A perfect storm of positives — big concert and sports draws, robust convention attendance as well as above-average gaming and steady high volume at the state’s casinos — made March one of the best months for gambling winnings in recent history.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board on Thursday said the state’s 452 major casinos won $1.427 billion for the month, up 11.8 percent over a year ago and just short of the record $1.433 billion in December 2023.
The board also reported that Strip profits rose 14.4 percent to $780 million and downtown Las Vegas climbed 20.8 percent to $103.1 million.
Shelley Newell, senior economic analyst for the comptroller’s board’s administration division, said there was a wide variety of entertainment dates across the Valley in March, a month that has historically seen a large number of well-attended conventions and trade shows.
This year, that included ConExpo-Con/Agg in Las Vegas, a major trade show for construction equipment that only comes around every three years.
Sports did well with the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 14-15 and the players in town to watch the NCAA college “March Madness” basketball tournaments.
More importantly, game volume, win and hold percentages had a rare trifecta of increases in baccarat, table and card games, slots and, with the exception of volume, sports betting.
Winnings in table, table and card games reached $457.1 million – an increase of 27.9 percent from March 2025, or $99.7 million. The gaming decline of $3.1 billion was up 3.8 percent, or $115.7 million, and gaming ownership was 14.5 percent versus 11.8 percent last year.
Baccarat winnings of $154.1 million more than doubled (105.13 percent or $79 million). The $786.6 million baccarat drop was up 43.8 percent, or $239.6 million, and the game’s hold percentage was 19.59 percent compared to 13.74 percent last year.
Slot profit of $969.8 million was up 5.5 percent, or $50.6 million, and coin-in of $13.3 billion was up $324.2 million, or 2.5 percent.
Nevada sportsbooks won $46 million, an increase of 107 percent or $23.8 million compared to March 2025 on a holding percentage of 6 percent compared to about 2.6 percent last year. Sportsbook wagers totaled $763 million, down 11.3 percent from last March when $860.6 million was wagered nationwide. Mobile bets totaled $550.4 million, down 10.1 percent or $61.9 million, and accounted for 72.1 percent of all bets.
While none of the earnings statistics broke records in March, several of the amounts were near record territory.
The state slot win was the second highest in history and the total game win was the fifth best ever.
Profits from slot machines on The Strip were seventh best ever.
Total Strip Wins ranked 12th overall and Nationwide Table Game Wins and Strip Table Game Wins were No. 17 overall.
Newell said profits again exceeded pre-pandemic levels with a statewide gain of 39.5 percent compared to March 2019. She said gaming profits topped $1 billion for the 61st straight month.
The high gambling profits translated into higher gambling tax revenue for the state, which goes into Nevada’s general fund.
Based on collections through April 22, 10-month gaming tax collections now total $868.8 million, a roughly 3 percent increase from the amount collected in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
This is a development story. Check back for updates.
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