Reno gaming grew 7% to $825 million in gross gaming revenue last fiscal year. August posted $79 million, up 15% year over year, and a 10,000-seat arena at Grand Sierra Resort is now under construction.
Reno gaming grew 7% to $825 million in gross gaming revenue for the fiscal year ending July. August’s $79 million posted a 15% year-over-year rise, and FY2027 GGR is already 8% ahead of last year. Meruelo’s 10,000-seat Grand Sierra arena is under construction at roughly $450–500 million, with a tentative 2028 debut.
- Reno gaming’s Record Fiscal Year
- The $450M Grand Sierra Arena
- Roadrunners Hockey Plans Remain Uncertain
- College Betting and Off-Campus Operations
Reno’s gaming market grew 7% to $825 million in gross gaming revenue last fiscal year, which ended in July. That is a standout result for a market that is decades old and normally moves one or two points a year. August added fuel: $79 million in gross gaming revenue, up 15% year over year. The city’s fiscal-year pace is 8% ahead of last year.
The growth is being powered by a construction site 450 miles north of the Las Vegas Strip. Grand Sierra Resort is building a 10,000-seat arena as part of a broader $1 billion expansion that the chief marketing officer at GSR, Chris Abraham, called the largest private investment in Reno’s history. Meruelo, who bought the property in 2011, is funding the venue without regard for original estimates.
Reno gaming’s Record Fiscal Year
Gaming Control Board figures put fiscal-year gross gaming revenue at $825 million. August’s $79 million was the strongest month in the comparison period. Visitor counts climbed 14% over the prior fiscal year, with monthly records set in January, April and May. Hotel room revenue records fell for every month from January to June, and August set a record for any month in the property’s history.
The pattern matters for anyone watching land-based markets beyond Nevada. Visit Reno Tahoe set out the destination strategy behind the numbers last month, with Mike Larragueta, the president and chief executive, saying the focus is on reaching new audiences throughout the year. The message is straightforward: a strong fiscal year is a launchpad, not the whole destination.
AGBrief tracks Nevada gaming developments across the region.
The $450M Grand Sierra Arena
Foundation and underground infrastructure work are complete. The arena has walls, and Abraham said the garage and underground elements are done, putting the project in the phase where construction becomes visible from the street. Winter could slow the build depending on how severe it gets.
Original estimates for the arena sat between $350 million and $375 million. Abraham said the real number is probably closer to $450–500 million, reflecting Meruelo’s refusal to cut corners on a venue he believes could be the best of its kind in the world. Design references include the Intuit Dome in California, the Moody Center at the University of Texas and the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut, the last of which is being studied for its scale and its connection to a casino.
Roadrunners Hockey Plans Remain Uncertain
The venue is also intended to host professional hockey, a sport that has rarely found a home in Reno. The Reno Aces remain a Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks and have built a reputation around Greater Nevada Field, but larger-market professional teams have struggled for a suitable stadium.
Meruelo owned the Arizona Coyotes until they left the state in 2024, a departure that reportedly ended after years of failed arena searches in Phoenix. He retained the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, and extended their Tucson lease through the 2027-28 season in April. That timing overlaps the arena’s tentative 2028 debut, but the GSR team is careful not to promise what is not agreed yet.
College Betting and Off-Campus Operations
Nevada allows wagering on in-state college teams, but sports betting markets for college athletics are currently banned. The NCAA has pushed for tighter restrictions on the betting markets, and a federal court in Pennsylvania announced this year that 20 former college athletes faced charges over a point-shaving scheme.
The practical problem is simple. A university will be playing games near betting counters that can take action on the contests. Stephanie Rempe, the university’s athletic director, acknowledged the tension and said her team educates student athletes constantly. She called it the first off-campus operation on privately owned casino property, at least in Reno.
The partnership with the university was brokered with President Brian Sandoval, who chaired the Nevada Gaming Commission before entering politics and now leads Resorts World Las Vegas. Meruelo and Sandoval have known each other since 2011, when Meruelo purchased Grand Sierra. Abraham said hosting Nevada athletics is nothing different from what the resort has always done, but the team will follow any request from the university.
NIL, Recruiting and the Future of Reno gaming
The name, image and likeness era has changed how college programs spend. Rempe told iGB that the university is investing in good players first and treats the arena as another part of that effort, not a replacement for it. Winning is the point: a successful basketball programme brings the crowd, the ticket sales and the experience.
iGaming Business has been covering Nevada’s gaming and sports betting markets for years.
Abraham has been in Reno since the 1990s and returned in 2014 to take a role at IGT. He watched the market recover from its worst years and now sees the arena as part of the same story. His line from the site tour was direct: the work is happening, a few hundred people were building out there at the time of the visit, and the city is about to get a new experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Reno gaming revenue for the last fiscal year?
Reno finished the fiscal year ending July with $825 million in gross gaming revenue, up 7% year over year. August added $79 million, a 15% increase, and the full-year pace is 8% ahead of last year.
What is the cost of the new Grand Sierra arena?
Original estimates were $350–375 million. Chris Abraham says the current figure is probably closer to $450–500 million. The venue is part of a broader $1 billion, multi-phase expansion at Grand Sierra Resort.
When will the arena open?
The tentative debut year is 2028, but the GSR team says neither the timeline nor the venue’s exact plans are finalised. Foundation and underground work are done, and the building phase has now started.
Will the Tucson Roadrunners move to Reno?
The Roadrunners extended their Tucson lease through the 2027-28 season. Hockey will appear at the arena eventually, but the level, format and timing have not been decided. Meruelo is reviewing options and expects to decide soon.
Why is the university partnership important?
Nevada athletics drive visitor numbers and betting action, so the arena is being treated as a recruiting tool rather than the whole plan. Rempe says the university must invest in winning first. President Sandoval brokered the deal with Meruelo, who owns the property.
How does college betting interact with the arena?
Sports betting on college contests is banned in Nevada, while in-state college wagering remains legal. A federal court in Pennsylvania announced charges this year against 20 former college athletes involved in a point-shaving scheme. The university says it educates its athletes about gaming constantly.
This article has been thoroughly researched and reviewed by the CasinoBait editorial team to ensure accuracy and relevance for Asian casino players.
