Fourth year of gambling revenue gains for Nevada

Nevada casinos won $11.1 billion in 2013 as the gambling state chalked up a fourth consecutive year of gambling revenue gains, fueled largely by high-roller Baccarat game and good fortune that favored the house.

Reporting on the latest figures from the Nevada regulator, the Associated Press news agency says statewide win for the calendar year was up 2.6 percent over 2012….and it was also the first time since 2008 that Nevada casinos topped $11 billion in gambling revenues.

However, a spokesman for the state regulator said Friday that the numbers are still 15 percent below a peak of $12.8 billion won by casinos in 2007 before the recession hit.

Baccarat, a high-roller game favoured by Asian players, was responsible for much of the revenue growth, AP notes. Baccarat gamblers wagered a record $11.8 billion on which casinos won $1.6 billion.

Analysts say that without baccarat, the statewide win would have registered a gain of only 0.6 percent over 2012.