The effects of the recession on the Las Vegas Strip are “worse than 9/11?, an industry expert has claimed as the world-famous gambling centre posted its WORST fall in takings ever.

Gambling revenues plunged 23 per cent in December, as fewer punters came to visit and those who did spent less, figures released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board show.

Drawn out

By contrast, Strip revenues were down just 5.3 per cent after the terror attack on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001.

But NGCB senior financial analyst Frank Streshley said what was happing now was  “much worse than September 11.”

Streshley told reporters that revenues were in their 12th straight month of decline, compared to a five-month slump after 9/11.

Severe

“In the 53 years we’ve been recording gaming wins, there have only been three declines — in 2001 and a 0.3 per cent in 2002,” Streshley added.

“You can see the severity of where we’ve gone since then.”