Indiana flat, Missouri down, Jones up

Indiana gaming revenues were microscopically down last month, to $186 million, not bad when one considers that December 2018 had one more weekend day. It’s too soon to have numbers from table games at the racinos, so January’s will be more-closely watched data. That being said,

here’s what Santa left under various casinos’ Christmas trees. Caesars Southern Indiana‘s new casino (and brand) was a hit with players, up 10% to $22 million. Coal and switches went to Rising Star, falling 13.5% to $3.5 million. Except for a flat month at Indiana Grand ($21 million), numbers tended to be somewhat meager in the southern tier. Belterra Resort was down 7% to $9 million, Tropicana Evansville slumped 5% to $12.5 million (Remember when it used to regularly outperform the market?), Hollywood Lawrenceburg slipped 4% to $15 million, French Lick Resort tumbled 8.5% to $8 million and Hoosier Downs dipped 3% to $16 million.

Up north, Horseshoe Hammond was predictably dominant, rising 6% to $34 million. Ameristar East Chicago was a distant second, down 2% to $19 million, while Blue Chip gained 3% to $14 million. Majestic Star I fell 7% to $7 million while customers avoided Majestic Star II like the plague, falling 13% to $4.5 million. Sports betting generated $162 million in handle. Said PlayIndiana.com analyst Dustin Gouker, “The question for 2020 is whether Indiana can sustain its rate of expansion [1o% growth], especially as neighboring states become more likely to legalize sports betting. That has already happened in Michigan, which could take a bite out of the handle at some of northern Indiana’s retail sportsbooks.”

The Hoosier State could be one of the fastest to reach $1 billion in cumulative handle, having been an early adopter of online wagering. December saw the entry of a new player, BetAmerica, piggybacking on Rising Star. However, DraftKings continued to dominate the market with $67 million in handle and $5 million in revenue (in partnership with Ameristar East Chicago). FanDuel, headquartered at Blue Chip, was second with a respectable $36 million handle and $2 million win. Illinois‘ continued dithering will work to DraftKings’ benefit but FanDuel has reason to look at newly enabled Michigan with some concern.

* Even allowing for that one fewer weekend day, Missouri‘s results, down 4% to $146 million, were disappointing. Slots—$125.5 million—lost 3% while table game winnings slumped 1o% to $21 million. Percentage-wise, Lumiere Place did the worst, spiraling 9% down to $13 million. Player favorite Ameristar St. Charles had an adverse month, grossing $22 million but off 4.5%. Penn National Gaming had a mixed month: River City was off 3% to $20 million but Hollywood Casino St. Louis gained 1.5% to finish with $19.5 million. In Kansas City, Ameristar lost the most (7%) but won the most ($16 million), while Argosy Riverside slipped 4% to $14.5 million. Harrah’s North Kansas City ceded 4.5% to $15 million while Isle of Capri Kansas City was down 3% to $5.5 million.

Out in the boonies, Mark Twain Casino was up 7% to $3 million and a change of ownership did good for Century Casino Caruthersville, gaining 5.5% to $3.5 million. Century didn’t repeat the act in Cape Girardeau, where it was off 3% to $5.5 million. Isle of Capri Boonville fell 7% to $6 million and St. Jo Frontier was off 6% to $3.5 million.

* MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren is trying to flip the script on Las Vegas. He’s positioning it as the new leader in diversity, sustainability and other good things, not an archaic town where you go to sweep sordid stuff under the carpet. But will Murren’s message resonate? We hope so. Also, Scott Butera puts in an appearance, singing the praises of BetMGM.

* Caesars Entertainment board member Jan Jones Blackhurst has a new honorific: She’s “chief executive in residence” of the International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Simply put, her brief is to promote diversity in the gaming industry. As she put it, “A growing body of research now shows that more inclusive leadership teams are more successful. Moving forward, we will change the culture of women in leadership, and we will not stop until this industry becomes a beacon for others to study.” We support Ms. Blackhurst and give big ups to UNLV President—and former gaming exec—Don Snyder for pulling the trigger on this appointment. On a similar note, Global Market Advisors has increased its already-impressive braintrust with the addition of former Nevada Gaming Control Board chairwoman Becky Harris. Her portfolio will be as legal, regulatory and policy consultant. Sounds like a good fit to us.

* Encore Boston Harbor is denying a local media report that 70 employees are being laid off. It says it is “rightsizing” the workforce. Isn’t that a distinction without a difference?

* Want some unvarnished truth on the gaming world? Then listen to Las Vegas Advisor Publisher Anthony Curtis on the Global Gaming Business podcast. Full disclosure: Anthony signs my paychecks.