Total revenues at Northwest Indiana’s five casinos dropped 8.4 percent in June, one of the worst declines since the first quarter of the year when the harsh winter severely affected the numbers.
The five gaming boats took in $78.5 million in June, compared to $85.6 million in June 2013 and the $87 million in revenues posted last month, according to the monthly revenue report from the Indiana Gaming Commission.
Two casinos, East Chicago’s Ameristar and Michigan City’s Blue Chip, each showed minor revenue declines of 2.7 percent in June over June 2013.
However, the big losers were the two Majestic Star gaming boats in Gary and Horseshoe Casino in Hammond.
Majestic Star I experienced a 7.6 percent decline, taking in $7.74 million. In June 2013, revenue was $8.38 million. Majestic Star II’s revenue dropped more than 25 percent, with $5.34 million coming in.
The total take for the two Gary casinos was $15.56 million, down $2.47 million or 15.9 percent compared with last year.
Horseshoe took in $35.03 million in total revenue, a drop of 9.9 percent as compared to June 2013.
“June unfortunately was kind of a step backward” from what was anticipated with all the casino’s many promotions, said Chris Albrecht, assistant general manager of Horseshoe Hammond. “June was a tough month.”
Albrecht compared last month’s revenue declines to March and April of this year, and said slots were the leading source of the decline.
He said the penny slots didn’t contribute to the decline because those denomination slot machines are what customers indicate they want in casino.
“The table game side is holding, especially with our Asian market,” Albrecht said.
June figures from throughout the Midwest reflect this pattern, with declines reported throughout Indiana, Illinois and Ohio, he said.