Sports betting in the Silver State saw an 11.3% year-over-year dip in wagering during a busy month, but revenue more than doubled that of March 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Nevada sportsbooks generated over $700 million in wagers again.
- Profits spiked 107% with a more operator-friendly NCAA Tournament.
- Football proved costly to operators in March.
Between the NCAA Tournament and the start of the MLB season, retail and online sportsbooks generated $763 million, about $98 million less than in March 2025, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s monthly report. Mobile betting accounted for 72.1% of March’s wagers, but the $550.4-million handle was down 10.1%.
Last March’s roughly $860 million was the highest monthly handle Nevada operators produced since late 2023. While reaching or surpassing that mark was unlikely last month, the visitation declines in Las Vegas could explain the sharp betting decrease.
Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google accountAfter the monthly amount wagered fell below $700 million in February for the first time since last August, the handle bounced back above that mark. However, wagering has fallen year over year in each of the first three months of 2026.
Revenue rises
With more upsets and fewer No. 1 seeds reaching the Final Four than last March, Nevada sports betting revenue spiked 107% year over year to $46 million. March 2025 only produced $22.3 million.
The 6% hold was up significantly from last year as well and on par with February’s win rate. Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, produced a 5.9% hold on $92.5 million in wagers. Revenue spiked 112%.
Online operators hauled in $36.7 million in March, a 135% year-over-year increase. The rise in monthly profits led to $3.1 million in tax revenue for the Silver State.
Sports betting breakdown
| Sport | March Revenue | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball | $36.8 million | 50.2% |
| Other | $8.5 million | 29.8% |
| Hockey | $6.1 million | 501% |
| Football | -$9.6 million | -6.6% |
Between conference and NCAA tourneys and the NBA, basketball predictably produced the most revenue by sport, hauling in $36.8 million, 50% more than the previous March.
No other sport reached $10 million. Hockey generated an $8.5-million profit for operators, a 29.8% increase, while “other” sports reached $6.1 million. Tennis, soccer, MMA, boxing, auto racing, and golf generated 501% more profit than in the previous March.
Bettors cashed in a ton of football tickets, costing sportsbooks $9.6 million in the first month without the NFL.
Other Nevada news
Nevada sports betting operators won’t have to worry about a major prediction market cutting into their monthly handle. The Silver State received a favorable ruling earlier this month from Judge Jason Woodbury, who plans to issue a permanent injunction to keep Kalshi from offering sports event contracts in Nevada.
Las Vegas casino and hotel operators and other businesses were thrilled to receive news in April that a major sporting event was returning. The NFL announced Las Vegas will host the Super Bowl in 2029. The last time Sin City hosted the sport’s premier contest, it became the most-bet Super Bowl of all time.
