Baccarat is going big in Las Vegas.
Even though fewer people are visiting, the Las Vegas Strip saw a 5.5% increase in gaming revenue in August, largely due to a significant boost in baccarat earnings.
Across Nevada, casinos earned $1.23 billion, up from $1.16 billion in August 2024. The Las Vegas Strip alone generated $679.3 million, representing an 8.3% increase over the previous year.
It's a bit surprising since Nevada, Las Vegas in particular, has struggled all year with visitation rates that are lower than expected. Caesars even tried to improve visitation by announcing a big sale at its properties.
Baccarat Revenue Jumps 51% in August
Baccarat, a favorite card game, saw a big boost, with profits jumping by 51% from the previous year.
This increase happened even though people placed fewer bets overall. The casinos made more money because they kept a larger share of the baccarat bets than before. In August, on the Las Vegas Strip, the large profit from baccarat wasn't because of more bets. It was due to casinos keeping a higher percentage of the money wagered.
This percentage, known as the "hold" rate, rose to 18.5% last month from 10.5% last August, despite the total amount bet dropping by over 14%.
Experts attribute this change to the unpredictable nature of baccarat.
The game's outcome can vary greatly, especially when a few high-spending players win or lose big. If these players lose, the casino ends up keeping more money, significantly impacting monthly earnings. This kind of variation is normal for baccarat, but in August, it favored the casinos, helping them make more money despite fewer bets.
With Nevada's 6.75% tax rate on gross gaming revenue, Strip baccarat contributed roughly $7.7 million in tax revenue for August 2025, compared to about $5.1 million for August 2024—an estimated year-over-year increase of $2.6 million from baccarat alone due to the higher hold.
Overall, gaming tax collections rose by 33.7% to $77.1 million.
How To Play Baccarat
Baccarat is a simple table game where players bet on which of two hands—the “Player” or the “Banker”—will come closest to a total of nine. The game's main steps and rules are:
Basic Baccarat Rules and Gameplay
- Two hands are dealt: one called Player, one called Banker. Participants bet on either hand to win, or on a tie.
- Each hand starts with two cards. All face cards and 10s count as zero, aces are one, and other cards count at face value.
- If a hand’s total value is over 9, only the second digit counts (e.g., 7 + 8 = 15 becomes 5).
- If either hand gets an 8 or 9 from the first two cards, it’s a “natural,” and no further cards are drawn.
If neither hand has a natural:
- The Player hand draws a third card if it is 5 or less; stands on 6 or 7.
- The Banker hand follows a set drawing rule depending on its total and possibly the Player’s third card.
The hand closer to nine wins. Bets on the winning hand pay even money. Winning Banker bets pay even money minus a 5% commission.
Special Features
- Side bets on Tie and Pairs are often available;
- Tie bets pay higher but are less likely to occur.
- The game commonly uses eight decks in the shoe, and bets are placed before cards are dealt.
There are versions and side bets like Lucky 6 and “Pairs” with unique payouts at some casinos.
Baccarat requires no strategy in card play—it’s purely a betting game. Dealers and signage handle drawing rules automatically, and all participants need to do is decide which outcome to bet on for each round. Unfortunately, scammers often try to cheat at baccarat to make money.
The most common variation played in casinos is Punto Banco. Other versions, like Chemin de Fer and Baccarat Banque, involve more player decision-making and are less common in American casinos.
Other Games That Performed Well in August
Other gaming areas saw smaller changes on the Strip in August. Slot machine revenue remained steady, while sports betting revenue increased by 15%, bolstered by the upcoming football season.
Despite fewer tourists, with August marking the eighth consecutive month of declining visitation, gaming revenue still increased, aiding the state's finances. Although hotel occupancy and rates dropped, the strong baccarat performance sustained revenue growth.
These results demonstrate that even with fewer visitors, strong gaming earnings, particularly from baccarat, are essential to supporting Las Vegas and Nevada's overall revenue.
