Nonetheless, the numbers are sliding slowly now compared withhow they once dropped. The 3% decline in Strip winnings fromJanuary 2009 to January 2010 was considerably less than the 14.77%drop that occurred from January 2008 to January 2009. During thattime, the Strip revenue plunged from $598.8 million to theaforementioned $510.3 million.

Despite the general overall decline in Strip winnings by thecasinos, an analysis by CBRE gaming industry specialists JacobOberman and Brent Pirosch shows that the January 2010 gamingrevenue numbers tells "a tale of two cities." The CBRE analystscompare and contrast the properties that compete in thebaccarat/mini-baccarat market with those that do not.

The baccarat/mini-baccarat revenue was up 10% in January, a jumpthat is "off the charts," the CBRE analysts says. What's more,January this year was competing against a very strong January 2009,when the first few days of the Chinese New Year fell inJanuary.