Hard Rock tops Horseshoe again in casino table games play
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The competition between the Horseshoe Casino and the Hard Rock Casino for Northwest Indiana gaming market dominance is not letting up.
Data released Friday by the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) shows the Hard Rock in August outpaced the Horseshoe in table game play for the second consecutive month, while the Horseshoe maintained its top statewide spot for total "win," or revenue after paying successful bettors.
There's no question the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana has become the premier destination for table games — especially baccarat — since opening its doors to the public May 14.
According to the IGC, Hard Rock visitors wagered $42.3 million on table games in August at the new Gary casino located adjacent to Interstate 80/94 at the Burr Street exit.
That was more than any other casino in the Hoosier State and just shy of the combined table games drop at the five southern Indiana casinos located on the Ohio River.
The $23.4 million wagered on baccarat at the Hard Rock comprised 55% of its table game play and contributed a similar share to the Hard Rock's state-leading total table game win of $9.3 million in August, according to the IGC.
"We are very happy with our August results," said Matt Schuffert, president of the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.
"Despite August typically being a slower month than July, we surpassed $30 million in gaming revenue and have clearly become the overall table games leader in the state of Indiana, led by our strong baccarat play."
Records show the Horseshoe collected $8.4 million in August table game win, led by a state-best $2.8 million in blackjack win on $11 million in blackjack play. Hard Rock saw $9.1 million cross its blackjack tables in August and the casino kept $1.9 million.
The Horseshoe, located on Lake Michigan in Hammond, also topped the Hard Rock in slot machine play and win during the month of August. Though the Hard Rock tallied 11.5% more win per slot machine compared to the Horseshoe, records show.
According to the IGC, August patrons deposited $248.2 million in the Horseshoe's 1,974 slot machines, generating $24.9 million in win for the casino.
The Hard Rock, meanwhile, ranked third in the state for August slot play ($209.1 million) and win ($20.9 million) on its 1,448 machines, behind the Horseshoe's Indianapolis-area sister casino, Indiana Grand, which saw $221.5 million in play on 1,595 slot machines and recorded $23.5 million in win.
Altogether, the four Northwest Indiana casinos generated 46.4% of the state's $209.3 million in total win from its 12 casinos in August, led by the the Horseshoe with $33.3 million, Hard Rock at $30.2 million, East Chicago's Ameristar Casino with $21.5 million, and the Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City at $12.1 million.
Hoosier State casinos also saw $215.6 million in total sports wagers during August, primarily on baseball and multiple sport parlay bets.
That was a 10.9% increase compared to Indiana's $194.5 million July sports wagering handle, and 27.6% more money bet in Indiana on professional and collegiate sports than August 2020, records show.
