Nevada Casinos

Nevada Online Gambling 2024

Believe it or not, there are no legal real-money online casinos to play casino games in Nevada. Interestingly enough, real-money online casinos are legal in Nevada, but there are no active platforms. However, there is online poker. The online poker is from the World Series of Poker.

In March 2015, Nevada and Delaware launched the Multi-State Poker Network. This allowed for the states to intertwine their player bases so that players could play online poker against users in both Nevada and Delaware.

A bit of time after the initial agreement, New Jersey also joined the pact.

Apart from poker, Nevada also allows online sports betting, but just like it happens with casinos, there are currently no sports betting websites operating. Although sports betting was first regulated in Nevada back in 1949, and the state has the highest number of physical sportsbooks in the country, there still aren’t any websites where you can place your bets.

The good news for sports betting fans is that there are plenty of mobile apps available in the state where you can bet on sports. These mobile apps are developed in partnership with land-based casinos.

You can create an account in these apps remotely, but you’ll have to physically visit the licensed entity to verify your identity. To do this, you have to bring a government-issued ID that contains a picture, such as a driver’s license.

Only after you have verified your identity will you be able to place bets.

The sports betting apps available in Nevada are:

BetMGM: Bellagio, Aria, Vdara, MGM Grand, The Signature, Mandalay Bay, Delano, Park MGM, NoMad, Mirage, New York-New York, Luxor, Excalibur, Beau Rivage, Gold Strike, Borgata, Empire City Casino

Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill: Harrah’s Las Vegas, Flamingo Las Vegas, The Cromwell, The LINQ, Bally’s Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Harrah’s Laughlin, Harvey’s Resort Hotel/Casino, Harrah’s Casino Hotel Lake Tahoe

Circa Sports: Circa Resort & Casino, Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, The D Las Vegas, Tuscany Suites & Casino, The Pass Casino

Golden Nugget NV Sportsbook: Golden Nugget Casino Downtown Las Vegas

STN Sports: Station Casinos, Red Rock, Green Valley Ranch, Wildfire Gaming

Apart from the sports betting apps mentioned above, other land-based sportsbooks have taken the online train and also offer their own apps. These include Rampart Sports, Treasure Island Sports, Westgate Superbook, William Hill, and Wynn Sports.

Sweepstakes Casinos Online In Nevada

While the retail casinos in Las Vegas offer generous comps to visitors, the sweepstakes and social casinos available in the Silver State have their own array of top bonuses for both new and existing players, available anywhere statewide.

Let’s dive into some of the best options for playing free online casino games.

Chumba Casino

Chumba is the top free/social casino on the market today. Available nearly everywhere in the United States, Chumba Casino allows players to win large cash prizes with their sweepstakes model. You can also redeem virtual currency for real money. It offers a very interesting range of games, including slots and table games, as well as some exciting jackpots.

Registering an account is fairly simple, but just like it happens in most casinos, it’s necessary to validate our identity with a government-issued document. One of the best aspects of Chumba Casino is that apart from the Sweeps Coins, we can also purchase Gold Coins that can be used to play games. On top of that, the casino offers players bonus Sweeps Coins when Gold Coins are purchased, which is a win-win situation for everyone that enjoys having that extra credit to spend on entertainment.

Funzpoints

Funzpoints has a similar model to Chumba and even looks a bit similar in terms of layout. However, there is a standard and premium mode available, which makes for an even more exciting gaming experience. With the premium version, you will get access to all of the games ad-free. Earning premium points is fairly simple, as you receive them as a bonus with every standard points purchase.

The premium version also unblocks all the games and boosters, which truly is an advantage as you’ll have access to the casino’s full potential. One aspect that is quite different from Chumba Casino is that you have to register an account to see which games are available.

This means that you won’t be able to decide on whether you’re interested or not before having an account with Funzpoints.

LuckyLand Slots

LuckyLand is strictly slots, as evidenced by the name of the platform. There are over 30 unique titles, but the lack of other casino games feels limiting. Nevertheless, in case you’re a slots fan, then you’ll have plenty of choice in terms of titles. You can still win money here, but the ways to do so are sparse. This casino offers two ways to play: with gold coins or sweeps coins.

Both offer the same level of entertainment and gaming experience, with the difference that sweeps coins allow you to redeem prizes. Luckyland Slots has an explanatory video on its homepage that is quite useful for those who are just now entering the world of social casinos. Another excellent advantage is that this platform is available for both computers and mobile devices.

b spot

b spot also makes it to the list of best social casinos due to the excellent gamification, particularly on mobile. The different types of wagers available also make this casino quite interesting, especially as it offers a wide range of multipliers. With over 15 games available, most of which are slot machines, this is one of the most complete social casinos out there.

You can also play bingo and other thematic games. I was also very pleased to see that the company recently introduced B Safe - the casino’s responsible gaming protocol. It allows players to set deposit limits, set a cool-down timeout, and even self-exclude from wagering altogether.

You can find truly helpful information about gaming responsibly on this section of the website, which is something that isn’t very common on social casinos.

Global Poker

You probably have already heard about Global Poker, as it’s one of the most well-known social casinos in the country. It offers a wide range of promotions and allows players to join tournaments. As the name indicates, this platform focuses on poker, but you’ll also find a very good collection of slot machines, blackjack, and even some ring game features.

One of the most impressive aspects of Global Poker is how reputable it is among its players, who frequently praise the website’s usability, the company’s customer support team, and overall gaming experience. Global Poker is also remarkable when it comes to design and usability.

It is very easy to navigate and contains numerous pieces of educational information for those who want to learn more about the game of poker.

Riversweeps

Unlike the Sweepstakes casinos mentioned above, Riversweeps casino is available as a mobile app only. It was developed by Club 7 as a casino slot game. It offers a wide range of slot machines, and the best part is that you don’t need to create an account to play. There are four types of slots available, which you can easily select when you open the application.

One minor disadvantage of this casino is that the app is quite big, which means that it will take some space on your phone. Nevertheless, it offers the experience any slots enthusiast is looking for, with over 70 titles to choose from.

Another good aspect of this app is that it’s available for download for both Android and iOS users, so regardless of the phone you use, you’ll have the chance to try it out for yourself.

Nevada Free Online Casinos

Not only is Nevada a capital for real-money casino gaming, but there are multiple free gaming options for players in the state. The sites listed below can be enjoyed without ever needing to spend a dime.

Rivers Casino4Fun

Rivers Casino4Fun is a social casino gaming site that offers an incredible collection of games.The site is free to play. Instead of using money, players use a virtual currency called VC to play casino games.

VC has no value and exists only for playing games on the site. Casino 4 Fun is a great option for those looking for a free online casino with nearly limitless options. The site’s expansive game library and lack of real-money gambling make it a fun and safe place to play casino games.

Lounge777 Casino

Slots are a popular choice for casino players, but they can be risky. If you’re looking for a place to play slots without having to worry about losing money, Lounge777 is a smart choice. It’s a free-to-play online casino featuring hundreds of slot games. You can find all your favorite slot game types at Lounge777 Casino, including progressives, classic slots, and video slot games.

MyJackpot Casino

MyJackpot Casino is a free social casino that offers its players an immense selection of slot games to enjoy. The site uses Chips, a virtual currency, to allow players to play any of the hundreds of titles available on the platform. Although there are no prizes for players to redeem, the fun and entertainment alone is certainly worth your time at MyJackpot Casino.

History of NV Gaming Control Board & Commission

The Nevada Gaming Control Board was established in 1955 with the goal to better regulate the licensing and operation of gaming within the state. It consists of three full-time members who are responsible for the protection of the stability of the gaming industry through investigations, licensing, and the enforcement of laws and regulations.

At the same time, since it was created within the Nevada Tax Commission, the Gaming Control Board also aims to ensure the collection of gaming taxes and fees.

Throughout the several decades, it has been in operation, the Nevada Control Board has become a reputable entity in the gaming industry.

This reputation was acquired not only due to its success in enforcing the regulatory framework surrounding gambling but also due to its excellent work in the six divisions it is responsible for: administration, audit, enforcement, investigations, tax, license, and technology.

A few years after the establishment of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, in 1959 to be precise, the Nevada Gaming Commission was created. Together, these two agencies work hand in hand to ensure that the gaming industry meets all the necessary standards of quality, security, and licensing.

The Nevada Gaming Commission consists of five members who are appointed by the governor. Simply put, the Commission acts on the recommendations of the Control Board, especially when licensing matters are concerned.

While the Nevada Gaming Control Board is in charge of the legislation and its enforcement, the Gaming Commission has the final say on any type of issue pertaining to licensing. The Commission has the responsibility and power to approve, limit, restrict, revoke, suspend, or deny any gaming license.

It’s important to understand that although both these agencies have the same final goal, they do have different responsibilities and powers.

For instance, in case the Gaming Control Board believes that a casino or sportsbook should be sanctioned or disciplined due to failure to follow the regulations in place, the Gaming Commission has the responsibility to analyze those claims and make the final decision on whether any sanctions should be applied and, if yes, which ones.

Together, these two agencies have been the leading agents in Nevada’s gaming industry and have allowed the state’s gambling scene to grow and develop to become one of the biggest and most developed ones in the country, if not the world.

Top Nevada Casino Operators

The Silver State has always been a leader when it comes to gambling, and this allowed numerous casinos to be recognized across the country. Below, we’ll give you an overview of the largest casino operators and developers in Nevada.

MGM Resorts

Founded in 1986, MGM Resorts operates in Las Vegas, Massachusetts, Detroit, Mississippi, Maryland, and New Jersey. Over the years, MGM Resorts has undergone a few names, starting with Grand Name Co., followed by MGM Grand Inc. and MGM Mirage.

Under the MGM umbrella includes Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Bellagio, and Park MGM.

MGM Resorts is headquartered in Paradise, Nevada, and is run by Bill Hornbuckle, the acting CEO and President. With over 74,500 total employees, MGM Resorts owns 20 properties on the Vegas Strip alone. In 2018, MGM Resorts secured a lucrative gaming partnership with the New York Jets.

Caesars Entertainment

Caesars has been a top name in the online sportsbook space as of late, and it should serve as no surprise. Caesars Entertainments’ roots trace back nearly 85 years ago, with William Harrah opening a bingo parlor in Reno on October 30, 1937. However, the Caesars Entertainment we know today officially came to be in 1996.

Formerly known as Eldorado Inc. up until last year, Caesars Entertainment has approximately 54,000 employees. There are multiple brands under Caesars. These include Caesars, Eldorado, Harrah’s, Horseshoe, Tropicana, and William Hill. The William Hill addition came in April 2021 when Caesars purchased it for $3.7 billion.

In July 2021, Caesars Entertainment earned the naming rights for the Louisiana Superdome, now known as the Caesars Superdome.

Boyd Gaming

Founded on New Year’s Day back in 1975, Boyd Gaming has 25,000 employees. The company is also based out of Paradise, Nevada, and it’s primarily a casino and hotel brand. In Las Vegas, Boyd Gaming owns the California Hotel and Casino, Fremont Hotel and Casino, Main Street Casino, among others.

In the past, Boyd Gaming owned some notable properties, including the Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In 2009, the company had over 7,500 hotel rooms, over 812,000 square feet, 21,400 slots, and 425 table games.

Station Casinos

Along with Affinity Gaming, Boyd Gaming, and Golden Entertainment, these three, with the addition of Station Casinos, own the vast majority of the local casino market in Nevada. Frank Fertitta Jr. founded Station Casinos in 1976.

The name Fertitta might sound familiar, and that’s because Frank’s brother, Lorenzo, is the former CEO of the UFC. Today, Lorenzo is now an owner and the Chairman. Station Casinos owns 21 different properties right now, including Palace Station and Mount Rose Station.

Wynn Resorts

Current online sports bettors may know Wynn Resorts as WynnBET, an online sports betting app. However, Wynn Resorts was founded in 2002 by Steve Wynn. This came after Wynn sold Mirage Resorts to MGM Grand in 2000 and bought the Desert Inn for $270 million.

Today, Matthew Maddox is the CEO, and the company has developed six properties. In Las Vegas, these properties are the Wynn and Encore. If you’ve never been to Vegas, these resorts stick out in a big way, with their cursive font atop the structure.

Wynn also has properties in Massachusetts and China. The company recently faced fines from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, paying $35 million and Maddox paying $500,000.

Las Vegas Sands

Paradise, Nevada, is a hot spot for casino headquarters because Las Vegas Sands is also based there. Founded in 1988 by Sheldon Adelson, Sands currently has three properties in Las Vegas, with a fourth, MSG Sphere at The Venetian, set to open in 2023.

Las Vegas Sands presently has over 44,00 employees, a drop from 50,000 in 2019. Following Adelson’s death in 2021, Sands Corporation sold its Las Vegas properties to Apollo Global Management.

Best Las Vegas Strip Casinos

Tropicana Las Vegas

Tropicana Las Vegas was first opened in 1957 and offers a gaming room of 50,000 square feet. Players will find ten options of table games, and those who prefer slots can also take advantage of the over 650 options available. The casino was renovated three times, the first in 1979, then again in 1986, and more recently in 2011. Adjacent to the casino, there is also the hotel which has 1,467 rooms. The Legends in Concert Theater has been home to Prince’s residence since 2017.

Wynn Las Vegas

Inaugurated in 2005, the Wynn Las Vegas offers 111,000 square feet of casino space. It has 95 table games, which include all the players’ favorites, such as blackjack, poker, and roulette. It also has 835 slot machines and a poker room. The hotel has 2,716 guest rooms and several restaurants. One of its main attractions is the Lake of Dreams waterfall, which is not only impressive by itself but is surrounded by a wonderful lake.

Bellagio Hotel & Casino

The Bellagio Hotel & Casino is one of the most well-known in Las Vegas. It has 116,000 square feet of gaming space, which includes 135 table games and over 2,400 slot machines. The casino was first inaugurated in 1998 and last remodeled in 2006. The adjacent hotel offers accommodation to thousands of people and has 3,950 rooms. Its most iconic attractions are the Fountains of Bellagio, but you’ll also find a conservatory and botanical gardens.

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

The Cosmopolitan opened its gambling doors in 2010 and impressed everyone with its 110,000 square feet gaming room. The casino offers 17 table games, including baccarat, roulette, and blackjack. You’ll also find approximately 1,300 slot machines and a poker room. The hotel has 3,027 rooms and plenty of well-known restaurants, but its most popular and successful attraction is the Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub. In 2014, a new nightclub was inaugurated - the Rose. Rabbit. Lie.

Luxor Hotel & Casino

The Luxor Hotel & Casino has been around for decades, having opened its doors back in 1993. It went through numerous remodels throughout the ’90s, with the most recent renovation finishing in 2007. The casino has a 120,000 square feet gaming room with 87 table games and well over 2000 slot machines. The hotel offers 4,407 rooms and numerous restaurants. One impressive aspect about Luxor is the Sky Beam which is the strongest in the world.

MGM Grand

By far one of the most well-known casinos in the world, the MGM Grand has a gaming floor of 171,500 square feet. It has more than 2,500 slot machines and 139 table games, including all the popular ones. It was first inaugurated in 1992, having been renovated and expanded in 2005, 2012, and 2019. The hotel now has 6,852 rooms, making the MGM Grand the biggest hotel in Las Vegas. There is also an impressive statue of Leo, the MGM lion on the premises.

Aria Las Vegas

Inaugurated in 2008, the Aria Las Vegas has a 150,000 square feet gaming room, and the casino offers 145 table games and almost 2,000 slot machines. The hotel is also fairly impressive, with 4,004 rooms. Apart from the casino, Aria is known for its Art Collection and the multiple pieces of art that are incorporated throughout the buildings.

Mandalay Bay

Mandalay Bay first opened its doors in 1999 and was recently expanded and renovated in 2016. The casino now has a gaming room with 135,000 square feet and over 50 table games, as well as over 1,200 slot machines. The adjacent hotel has 3,209 guest rooms. One of the most impressive attractions at Mandalay Bay is the Share Reef aquarium.

Planet Hollywood

Planet Hollywood was inaugurated in 2000, having been renovated and expanded in 2007 and 2017. Although it offers a smaller gaming room with only 64,470 square feet, you’ll still find plenty of variety with 178 table games and about 1,200 slot machines. The hotel has 2,494 guest rooms, and you can also visit the Zappos Theater on the resort’s premises.

The Venetian Las Vegas

Another very well-known hotel and casino is The Venetian, which was first inaugurated in 1999. It was also recently renovated, with the works having finished in 2021. The gaming room of the casino has 120,000 square feet, 60 table games, and well over 1,800 slot machines. The hotel now offers 4,049 guest rooms. One of The Venetian’s main attractions are the gondola canals that surround the buildings.

Caesars Palace Las Vegas

The Caesars Palace is one of the most popular resorts in Las Vegas. It was inaugurated in 1966 and has been renovated and expanded several times over the decades, with the most recent remodel happening in 2016. It offers a gaming room with 124,181 square feet, 185 table games, and 1,324 slot machines. The hotel now has 3,960 rooms, and you’ll find plenty of replicas of ancient Roman, Greek, and Renaissance art in the resort.

History of Nevada Casino Gambling

Pre-1930: After Nevada became a state in 1864, the issue of gambling within state lines was heavily debated. Over the time period between the Civil War and World War I, the state went back and forth in terms of criminalizing and decriminalizing the playing of games of chance in its various forms. In the 1860s, President Abraham Lincoln appointed specific men to take office in Nevada, specifically those who would curb the enthusiasm and hunger for gambling during the Gold Rush.

In 1861, legislation was passed to explicitly ban “games of chance" from taking place within the state of Nevada. However, this only lasted a few short years as Nevada moved to legalize and regulate gambling in 1864. While neither motion truly worked, a compromise was reached to reduce the punishment for gambling operators and players.

Five years later, Nevada entirely decriminalized gambling — a statute that would last until 1909 when gaming became a criminal offense. This was in large part due to the Progressive movement within the United States that sought to purify the citizenry of the nation.

The gambling world in Reno and the startup of Las Vegas came to a crashing stop, with the Nevada Prohibition beginning in 1919 and the US Prohibition in 1920.

1930s: This decade fully revolutionized the gaming industry in Nevada, largely into the place it is now. After the Prohibition ended, Nevada began to see a dramatic uptick in the construction of gambling establishments in both Reno and Las Vegas. 1932 saw the Apache Hotel built on Fremont Street in Las Vegas, making it the first luxury hotel to open its doors. William Fisk Harrah proceeded to open bingo parlors and small casinos across Reno, marking this decade as a full-scale attempt to revitalize the gaming industry within state lines.

The 1930s were marked by bingo parlors, card rooms, and small casinos as the first stops for gambling and entertainment in Nevada. Licensees like the Boulder Club and Las Vegas Club, located in Downtown Las Vegas, began to aid the state in growing its gaming operations up until the beginning of World War II.

1940s: The 1940s were a bustling time for Nevada gaming as the Las Vegas Strip began to form into what it is today. Las Vegas icon Bugsy Siegel opened The Flamingo in 1946, shortly after Thomas Hull opened his massive El Rancho Las Vegas off the Strip. 1946 was a major year for Las Vegas in particular as the still-standing Golden Nugget in Downtown Las Vegas was constructed with Harrah’s Club and Nevada Club both being staged in Reno.

The Tahoe-Biltmore Hotel & Casino’s construction in that same year also marked the first time that construction magnates viewed another place outside of Reno and Las Vegas to be gambling destinations.

In 1945, Nevada passed legislation that granted the ability to dole out gaming licenses to the State Tax Commission, a board that was now collecting a gambling tax of 1 percent of gross earnings. This tax became wildly successful in the wake of World War II as the tax revenue for the state totaled over $600,000.

In 1949, Nevada took it one step further by also granting the State Tax Commission the ability to do background checks on those applying for gaming licenses. This made it far more difficult for people to secure one and thus, made Nevada gaming a stronger unit with less illegal activity.

1950s: This decade featured over a dozen new major casino grand openings and saw outstanding growth in the gaming industry. With an economic boom taking place directly after World War II, residents and visitors had more money to gamble and, therefore, boosted the average annual revenue of major gaming operations statewide.

In 1952, commercial gambling became Nevada’s largest revenue source, passing both mining and agriculture, two steady fields for the previous century. Due to fear of another Prohibition, Nevada residents encouraged the state to enhance its regulation practices for new casinos and gaming operators.

This produced the Gaming Control Board’s inception in 1955, a governing body that still exists today in some form. Four years later, the Gaming Control Act was passed, which created the Nevada Gaming Commission.

During this time, cheating and edge-hunting were prevalent amongst high-stakes gamblers, and the Nevada Gaming Commission did not take this lightly. In fact, the infamous Black Book full of names was started to curb illegal and unfair gambling practices.

In addition to standard gaming regulations, sports betting was now becoming taxed as Congress presented a tax of 10 percent on all sports betting action. During this time, major casinos like Sahara, Riviera, Fremont, Tropicana, and Stardust opened in Las Vegas.

1960s: During the 1960s, the state’s population nearly doubled by 1960, total gross gaming revenue reached a whopping $200 million. It can be said that during this decade, Las Vegas became more than just a gambling town — it became a premier entertainment destination as well.

This drove up the annual revenue for Nevada exponentially. With Caesars Palace, Circus Circus, and Four Queens opening their doors in the 1960s, expansion was still on the horizon despite the ever-growing Nevada economy.

One of the primary changes to gaming mechanisms themselves came in 1961, when slots shifted to electromechanical engines. This allowed slots to become widespread and mass-produced, making it cheaper for casino magnates to institute a slot revolution.

As Nevada began to see the potential for even more revenue with its gambling-driven economy, the state legislature began to tax more and more items. A licensing fee on slots was introduced, with other associated fees being imposed on table games.

1967 was a big year for the Nevada gaming industry as it pertains to licensing. The Corporate Gaming Act was passed as a new rendition, allowing publicly traded corporations to now operate under the same licensing instead of requiring all shareholders to pay expensive fees to have a piece of the pie.

1970s: While annual revenue continued to increase on gaming within the state of Nevada, new technology and legislation were slow to come through. The biggest change in gaming was the construction of video slot machines with full-scale monitors, something that was never thought possible prior to the 1970s.

The infamous Red Line in Reno was stripped of its unlimited gambling privileges as the Nevada state legislature moved towards a fully regulated industry. In 1977, foreign gaming regulations allowed Nevada gambling licensees to spread their wealth overseas, enabling them to have stakes in casinos in other states and countries. The only condition of these terms was that the other associated governing body had to be fully regulated.

Tourism marked this decade and helped keep the state’s economy running. The state’s tax revenue was supported over half by gaming-based ventures, concerning some people in Nevada. All in all, this 150 percent increase in gaming revenue enabled the state to hold the title of fastest-growing state in the United States.

1980s: During the 1980s, slots began to pass table games in terms of revenue sources for the first time in the history of the gaming industry. The ability of slot manufacturers to mass-produce is a huge reason why this movement towards slots occurred.

The tax on slots was changed during this time as the United States only charged $250 per slot machine in taxes. Now, Nevada requires that the money be paid directly to the state in the form of a slot tax. Taxes across the state climbed steadily in 1981 as the revenue tax moved to 5.75% on revenue over $400,000 per quarter.

The state legislature also moved to raise slot machine licensing fees to $20 per quarter for every machine. They would rise once again in 1987 to 6% instead of 5.75%

Popular slot manufacturer IGT debuted progressive jackpot slots for the first time in Nevada in 1986.

1990s: In the 1990s, card shuffling at table games and card game tables went automatic in most casinos. This was a massive innovation for the gaming industry as it enabled the industry to generate more revenue per hour as it sped up gameplay dramatically.

Taxes were raised on total gross revenue once again, this time to 6.25%.

During this time period, Nevada saw massive construction across the Las Vegas Strip and other areas in the southern portion of the state. Many major casinos in Las Vegas that are still standing today were constructed during this time, including Excalibur, MGM Grand, and Bellagio. The 1990s in Nevada marked the largest population growth rate since the California Gold Rush, a truly remarkable feat.

In 1993, gaming revenue exceeded a whopping $6 billion, and in 1996, a total of $7.45 billion. One of the major impacts to this growth rate in the late 1990s, though, was the passing of California’s Prop 5 in 1998 that allowed Native American casinos to now compete with the Nevada gaming market.

2000s: Themed slots began to make a major mark on the slot gaming market in Nevada during this time, with many table games going fully electronic as well. Taxes continued to be hiked up in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks as tourism dropped dramatically in the event’s wake. 6.75% was the new rate, a far greater total than the 6.25% that had stood for decades.

Directly following the minor recession in Nevada, gaming revenues continued to rise with numbers like $10 billion in 2004 and $12.6 billion in 2006.

During this time, non-gaming resort revenue passed gaming revenue for the largest source of revenue within the state. This was a surprise to many, but with the constant growth of tourism and entertainment offerings in Las Vegas, the trends were always there.

2010s: In the wake of the Great Recession, tourism and gaming revenues took a brief nosedive. Many gamblers in the state and the rest of the nation were hit particularly hard and, simply put, had no funds to gamble with. This provided Nevada’s gaming commission to enter into the online gaming space with full force as they looked to extract profits despite the decrease in those venturing to the Nevada desert.

While statewide profits did not necessarily see massive expansion, many casino chains and operators began full-blown expansions of their properties and entertainment offerings in an effort to bring more people through the door. This eventually worked but was initially difficult considering the circumstances of the nation following the housing market crash.

3D slot machines were introduced in the 2010s, online gaming and online poker were legalized, and cashless gaming became an option in 2014.

NV casino market snapshot

• Year first casino opened: 1906
• Number of casinos today: 215
• Commercial casino revenue 2019 (pre-covid): $12.032 billion
• Commercial casino revenue 2020: $7.87 billion
• Gaming regulator: NV Gaming Control Board and NV Gaming Commission