Sin City gamblers are hit hard by rising gas prices

Even though all the large casinos are doing their best to attract more Las Vegas, Nevada visitors this year with rebates and vouchers, their slot machine business is on the decline. And seeing that Las Vegas slot machine business makes up about two thirds of the state’s profits, it’s not such good news for the Vegas casino hotels.

According to the Gaming Control Board, Vegas gamblers wagered $1.1 billion less in slot machines compared to last year. Slot machines on The Las Vegas Strip are down half a billion dollars. This represents a drop of 12% compared to last year. With drivers paying more than $4 per gallon for gas, gamblers are really having to watch their spending nowadays. Although with the price of gas on the decline, these numbers could change in the coming months.

Las Vegas casinos aren’t really bothered about this drop in slot machine income, the latest reports show that table game play is actually going up. On The Strip the volume for Sin City table games is up 5 percent, with baccarat play up 15 percent and blackjack on the rise at 7 percent. This might seem like good news but, the truth is that Sin City hotel casinos won 21 percent less in July because of some lucky Sin City bettors as well as gamblers taking home a larger percentage than typical.

The famous saying, “The house always wins”, may have been true in the past. But as these reports have shown us, Vegas hotel casinos are having a harder time making a profit than in the past. This might be the best time for Sin City gamblers to start redeeming their Vegas vouchers, taking advantage of discounts, and using their frequent flyer miles. With the Las Vegas, Nevada casinos having a run of bad luck, this might be the best moment for you to visit some of Vegas’ most popular casinos.