Vegas tables hurting as Chinese stay away

Baccarat winnings on the Las Vegas Strip fell 36 percent to $97 million in October, echoing declines in Macao, where an anti-corruption drive in China has crimped high-end play.

Total casino revenue on the Strip fell 5.6 percent to $520 million last month, with baccarat accounting for the largest share of the decline, according to data released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

The numbers suggest the drop in spending by high-end Chinese card players that began in June in Macao has spilled over to the United States, said Brent Pirosch, an analyst with CBRE Global Gaming Group in Las Vegas.