Inclement weather notwithstanding, Americans turned out to gamble last month. A late-2024 softening in casino takings firmed up with the new year, as play continued at levels so elevated they are sometimes hard to credit. For instance, Illinois had the first gains we could believe in quite a long time. Casinos won 10% more than early last year and even 1% more than in 2019, on a same-store basis. When new, hit Wind Creek Southland was factored in, winnings shot up 21% year/year and an astounding 52% from 2019.
The statewide haul was $144 million in Wind Creek’s second full month of operations. It pulled in $13 million, making it the #2 casino in the state, behind only—albeit way behind—Rivers Des Plaines, which generated $39 million (flat). Not everyone was as successful as Rivers in defending their market share. Harrah’s Joliet dipped 3% to $9 million, Bally’s Casino in downtown Chicago ceded a percentage point to reach a wan $9 million and Grand Victoria was down a point to $10 million. Chicagoland gainers were The Temporary at American Place, vaulting 33.5% to $9.5 million, and Hard Rock Rockford, rocketing 101.5% to $11 million. Even the antediluvian Penn Entertainment boats outperformed: Hollywood Joliet jumped 10.5% to $7 million and Hollywood Aurora leapt 12.5% to $8 million. As for Bally’s … fifth place statewide? Not at all good.
Outstate, the forthcoming move of Par-A-Dice wasn’t bad for business, which surged 21.5% to $5 million. Bally’s Quad Cities catapulted 31.5% to $4.5 million and Walker’s Bluff Casino jumped 10.5% to $2.5 million. Another relative newbie, Golden Nugget Danville, slipped 1.5% to $3 million, while Harrah’s Metropolis gained 7% to achieve $4 million. In the St. Louis market, DraftKings Casino Queen was up 9% to $6.5 million, while Argosy Belle nudged up 1.5% to $2.5 million.
On the other side of the river, in Missouri, revenues were very nearly as good ($140 million) on business that was 3% better than last year’s and 11% higher than 2019’s. To no one’s surprise, Ameristar St. Charles led the Show-Me State with $22 million, up 3.5%. River City (+6%) bested sister property Hollywood St. Louis (+4%) $19 million to $18.5 million. Horseshoe St. Louis continued to fade, down 2% to $10.5 million. Across the state, the new-casino sheen seems to be off Bally’s Kansas City, down 2% to $9 million. Ameristar Kansas City gained a point to lead with $14 million, shadowed by Argosy Riverside ($12.5 million, +1.5%) and Harrah’s North Kansas City ($12 million, +8%). Downstate, Isle of Capri Boonville was still the highest grosser ($6 million) despite being down a point. New product continues to power Century Caruthersville, surging 26% to $4 million, while Century Cape Girardeau hopped 5.5% to $5 million.
At first blush, the numbers from Indiana were spectacular: $184 million, 11% more than last year and 19.5% greater than in 2019. Or were they? Once adjusted to account for two newer casinos, the revenues were 5% bigger than 2024’s but 4% down from 2019. Still, a gain is a gain. Hard Rock Northern Indiana has now doubled up previous monarch Horseshoe Hammond, $35.5 million to $18 million. The Hard Rock International property jumped 16% while the Horseshoe-branded one faded 5%. Ameristar East Chicago was up 3% to $13 million while Blue Chip climbed 13.5% to $9 million. In the Indianapolis area, Horseshoe Indianapolis cantered up 2% to $22.5 million while Harrah’s Hoosier Park galloped 11.5% to $16.5 million.
Caesars Southern Indiana led the Ohio River tier—and nearly took second place in the state—with $20 million, a 7.5% gain for the tribal property. Terre Haute Casino posted $10 million, Belterra Resort did $5 million (-1%) and Hollywood Lawrenceburg made $11.5 million (-2%). Bally’s Evansville‘s $13 million was a 4% falloff, while living-on-borrowed-time Rising Sun continued to tap players’ remorse to the tune of $3 million (+14%). That left French Lick Resort, fading 11% to $5 million.
The Indiana Lege just have nixed iGaming yet again this week, Hoosier State citizens will have to content themselves with sports betting for another year. In January it $56.5 million (+8%) on handle of $525.5 million (+13%). FanDuel eased past DraftKings, $24 million to $20 million. BetMGM made $4 million, Bet365 $2 million, Caesars Sportsbook $1.5 million and ESPN Bet $1 million. BetRivers was an also-ran.
Covid-19 did a permanent number on casino revenues in Detroit. They’ll never regain their 2019 altitude, having finished January 10% off for the month. But, year over year, they were up 9%, good news in any event. The three-casino gross was $102 million. MGM Grand Detroit took damn near half of it: $50 million, up 12%. Hollywood Greektown slipped 2% to $22 million, while MotorCity gained the most, up 13% to $30.5 million.
Left out of the party was the state of Maryland, which saw revenue slip a point to $152 million, 11% above the 2019 pace, however. In short, MGM National Harbor waxed and most everyone else waned. It was up 2% to $67.5 million whilst Maryland Live slipped 3% to a still-prosperous $55 million. Would that similar things could be said of woebegone Horseshoe Baltimore: Its $13.5 million represented an 8% slippage, worst in the Free State. Century Casinos, though, may finally have a handle on Rocky Gap Resort, up 4% to $3 million, the first gain since Century took charge. Hollywood Perryville was up 1% to $6.5 million but Ocean Downs was down 6.5% to $5.5 million.
Maryland sports books held tightly (13.5%) last month, engendering 4% more revenue on 14% bigger handle. Win was $80.5 million off wagering volume of $601 million. FanDuel skunked its rivals in both handle and win ($42.5 million). The best DraftKings could manage was $23 million win, while BetMGM did $6 million, Fanatics $3.5 million, Caesars Sportsbook $2 million and ESPN Bet $1.5 million. Again, BetRivers failed to make it to the million-dollar mark.
Some old business from 2024 yet to be closed out is Illinois sports betting. As football underdogs beat up on favorites, so too did punters best the books. Revenue plunged 18% to $105.5 million, a hold percentage of 7%, despite 13% greater handle. FanDuel took home $41.5 million to DraftKings‘ $33 million. Others participating were Fanatics (a respectable $9.5 million), BetMGM ($8 million), BetRivers ($6 million), ESPN Bet ($3 million) and Caesars Sportsbook ($3 million).
JOTTINGS: Damn the litigation, full speed ahead. That’s the message from newly approved Cedar Crossing Casino in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Despite a freshly filed lawsuit from nearby Riverside Casino, Cedar Crossing execs went ahead and held a groundbreaking, the first for a casino in the Hawkeye State in 12 years. When complete Cedar Crossing will boast 700 slots machines and 22 table games … New Resorts World Las Vegas President Alex Dixon has been making the rounds of the Las Vegas media, celebrating his return to Sin City. He’s no stranger to high-end aspirations, having opened $950 million MGM Springfield … Casino visitation is 13.5% down from January 2024, according to Jefferies Equity Research. That being said, players are spending more these days .. The Kewadin Casinos chain in Michigan is the latest to feel the pang of a cyber-attack. The defenses of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians were breached, crippling five casinos at one fell swoop, along with four tribally owned gas stations … Two casinos were proposed for Oahu, part of a push to bring gambling to Hawaii on a 20-year basis, taxed at 15%. But the effort died within two weeks in the Lege … Wet Republic is out at MGM Grand, due to be replaced soon by Palm Tree Beach Club. But don’t worry. The new venue is certain to be as overloud and douchebag-infested as its predecessor … Down in Florida, the Seminole Tribe has rolled out yet another casino: Brighton Casino Hotel. It offers just 100 guest rooms, along with 640 slots and 18 table games, replacing 44-year-old Seminole Casino Brighton, ancient by casino standards … Whew! Wynn Resorts has landed a $2.4 billion construction loan, thus enabling it to finish Wynn Al Marjan in the United Arab Emirates. Not that we were really worried.