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IN BUSINESS GAMING CASINOS CONTINUE TO SEE REVENUE SHIFT TOWARD NONGAMING SOURCES offer what's in Las Vegas and Reno." By Cy Ryan staff writer C Baccarat ARSON CITY — The trend is con- tinuing and growing at Strip casi- nos that make more money off their rooms, restaurants and entertainment than from the table games and slots. Forty-two states have a casino, and people across the nation are coming to Las Vegas for its other amenities, said Matthew Maddox, chief financial officer for Wynn Resorts. "They are not sitting at the blackjack tables at 2 a.m.," said Maddox, one of the five members of the Economic Fo- rum that predicts how much tax rev- enue the state will collect in the next two fiscal years. The state Gaming Control Board produced figures showing 62 percent of the revenues at Strip casinos came from rooms, entertainment, food, drinks and retail sales in fiscal 2011, up 1 percent from the previous year. Michael Lawton, senior research an- can gamble anywhere, but they can't is showing the greatest strength in the casinos. "Baccarat fig- ures are volatile," said Lawton, who predicts baccarat win will 5 percent increase this fiscal year and 3 to 4 percent in the coming biennium. Slot machine revenue is expected to rebound in the coming two fiscal years. It is down this year, but Lawton expects the win to grow in the coming two years by 3 to 4 percent. The number of slot machines fell from 165,995 to 158,788 in the past year, Lawton said. alyst for the control board, said, "You mining and not casinos, which had a bad downturn during the recession. Minimum number of best news website awards a media company should win before you log on. Leach, Kats, Chareunsy, Coolican, Brewer, Velotta, Spotleson, Bern 4 Pulitzer | Dupont | EPPY | General Excellence 12 VEGASINC RADIO 07515_VINC_RadioHouse_AD_c2.indd 1 | 26 NOVEMBER 2012 | 8/29/12 9:10 AM Lawton predicts tax revenue from gaming will increase by 3.3 percent next year and by 5.3 percent by 2015. Janet Rogers, deputy state budget director, is not that optimistic, fore- casting 2 percent growth followed by 3.4 percent growth. Maddox said the Legislature, if it plans to raise taxes, should look at GOVERNMENT RETIREMENT PREMIUMS GOING UP FOR GOVERNMENT WORKERS By Cy Ryan staff writer C ARSON CITY — The estimated 100,000 public employees and the 186 state and local governments will each pay slightly more next fiscal year to keep Nevada's retirement system healthy. The board of the state Public Em- ployees' Retirement System adopted an evaluation report Nov. 14 that calls for a 1 percent increase in premiums for the workers and 1 percent hike for the governments in the employee-em- ployer matching contribution system. The system collected $1.5 billion in premiums in the 2011-12 period and paid $1.6 billion in benefits. But that $100 million difference is "not alarm- ing" since it is a pay-as-you-go system, said Brad Ramirez, a consulting actu- ary for Segal Co. who expects contribu- tions to exceed benefits in the future. There were fewer government work- ers and many employees suffered pay reductions, resulting in the $100 mil- lion figure. The board is required to adopt rates based on the valuation of the system. Chris Collins, a board member rep- resenting the Las Vegas Police Protec- tive Association, said the information shows the system is healthy. Dana Bilyeu, executive director of the system said it is 70 percent funded despite some reports saying Nevada is in "dire straits." She said the system will not be coming to the state's gen- eral fund to bail it out. Active members in regular govern- ment employment total 86,719 as of last June 30 with an average salary of $48,808, a decline of 0.9 percent from the previous year. There are 38,528 re- tired workers drawing benefits with an average monthly check of $2,603. Warren Wish, president of the Ne- vada State Education Association re- tirees, told the board that Gov. Brian Sandoval has hired the Arnold Foun- dation to study the system. He said that company is a "hardly unbiased organization" and he urged the board to conduct an independent study. Tune in at 7 a.m. Mondays on KUNV 91.5 for the latest in gaming, tourism and real estate news. VISIT VEGASINC.COM FOR PAST EPISODES AND MORE BUSINESS NEWS.