https://gaming.nv.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=19933
The most recently available NGCB Gaming Revenue Report ( includes data available through 6/23/2023) is available for anyone interested. These numbers are all based on casino win% figures ( as defined by casino - reported win amounts divided by the total dollar amounts wagered by players; one can debate whether the numbers as reported are truly accurate..they're supposedly so). Below are the Win% numbers during the month of May 2023 for casinos on the Vegas Strip, Vegas Downtown, and the Reno (Washoe county) areas (all non-restricted locations in the separate areas).
BLACKJACK :
WIN% Strip = 14.23
WIN% Downtown = 17.38
WIN% Reno = 19.67
SLOTS: - 1 CENT
WIN% Strip = 11.9
WIN% Downtown = 12.49
WIN% Reno = 6.72
SLOTS: - $1
WIN% Strip = 6.72
WIN% Downtown = 6.81
WIN% Reno = 4.45
The blackjack win% numbers I assume includes every kind of available blackjack game ( decent rules, bad rules, 6:5 vs 3:2, games with side bets, good players, bad players, advantage players, inebriated players, psycho monkey players, variant minimums..on and on). One has to consider the influence of statistical variance and standard deviation on win% outcomes as well. The blackjack numbers above indicate that the Strip had the lowest overall win% by the casinos of the three areas considered for May 2023. All the above blackjack casino win% figures are a far cry from the oft-noted .05% house edge factor ( varies by rules, number decks, etc.) often touted for perfect basic strategy play at blackjack. So there are a lot of bad players ( who don't employ good basic strategy play/ betting decisions) and bad games (6:5, side-bet games, carny blackjack games, etc.) out there ( most of you are aware of that), but the Strip apparently won a smaller proportion of overall wagers from players among the three areas considered.The Reno numbers above were a bit surprising (highest casino win% and theoretically lower return to players) vs the other locations. The Downtown numbers were worse for blackjack player returns vs the Strip as well..based on these numbers and method of comparison.
From the slot data, these results scream " play slots in Reno"..far less loss for slot players as measured by these casino win% outcomes from NGCB.. Also, the often touted 'looser slots' advertised for the Downtown Vegas area vs the Strip didn't hold up in these May 2023 results. I looked up a larger 2-year data set ..'looser slots' in the Downtown Vegas area didn't hold up there, either ( the Strip generally had lower win%, eg better return to players, than the Downtown area in the past few years). Lot of variance involved though.
Longer span win% trends ( for the previous 2023 quarter and previous year including 2022 results) can be seen in the above linked report..to get an idea of trends, etc. for those interested. This would provide more perhaps useful info than the single month's numbers above.
If these numbers and trends are accurate, then this info also offers an anecdotal lesson..don't believe everything you hear about gaming outcomes. But you folks knew that, too.
