Nevada casinos in markets outside Las Vegas ranked higher on the American Gaming Association’s list of Top 20 U.S. gaming markets for 2021, released last month.
According to the Nevada Independent, casinos in Henderson now comprise the ninth-largest gaming revenue market in the nation, and the Northern Nevada area that includes Reno and Sparks sits at No. 12 on the list.
But those new rankings likely were influenced by the Covid-19 outbreak, which closed casinos across the country for varying lengths of time and skewed the overall revenue picture. Combined, national gaming revenues in 2020 for commercial casinos fell 31 percent to $30 billion, the lowest annual figure since 2003.
“While 2020 was a rough year for the industry, it will end up being an asterisk as we look at revenue over the course of time,” Global Market Advisors partner Brendan Bussmann told the Independent. “The more defining stat will be how quickly each of these markets rebounds, sustains, and grows.”
The Strip, which saw gaming revenues decline 43.3 percent to $3.73 billion ($3.65 billion under the AGA’s estimate), remained the nation’s largest gaming market. Atlantic City came in second with $1.4 billion.
The balance of the Top 20 saw only three jurisdictions—Lake Charles, Louisiana, Kansas City and Cincinnati—maintain their 2019 positions.
The Boulder Strip and Henderson region generated $642 million in gaming revenues, or $655 million with sports betting, putting it in the Top 10. The Reno/Sparks market climbed two spots with $577 million according to the AGA, or $595.5 million with sports wagers. Downtown Las Vegas casinos fell three spots to No. 19 with $387 million in gaming revenues, or $464 million with sports betting included.
However, Bussmann said, the 2020 revenue statistics “will end up being a blip on the radar” as the industry recovers.
“This year’s report reflects both the highs and lows of the past year,” said AGA CEO Bill Miller. And the picture is getting brighter, with Nevada casinos generating more than $1 billion in gaming revenues in March.
