According to Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) figures, the Hard Rock Casino in Gary is catching up to the Northwest Indiana market leader Horseshoe Casino in Hammond. In June, Horseshoe posted $34.4 million in net casino revenue. Hard Rock, open only since May 14, reported $25.9 million in June revenue.
Table games revenue came in even closer, with $36.3 million for Hard Rock and $36.9 million for Horseshoe. However, players at Hard Rock kept only $5.4 million in table game winnings, compared to $9.1 million in table game winnings at Horseshoe. Hard Rock President Matt Schuffert said, “Many table games customers left Hard Rock extremely happy in June. But to essentially be the highest table games producing casino in the state in terms of volume, in only our first full month of operation, is a testament to the product and the team we have assembled at Hard Rock.”
Hard Rock led the state in baccarat play in June with $17.8 million compared to $13.7 million at Horseshoe. Hard Rock also was a close second to the Horseshoe for June wagers on blackjack, craps and roulette, according to the IGC.
In June, Horseshoe led Indiana’s 12 casinos with $251.2 million in slot play and $25.4 million in slot win. Coming in second was Indiana Grand, posting $222.1 million in slot play and $23.4 million in slot win, and Hard Rock with $201.7 million in slot play and $20.5 million in slot win.
It’s also important to note Horseshoe offers 1,969 slots, more operational machines than any other casino in the state. That’s because some slot machines in Indiana casinos remain turned off to promote social distancing in response to Covid-19. Still, Hard Rock, with 1,291 slot machines, had more win per machine in June at $15,913 compared to Horseshoe at $12,886, according to IGC records.
Shannon McKellar, Horseshoe vice president of marketing, said, “We continue see our most loyal guests, Caesars Rewards members, make return visits and there is strong interest in taking advantage of travel benefits. Reservations for summer travel to various Caesars Rewards resorts continue to ramp up, including Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Atlantic City.”
Statewide, Indiana casino revenue totaled $230.9 million in June, up 4.5 percent over May and up 120 percent over June 2020 when casinos were open only half of the month due to Covid-19 restrictions. Ameristar Casino in East Chicago posted revenue of $21.6 million in June, a 19 percent drop compared to May, when patrons of the shuttered Majestic Star Casino most likely visited Ameristar during the half-month transition from Majestic to Hard Rock and Gary had no operating casino. The Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City also saw revenue decline in June to $11 million, down 11.9 percent compared to May.
On the sports betting front, IGC data show Indiana wagerers bet $246.3 million in June, close to May handle of $254.4 million. PlayIndiana.com Analyst Jessica Welman said sports betting was fairly stagnant in June after the Indiana Pacers exited early from the National Basketball Association playoffs and no other major sport events were going on. She said, “Overall, Indiana’s sportsbooks have performed well over the last three months compared with other Midwestern states, which have so far experienced steeper declines in betting volume.”
According to the IGC, Indiana bettors wagered a total of $2.9 billion on sporting events between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. At the same time, the Hoosier Lottery posted $1.1 billion in sales. Play at slots and table games at state-regulated casinos totaled nearly $1.9 billion in June alone.
