The Nevada sports betting handle fell year over year for a fourth straight month in May, dropping 5.4%, while operator revenue declined even more sharply.
Key Takeaways
- The Golden Knights played a major role in the revenue decline.
- Online sportsbooks experienced a 3.1% handle decrease.
- Basketball profits were up nearly 4% from the previous May.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board reported Monday that $545.7 million was wagered, down from $576.8 million in May 2025, during a month highlighted by the NBA and NHL playoffs.
Online and retail sportsbooks generated $38.7 million in revenue, a 17.2% year-over-year decrease. The statewide hold of 7.1% dipped more than a point compared to the previous May.
The Vegas Golden Knights’ run to the Stanley Cup Final certainly played a role, as year-over-year hockey profits were down 69%. The home-state team went 9-2 in May, with five of those wins coming with plus odds.
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Mobile wagering down
Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, experienced a larger 15.8% year-over-year revenue decline, while Washoe County operators in Reno and Lake Tahoe saw profits fall 32.5% compared to May 2025.
Nevada online wagering, which accounted for 75.1% of the total handle, was down 3.1% in May. Mobile sportsbooks made $34 million in revenue.
The state hauled in $2.6 million in May, increasing year-to-date tax revenue past $15 million.
Sport details
| Sport | May Revenue | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball | $13 million | 3.9% |
| Baseball | $12.6 million | -41% |
| Other | $13.7 million | 28.6% |
| Hockey | $1.5 million | -69% |
Basketball generated the most single-sport revenue, reaching $13 million. Profits from hoops were up nearly 4% compared to the previous May. Baseball generated $12.6 million in revenue, down slightly from April and a more resounding 41% from last May's record total.
“Other” sports, which include tennis, soccer, MMA, boxing, auto racing, and golf, had a monster month with $13.7 million in operator revenue, a 28.6% year-over-year increase. Hockey generated just $1.5 million in May, though June results could look different after the Golden Knights' run ended in the Stanley Cup Final.
Football continued to cost operators, recording a $2.2 million loss in May. Sportsbooks have lost more than $17 million on football over the past three months.
