According to the Kansas Lottery, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, revenue at state-owned casinos in Kansas is down more than $90 million compared to June and July 2019. Total revenue dropped 21 percent in June and 17 percent in July versus 2019. The four casinos closed in March and began reopening in late May. The state has lost $20 million , since it receives 22 percent of gaming revenue.
Kansas Lottery Director of Gaming Facilities Keith Kocher said, “I know what we saw were fewer numbers of people coming into the casino after we reopened, but those people were spending more per person, and so revenue-wise that sort of kept it up a little bit. The numbers really haven’t dropped off that much, but the spend per customer has somewhat dropped off.”
He added, “The casinos are doing their level best to follow all the standards, keep everything spick and span clean. They really have gone above and beyond in my opinion and they’re all four doing a very good job, so I feel they are one of the safer places to go because they’re under a microscope. Our long-term goal is certainly to get back to normal, but right now that’s not in the very near future.”
The four state-owned casinos, Boot Hill, Kansas Star, Hollywood and Kansas Crossing, generated revenue of $334 million in the last fiscal year, ending June 30. A portion of those funds goes toward local governments and problem gambling services.
