As gaming revenues soar in Nevada and nationwide, one analyst is cautious for 2022

by Howard Stutz

Nevada’s casino industry is on track for 2021 to produce its fourth-ever $12 billion revenue year. Nationwide, gaming revenues have already surpassed 2019’s record total.

One gaming analyst, however, believes as the year draws to a close, it might be wise to take a deep breath and evaluate where the casino sector is headed in 2022.

Deutsche Bank gaming analyst Carlo Santarelli took a comprehensive look at the overall casino industry in an extensive research report released last week.

A day after the American Gaming Association said commercial casinos had all but equaled through October its 2019 full-year record of $43.65 billion in gaming revenues, Santarelli said comparisons for domestic gaming – regional markets and Las Vegas – will “stiffen” in the second quarter of 2022 and beyond.

“We think the setup for the year is actually somewhat challenging,” Santarelli wrote of the regional gaming markets in the summary of his 195-page report. In addition to gaming revenue comparisons toughening, expectations measured by cash flow forecasts will leave “limited room for error.”

His takeaway for the Las Vegas Strip was the recovery experienced during 2021 could face a “modest contraction” during 2022.

Read the entire article at The Nevada Independent: https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/as-gaming-revenues-soar-in-nevada-and-nationwide-one-analyst-is-cautious-for-2022