LAS VEGAS-The statewide gaming take at Nevada's casinos declined almost 5% to $829.6 million on a year-over-year basis in July, with only one market showing an increase, according to newly released figures from the Nevada Gaming Control Board. On the Las Vegas Strip, an analysis by CB Richard Ellis gaming experts showed that gaming revenue was flat in July, up 2.2% year-to-date, and up 0.4% in the trailing 12-month period compared to the 12 months that preceded it.

North Lake Tahoe and Mesquite were the only two of the 19 submarkets tracked by the gaming board that showed an increased take for the month, with North Lake Tahoe up by 2.23% and Mesquite by 0.35%. The declines in the other markets ranged from 0.51% to 23.56%. The take for the Las Vegas Strip, the largest of the 19 markets, was flat at $461.3 million.

An analysis of the revenue figures by CB Richard Ellis gaming industry analysts Jacob Oberman and Brent Pirosch points out, among other things, that blackjack "was an outlier in July" as revenue was up 24% in the month. "On its own, it is tough to draw many conclusions as craps, roulette and slots all experienced healthy declines," the CBRE analysts said.

The blackjack figures could be the start of a trend, but more likely indicate "a statistical anomaly spurred by an extra Saturday in July 2010 compared with July 2009, and possibly a special event or individual high roller that was hosted by one of the casinos." Likewise, the decline in slots could be a result of a slot event moving out of July, Oberman and Pirosch say.

Some of the other points in the CBRE analysis show that table games revenue, excluding baccarat and mini baccarat, was up 6.9% in July, down 1.2% year-to-date and down 9.3% in the trailing 12-month period. Baccarat and mini baccarat revenue was up 8.8% in July, up 25.5% year-to-date and up 40.1% in the trailing 12-month period, while slot revenue was down 7.7% in July, down 3.1% year-to-date and down 5.6% in the trailing 12-month period.