Las Vegas gaming revenue increases 1.5% in September

Good news for Las Vegas. The Gaming Control Board said Thursday casinos in Nevada collected $916.3 million from gamblers during the month, an increase of 1.5% from a year ago. On the Strip, casino revenue grew 2% to $504.8 million in September.

Baccarat play on the Strip returned to more normal levels in September, with revenue from the game increasing 23.2% to $100.5 million while volume grew 16.5% to $751.9 million. The monthly increases in both areas were just third time this year that the game has seen a one-month uptick.

Gaming Control Board Senior Research Analyst Michael Lawton said September offered an "apples to apples comparison" for baccarat, which has been affected by the Chinese government's crackdown on corruption that has ensnared high-end Macau junket operators.