Oct. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Las Vegas Strip casino gambling revenue declined for the eighth straight month in August as cash-strapped U.S. consumers curbed entertainment and travel spending because of an economic slowdown.

Gambling proceeds from the Strip fell 7.4 percent to $494 million in August, Nevada's Gaming Control Board said today.

Casino revenue at the largest U.S. gambling center slid 6.7 percent to $4.21 billion this year through August as U.S. consumers struggled with higher gasoline and food prices, declining home values, job losses and the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

``Third-quarter results could prove to be challenging statewide, as September weakness could be greater than August revenue figures,'' Dennis Farrell, a debt analyst with Wachovia Capital Markets LLC in Charlotte, North Carolina, said today in a note to clients. August probably ``benefited from higher international visitation and a favorable operating calendar.''

Revenue for all casinos in Nevada retreated 8.1 percent to $934.1 million in August from a year earlier, when the month had one less weekend. Proceeds for Clark County, which includes downtown Las Vegas as well as the Strip, fell 9.4 percent to $759.3 million, according to the board's statement.

The slump prompted Boyd Gaming Corp. to delay construction of its $4.75 billion Echelon resort development. Moody's Investors Services Inc. in July initiated multiple reviews of gambling companies with business on the Strip.

Boyd fell 13 percent to $6.15 at 4:15 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading, Las Vegas Sands Corp. dropped 17 percent to $13.85, while MGM Mirage declined 8.4 percent to $16.26. Wynn Resorts Ltd. slid 6.6 percent to $56.24 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

Atlantic City, the second-biggest U.S. gambling center after the Strip, will report September gambling data tomorrow.

To contact the reporter on this story: Beth Jinks in New York at bjinks1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 9, 2008 17:11 EDT