A 54.3 percent increase in baccarat wagers resulted in an extra $37 million in profits for casinos on the Strip, with high-end casinos benefiting the most as big money gamblers came to Vegas to celebrate the Chinese New Year. But in other areas Vegas was not looking so hot.

“Without baccarat the total Strip win would have been down 2.9 percent”, said Frank Streshley, a research analyst for the gaming control board. “We had comments that the town was busy, but it just didn’t translate into a gaming win.”

Part of the bustle in February was generated by an All-Star basketball game, part of a four day NBA festival that attracted big crowds, but apparently not big gamblers.

According to some analysts part of the problem was that there was too much going on on the Presidents Day weekend, with the Chinese New Year and the basketball event all taking place over the same weekend. The general consensus was that if the three events had occurred over different weekends February would have been a stella month.