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Expansion, Locals Keep Carson City Gaming Revenue Steady

"Gaming officials believe the region's success is due to several factors:

"Two major casino expansions have been completed in the last year, and two new small casinos have opened in the capital city.

"Spurred by a more competitive market, many casinos also have been advertising more, using more ambitious and costlier marketing campaigns to lure gamblers.

"…January, the most recent month for which gaming numbers are available, was the worst January in nearly 20 years, the Nevada Gaming Control Board announced earlier this month. Nevada casinos had a 14.8 percent slump in winnings compared to January 2001.

"But the Carson-Douglas area — including Carson City, Carson Valley and Topaz Lake, but excluding the much larger casinos at Stateline — was up 7.68 percent compared to the same month the previous year.

"…[Gaming Control Board analyst Frank] Streshley said the reason Carson-Douglas has continued to improve is because there is more casino space.

"…[Steve Bilyeu], whose company owns the Piñon Plaza and Carson Station in Carson City, believes there is another major reason.

"`My particular theory is that Carson City is less dependent on tourism for gaming revenue than others are,' Bilyeu said. `A large portion of our gaming revenue is from locals. We don't see the fluctuations caused by tourism problems.'

"…Linda Woons, casino manager of the Silver Dollar Casino, said since the facility opened after the Sept. 11 attacks, there has been enough business to increase slots from 40 to 119 in just six months.

"…Last August, the Carson Valley Inn, already one of the biggest hotel-casinos in the Carson-Douglas region, went through a $6 million expansion. Already boasting 153 hotel rooms, a 76-room motor lodge, 60-site recreational vehicle park and three restaurants, the Carson Valley Inn added 8,000 square feet to its 16,000-square-foot casino, increasing slot machines by 50 percent.

"…SlotWorld more than doubled its size last year, adding about 14,000 square feet to the 10,600-square-foot slots-only casino.

"…While Carson-Douglas area gaming seems to be faring better than much of the state after Sept. 11 and the nationwide economic downturn, leaders in both counties have recently taken steps to regulate gaming growth.

"Last week, the Douglas County Planning Commission endorsed a proposal to tighten controls over gaming applications that will be before the county commission April 4.

"…Carson City,also recently tried to set a higher standard for gaming…"

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