From month to month, casino gaming revenue can fluctuate dramatically thanks to one game, the most volatile one on the floor — baccarat.
It’s the game the wealthy whales and James Bond play, in which fortunes can be won or lost literally with the turn of a card.
“The bottom line is high-end baccarat is played at only a handful of properties and the number of players who play at the high end that move the needle every month is a very small group and does not represent the masses of customers that visit the Strip every month,” said Michael Lawton, senior economic analyst for the Nevada Gaming Control Board who monitors casino gaming win and has seen the volatility of play over time.
