Indiana: Hard Rock leads casino gaming for 17th month in a row; statewide revenue reaches $205M
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According to the latest report from the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC), released on Friday, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana was the state's highest-earning casino for the 17th month in a row. The property saw a 9% increase in casino win for February to $34.4 million when compared to the same month last year. It also accounted for 17% of the total revenue of $204.9 million in Indiana for the second month of the year.
Matt Schuffert, President of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, attributed the year-over-year success of Hard Rock and other Region casinos to the mild February weather.
"February was another solid month for Hard Rock with year-over-year growth of nearly 10%," Schuffert said, as reported by The Times of Northwest Indiana. "We are getting extremely positive feedback on our all-you-can-eat crab leg offering in our Fresh Harvest buffet on Thursdays, along with some new and exciting high-limit slot machines with more on the way."
Schuffert expects the good times will continue at Hard Rock in the months ahead thanks to its "unmatched" entertainment lineup, including Pitbull on April 7, Diana Ross on May 5, The Killers on May 11, Kevin Hart on June 10, and Weezer on July 9.
Hard Rock's state-leading slot machine play totaled $258.9 million in February, with a state-best win of $25.6 million,compared to last year's slot win of $22.1 million on $223.5 million in play. The Gary casino also led the state for February table game play, primarily baccarat, with $47.3 million and was first in table win at $8.9 million.
In February,Hard Rock Casino's table games saw more money wagered than the combined total of the tables at Indiana's five Ohio River casinos and the French Lick Casino ($45.7 million). Records indicate thatthis is the highest amount wagered at Hard Rock Casino table games to date.
According to the IGC, the state's former earnings leader,Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, last month ranked third in the state behind its Horseshoe Indianapolis sister property with $27.9 million in win — down 2.8% from its February 2022 win of $28.7 million.
Monthly win at Ameristar Casino in East Chicago fell 8.9% to $16.5 million for February compared with $18.1 million for the same month in the prior year. Meanwhile, last month's win at Blue Chip Casino inMichigan City totaled $11.1 million versus $10.7 million last February, an increase of 4.3%, according to the IGC.
Despite Super Bowl taking place during February, Hoosierssaw a statewide online and retail handle of $356.2 million last month, down when paired against 409.1 million in February 2022 and the all-time record of $500.1 million in January 2022.
Jake Garza, an analyst at PlayIndiana,is optimistic the state's sports wagering handle will increase this month as the annual NCAA basketball tournaments get underway.
"It's basketball's time to shine now that football is out of the way, and Hoosiers are primed and ready to bet on Indiana University and Purdue during March Madness this year," Garza said.
In total, Indiana in February collected $61.8 million in tax revenue from slot machine and table game play, and $2.6 million from settled sports wagers,according to the IGC.
