Sin City gamblers are hit hard by rising gas prices

In spite of the fact that all the popular Las Vegas hotel casinos are working hard to attract more Sin City tourists this year with discounts and vouchers, their slot machine business is slumping. And while Las Vegas slot machine business makes up about two thirds of Las Vegas, Nevada’s earnings, it’s not such great news for the Vegas casino hotels.

According to the Gaming Control Board, Sin City gamblers are betting $1.1 billion less in slot machines than last year. Slot machines on The Strip are down half a billion dollars. This corresponds to a drop of 12% in comparison to last year. With drivers paying more than $4 per gallon for gas, gamblers are really having to count their pennies these days. On the other hand with the cost of fuel going down, these numbers could change in the near future.

Las Vegas casinos aren’t really concerned about this drop in slot machine earnings, the latest figures show that table game play is actually increasing. On The Strip the volume for Las Vegas 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 casinos won 21 percent less in July due in some part to some lucky Vegas gamblers as well as bettors winning a larger percentage than normal.

The popular saying, “The house always wins”, may have been true in the past. But as these reports tell us, casinos are are finding it more difficult to make a profit than before. This might be the best time for Las Vegas gamblers to start using their Sin City vouchers, taking advantage of rebates, and using their frequent flyer miles. With the Sin City casinos having a run of bad luck, this may be the best moment for you to hit the Vegas casinos.