Poker tables keep decreasing in Nevada

In less than ten years Nevada lost a quarter of its poker tables.

US.- A new report revealed that poker tables have been decreasing significantly in Nevada in the last few years: with a new closing at the Monte Carlo, the Strip will have a quarter of poker tables less than ten years ago.

According to Associated Press, in 2007 Nevada featured 907 tables and collected US$168 million, whilst a year ago there were 661 tables, almost 250 less, and US$118 million reported. Director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, David Schwartz, said: “Casinos added more tables in response to popularity, and once it became less popular, they took away the tables.”

Brian Gordon, from the research firm Applied Analysis, said that gaming has become a smaller portion of the overall revenue mix and things like poker rooms are candidates for further evaluation as to whether they make sense or not at a casino property. Last week, the local gaming regulator released the results from January, where the 65 poker rooms collected a total of US$9 million, 5.3 percent less than last year’s US$9.5 million during the same period. After the closing of the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino eight poker table, the Strip area will have only 19 rooms.