Super Bowl, Chinese New Year Lift Nevada to Best February Gaming Win Ever

In the biggest February win in the history of the state, Nevada casinos reported a total gaming win of $1.34 billion in February 2024.

The total was an 8.5 percent increase over February 2023 and marked the fifth-highest monthly total ever recorded for Nevada casinos, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Leap Year Boosts ‘Incredible’ Month for Casinos

Two major factors helped propel Nevada to these heights. First, the Super Bowl saw the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium, drawing tens of thousands of fans attending the game along with those who already head to Las Vegas to enjoy betting on the Super Bowl each year.

In addition, the casinos benefited from Chinese New Year, which ran from February 10 to February 24. Las Vegas Strip casinos alone took in $180.5 million in baccarat winnings, up 81.9 percent compared from last year. Baccarat is the game of choice for many high rollers, particularly those from Asia.

February revenues were also up because of the leap year, which adds a 29^th day to the month. However, even with that additional day of play, officials said the numbers were impressive.

“It was a pretty incredible month, and if there were 31 days, we might have set an all-time record for gross gaming revenue,” Control Board senior economic analyst Michael Lawton said via the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “It was the new all-time record for the month of February.”

The best month ever for Nevada casinos remains December 2023, when they combined for $1.43 billion in revenue. Las Vegas Strip casinos also set a record that month with $905.5 million in revenue, while they took in $800.7 million in February.

Sportsbooks Win Big on Super Bowl

Sportsbooks in particular benefited from Las Vegas hosting the Super Bowl. According to the control board, sportsbooks won $6.8 million from the game, as bettors largely backed the 49ers. The Chiefs ultimately won the game 25-22 in overtime.

Overall, Nevada sportsbooks reported $47.9 million in winnings, an increase of 16.1 percent year-over-year. Mobile play continues to power sports betting in the state, accounting for 59.5 percent of all wagers. Bettors wagered a total of $712.3 million on sports during February.

While the news was mostly positive throughout the state, there were a couple areas where winnings dropped compared to February 2023. Laughlin saw a 7.9 percent decrease in revenue year-over-year, while North Las Vegas was also down 4.4 percent.

(Image: Don Mennig / Alamy)