Reno gaming revenues continue to fall

Gaming revenues in Reno have sunk to new lows.

The Northern Nevada city saw its monthly gaming revenues in March plummet some 26 percent compared to a year ago.

It was just a few decades ago that Reno was the second largest gaming market in Nevada behind the Strip. That fact has long since changed.

Reno reported gaming revenues of $46.2 million in March, which trailed casinos along the Boulder Highway and Henderson ($79.4 million), downtown Las Vegas ($55.3 million) and Laughlin ($51.5 million).

Reno casinos reported a slight increase in January, but as a whole, Washoe County casinos (primarily Reno and Sparks) have recorded 21 straight months of reduced gaming revenues.

Northern Nevada has been impacted hard by the souring economy. However, competition from neighboring Northern California American Indian casinos has sliced into Reno’s visitation.

Washoe County also saw two large resorts, Fitzgerald’s in downtown Reno and the Silver Club in Sparks, close in the past five months.