Pent-up demand and more money in the pockets of consumers in the form of stimulus checks helped drive people to casinos once they reopened from the pandemic. Industry experts, including slot manufacturers, casino owners and analysts, agree that COVID-19 ultimately had a resulting positive impact on the gaming industry’s revenue growth spurt. What’s behind the explosive popularity of the machines that historically have been referred to as “one-armed bandits?” In the 12 months in pre-pandemic April 2019 to March 2020, slots brought in $7.123 billion - 27.5 percent less revenue - and that was with 457 licensees. In the past 12 months, from April 2021 to March, slot machines managed by nonrestricted licensees in Nevada generated $9.085 billion of the $14.375 billion won by casinos. That doesn’t even count the slots at more than 2,000 restricted license locations - mostly convenience stores, bars and restaurants - that can have up to 15 machines per location. There are more than 120,000 of them in Nevada at 330 licensed nonrestricted locations, including more than 85,000 of them in Clark County, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Slot machines, those ubiquitous devices that generate more revenue than any other games in the casino, are hotter than ever. Sierra Johnson, left, and Drew McKenna, of Portland, Ore., play the slot machines at Circa on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas.
