Moody's investor service said rising gas prices could endanger the recovery as money that
consumers will spend at the casinos could be used for fuel spending with the average cost of
gasoline at $3.83 at the time of this report.

Consumers could pull back on discretionary spending and cost of travel to Las Vegas.

"The effects would hit hardest at the Casinos. While we expect strong visitation this year,
consumers may dial back their allotments for gaming which are entirely discretionary."

Also, the cost of travel would increase by car or air potentially reducing spending.

"While trends on the strip are improving, it will be a while before Casino operators
reach the peak levels of the mid-2000s."

The pace of recovery largely dictate the fortunes of companies that rely on this
market for a material portion of their profits, focusing attention on MGM resorts and Caesars
which each operate ten hotel-casinos on or near the strip.

"These companies have a high mountain to climb to reach previous levels of absolute profits."