Ohio had a particularly good April, with gaming revenue up 9%. Coin-in rose 8% at the slots while table game revenue was up 5% despite 3% less wagering. Penn National Gaming, Caesars Entertainment and Pinnacle Entertainment all posted revenue-
positive months, led by Caesars 7.5% gain. It even had a good month at ThistleDown Racino, up 9% on an $11 million gross. Horseshoe Cleveland rose 5% ($19 million) and Horseshoe Cincinnati gained 10% ($17.5 million). How interesting that the Caesars-run properties are showing such good results just as owner Dan Gilbert has Caesars halfway out the door. Pinnacle’s Belterra Park ($7 million) was booming compared to last year, up 28% and generating $180/slot/day in VLT play — a huge improvement.
Despite higher slot handle ($197/slot/day and a $19 million gross), Hollywood Columbus was flat last year. The culprit was bad luck (-6%) and less play (-8%). Hollywood Toledo ($18 milllion), by contrast, was quite robust, with $244/slot/day and a 9% revenue gain. Lady Luck smiled on Toledo, as table win was up 12% despite flat wagering. Hollywood Dayton ($8 million, up 8%) was booming, with $262/slot/day and Hollywood Austintown continues to knock it out of the park, grossing $9 million on $318/slot/day, for a 16% gain.
Hard Rock Rocksino, however, was the Buckeye State’s revenue champ, grossing $20 million on a 14% upsurge. It never ceases to amaze how Hard Rock outperforms the state with a VLT-only casino, although VLTs seem to be a more reliable moneymaker in Ohio than tables. Miami Valley Gaming was up 10%, to $12 million. Eldorado Resorts‘ Scioto Downs was 6%, to end the month with $13 million. Since nobody was revenue-negative in April, it was a win-win situation all around.
* If not as rosy as Ohio’s, Missouri had a positive April, up 5%. Attendance was flat with last year but customers opened their wallets wider. In the St. Louis area, Pinnacle had a disappointing month, down 3% at River City ($18.5 million) and flat at Ameristar St. Charles ($22 million). The latter lost business to Hollywood St. Louis, up 6.5% on a 
$19 million gross. Tropicana Entertainment continues on the comeback trail at Lumiere Place, up 16% for a $12.5 million gross.
In Kansas City, Penn’s Argosy Riverside charged ahead 13.5% to a $14 million gross. Ameristar Kansas City was only up 1.5% but grossed $17 million. Harrah’s North Kansas City gained 4%, for a $15 million haul, while Isle of Capri Kansas City grossed $7 million, a 5% gain. Isle had a good month across the state, up 13% in Cape Girardeau, 11% in Boonville and 12% in Caruthersville. At its Mark Twain casino, Golden Entertainment suffered a 3% downturn, for a $3 million gross.
* Pinnacle had an impressive first quarter, its $172 million in cash flow beating Wall Street‘s consensus estimate of $165.5 million. And that’s despite regional flooding that adversely impacted L’Auberge du Lac in the form of $3 million in lost business.
