Pandemic vs Gambling

Nevada gaming regulator reported on the financial results for 2021. Total losses of Las Vegas casinos amounted to $1.95 billion.

On average, casino losses in the state of Nevada were about $206 million for the year. Casinos in the central part of Las Vegas suffered the most – they lost roughly $1.95 billion. Total gaming revenue in the state rose to $16.12 billion, but their net income fell by 12% due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“Pandemic-related restrictions that affected restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, convention halls, concerts, special events and nightclubs played a major role in reducing non-gaming revenue,” said Michael Lawton, senior economic analyst at the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB).

According to him, the rise in casino losses was also caused by a reduction in international visitors to the state, conference attendees and tourists from other US regions.

Most of the losses were due to high operating costs at casino-resorts when their operations were limited or fully prohibited during lockdown.

Earlier, journalist Christos Nikolaidis from the Greek TV channel Open TV found that casinos in North Macedonia were forging negative COVID-19 tests to attract players from Greece.

He said that after submitting documents people are allowed to play, and after some time they are given “not only a negative result of a fake rapid test, but also the PLF form which is required to return to Greece.”