拉斯维加斯赌场经济逐渐回暖

　　拉斯维加斯赌场业为内华达州提供了大量的税收收入与就业机会，可以说拉斯维加斯赌场业的兴衰直接影响着内华达州经济情况。但在过去几年，拉斯维加斯赌场业收到金融危机影响而陷入经济衰退期，但衰退情况在2011年得到了缓解。从2010年开始，拉斯维加斯赌场经济逐渐回暖，2011年是继续回暖的第二个年度。据相关调查数据显示，2011年拉斯维加斯赌场经济收入有小幅上涨。

　　由于赌场经济的回暖，投资内华达州博彩业的博彩公司的盈利情况也有所上升。其中米高梅赌场度假村在本周发布了第四季度博彩收入情况。米高梅在2011年第四季度的博彩收入比2010年的同季度上涨了50％以上。

　　拉斯维加斯一直被视为美国博彩产业的中心。在2008年之前，拉斯维加斯的博彩业也一直被许多专家认为是美国经济气候的免疫系统。然而，2008年经济衰退的到来否定这一理论，美国各地许多大型赌场经营者商被迫关闭赌场。

　　但近年来，拉斯维加斯赌城内的金沙，米高梅，永利等博彩公司依赖在澳门及亚洲其他地区的博彩业务而逐渐摆脱衰退状况，例如金沙博彩集团在新加坡开拓的博彩业务，其繁荣程度已经足够维持拉斯维加斯金沙赌场度假村的持续经营。

　　高梅公司首席执行官吉姆·穆伦说：“拉斯维加斯的博彩业又开始繁荣了，我们将继续扩大在我们在国内和国外的业务。”

　　译文：

　　The Las Vegas casino gambling industry is relied on heavily by the state of Nevada to provide tax revenue, employment opportunities, and other economic benefits to the state. In 2011, for the second consecutive year, Las Vegas gaming revenue was up from the previous year. That is news that is being received well within the gaming industry.

　　Due to the increase in revenue, companies that had previously enjoyed the spoils of the Nevada gaming industry are starting to rebound financially. Among those companies is MGM Resorts, which released its fourth quarter revenue figures this week. MGM revenue was up over 50% in the fourth quarter of 2011. Despite the large gains, the overall profit still declined for the quarter thanks to expenses.

　　Las Vegas has always been the center of the US gaming industry, and prior to 2008, it had been assumed by many that the casino industry was immune to the economic climate of the country. The 2008 recession, however, disproved that theory, with many large gaming operators forced to close casinos around the US in the aftermath of the recession.

　　Las Vegas Sands, MGM, Wynn Resorts, and others have rebounded nicely in recent years. The boom of casino gambling in Macau and other Asian areas such as Singapore has helped the companies stay afloat. Their bread and butter has always been Las Vegas, and the fact that the industry is coming back around in Las Vegas is music to the ears of gaming executives.