CARSON CITY, Nev. — Nevada casinos reported a healthy 8.1 percent increase in total gaming win for May.

The increase was $72.8 million to a total of $970.3 million over May, 2013.

Statewide, the story was, once again, baccarat which hauled in $172.6 million. That is an 85.5 percent increase over May, 2013. The $1 billion wagered on baccarat is a near 25 percent increase over a year ago.

---

---

Without baccarat, the state would have been up less than a percent in total win.

The increase was driven by the Las Vegas Strip where nearly all of the baccarat tables are located. Total win there was $592.9 million, about two-thirds of which came from table games. Of the $87.5 million, 17 percent increase in total Strip win, $80 million came from baccarat alone.

---

---

South Shore casinos at Lake Tahoe continued their roller coaster ride for May, reporting an 18.4 percent increase to $17.3 million. That is a solid gain considering May 2013 was up 9.7 percent because of a huge baccarat win. This May, South Shore’s increase was attributed to slot play which jumped 30 percent.

The increase follows April’s 42 percent decrease at the lake, which followed March’s 31.6 percent increase.

North Shore casinos reported a 1.6 percent increase in May, the area’s first uptick after four consecutive decreases. Total win there was $1.84 million as a 5.4 percent increase in slot win offset a 12 percent decrease in Game and Table win.

Washoe County casinos reported win of $67.98 million. While that is only a 1.5 percent increase, it’s a solid performance since this May compared to the same month last year was up 7.5 percent. Volumes for both slot and Game and Table play were up. Reno was up 4.4 percent, offsetting an 8.5 percent decrease in Sparks.

Carson Valley casinos, however, didn’t fare as well, suffering a 2.71 percent decrease to $8.6 million.

The problem was a 3.5 percent drop in slot volume that translated to a $355,000 decrease in slot win for the month.

Carson’s numbers would have been significantly worse except for the 32 percent increase in “21” win to $270,000.

In Churchill County, Game and Table win was up 115 percent, but that accounts for just $67,000 of the county’s $1.76 million total win, not nearly enough to counter a 2.9 percent decrease in slot win.