percent increase from fiscal 2020.
Statewide, room sales generated $2.36 billion. Food sales generated $1.4 billion and beverage sales $565.4 million. The “other income” category contributed $1.57 billion to the pot.
The average daily number of employees in those resorts totaled 111,416 during fiscal 2021.
Room occupancy started the fiscal year at just 42.9 percent but finis
