Tropicana Evansville earned slightly more in gambling revenue last month, even though its visitation numbers declined.
The Evansville casino reported gambling revenue of $9.5 million in April, which was 1 percent more than the same period in 2014. Tropicana also reported 85,531 casino visitors last month — 3 percent fewer than visited the boat a year ago.
The numbers are from the Indiana Gaming Commission’s monthly revenue report, which was released Friday. The report details how many people visited each of Indiana’s casinos; how much each facility earned from gambling; and how much they paid out in winnings and taxes.
Jason Gregorec, Tropicana Evansville’s general manager, said April did not include any weather events or one-time incidents that can affect casino performance.
“It was just pretty much a standard month,” Gregorec said.
Statewide, Indiana’s casinos reported a combined $187.7 million in gambling revenue, a decline of 3 percent from one year earlier. The casinos reported combined visitation of 1.5 million, a year-over-year decline of 5 percent.
Tropicana considers its two main casino competitors to be the French Lick Casino in Southern Indiana and the Harrah’s casino in Metropolis, Illinois.
French Lick saw its gambling revenue increase 11 percent last month, to $6.5 million. Visitation was 69,216, an increase of 10 percent.
Harrah’s Metropolis earned $6.9 million from gambling in April, a rise of 6 percent. Visitation totaled, 58,870, up 19 percent.
Gregorec attributed French Lick’s gains to the casino’s recently expanded meeting and events center. Harrah’s Metropolis moved to a land-based casino in November and it is still seeing a boost from that, Gregorec said.