Nevada Poker Continues Its 2019 Hot Streak With A Strong February
2019 has been very good to Nevada poker rooms. After a 6.5 percent rise in January, Nevada’s poker industry saw revenues rise by nearly four percent year-over-year in February.
The industry managed the gains in spite of the market shrinking by nine poker rooms and over 40 poker tables. That would be remarkable if it wasn’t a multi-year trend in the market.
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A look inside this month’s revenue numbers
The Nevada Gaming Control Board counted 55 poker rooms and 546 poker tables in its latest monthly report. The state possessed 64 poker rooms and 687 poker tables in February 2018.
Not surprisingly, on a per table basis, February 2019 easily outperformed February 2018:
- February 2018 table average: $15,264
- February 2019 table average: $16,989
As noted in the opening, the first two months of 2019 have been really strong for Nevada’s poker operators.
Y/Y revenue changes:
- January 2019: +6.52 percent
- February 2019: +3.79 percent
2018/2019 live poker revenue in Nevada
How long can the trend continue?
Revenue aside, it’s hard to not notice that poker rooms and tables are disappearing at a somewhat alarming rate across the state. The question is, are the increased revenues coming at the expense of poker players, or was Nevada simply overloaded with poker tables?
It’s likely a combination of the two.
The market is almost certainly right-sizing and growing more efficient. At the same time, rooms are cutting rewards and increasing rake and fees.
3- and 12-month poker room and table trend
Over the last three months, Nevada has averaged 549 poker tables at 57 separate locations. Those rooms generated $28,703,000 over that period, a 4.57 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Over the last 12 months Nevada has averaged 594 poker tables at 63 locations. During that time the state’s poker operators have generated $120,937,000, a 2.01 percent increase compared to the previous 12-month period.
- March 2018: 62 poker rooms and 567 poker tables
- April 2018: 64 poker rooms and 595 poker tables
- May 2018: 62 poker rooms and 688 poker tables
- June 2018: 62 poker rooms and 683 poker tables
- July 2018: 60 poker rooms and 694 poker tables
- August 2018: 61 poker rooms and 585 poker tables
- September 2018: 58 poker rooms and 561 poker tables
- October 2018: 56 poker rooms and 558 poker tables
- November 2018: 58 poker rooms and 561 poker tables
- December 2018: 56 poker rooms and 553 poker tables
- January 2019: 57 poker rooms and 548 poker tables
- February 2019: 55 poker rooms and 546 poker tables
Nevada poker rooms by the numbers
The largest poker rooms in Las Vegas are mainly found on the Las Vegas Strip:
- Venetian (The Strip) – 37 poker tables
- Bellagio (The Strip) – 37 poker tables
- Orleans (Las Vegas off-strip)- 35 poker tables
- Wynn (The Strip) – 28 poker tables
- Aria (The Strip) – 24 poker tables
- South Point Casino (Henderson) – 22 poker tables
- Green Valley Ranch Casino (Henderson) – 22 poker tables
- Red Rock Casino (Summerlin) – 20 tables
Historical data and trends of poker in Nevada
Here’s a look at several key poker metrics from the UNLV Center for Gaming Research, which has been tracking the number of poker rooms, tables and revenue since 1992:
Year | # of Rooms | # of Tables | Total Revenue | % Change YoY |
---|---|---|---|---|
1992 | 92 | 564 | 74,701,000 | -2.57 |
1993 | 89 | 571 | 70,814,000 | -5.20 |
1994 | 93 | 586 | 71,667,000 | 1.20 |
1995 | 92 | 574 | 66,520,000 | -7.18 |
1996 | 82 | 539 | 64,485,000 | -3.06 |
1997 | 77 | 490 | 61,509,000 | -4.61 |
1998 | 76 | 526 | 58,873,000 | -4.29 |
1999 | 70 | 546 | 63,244,000 | 7.41 |
2000 | 68 | 473 | 63,064,000 | -0.28 |
2001 | 65 | 475 | 59,673,000 | -5.38 |
2002 | 57 | 386 | 57,791,000 | -3.15 |
2003 | 58 | 383 | 68,276,000 | 18.15 |
2004 | 79 | 484 | 98,862,000 | 44.80 |
2005 | 96 | 701 | 140,224,000 | 42.00 |
2006 | 106 | 886 | 160,929,000 | 14.77 |
2007 | 113 | 907 | 167,975,000 | 4.38 |
2008 | 113 | 913 | 155,724,000 | -7.29 |
2009 | 114 | 905 | 145,580,000 | -6.54 |
2010 | 109 | 920 | 135,200,000 | -7.13 |
2011 | 104 | 872 | 131,877,000 | -2.46 |
2012 | 99 | 809 | 123,253,000 | -6.54 |
2013 | 88 | 774 | 123,891,000 | 0.56 |
2014 | 79 | 736 | 119,904,000 | -3.18 |
2015 | 76 | 681 | 118,023,000 | -1.57 |
2016 | 73 | 661 | 117,753,000 | -0.18 |
2017 | 71 | 615 | 118,455,000 | 0.60 |
2018 | 62 | 599 | 120,010,000 | 1.33 |