Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, casinos in Deadwood, South Dakota closed on March 25, causing casino revenue to drop 20 percent to $69 million for March compared to March 2020, according to the South Dakota Commission on Gaming. Taxable adjustable gross revenue was $6.1 million, and 9 percent, or $552,785, was collected in state tax.
Deadwood Gaming Association Executive Director Mike Rodman said, “As the numbers reflect, Deadwood’s economy was on pace with last year until March 25, when our world changed with the COVID-19 pandemic and Deadwood shut down. The loss in just gaming revenue for Deadwood’s gaming properties was over $1.5 million for the last seven days in March that we were closed.”
In March, the market’s 2,763 slot machines posted a handle of $65.1 million, down 18.17 percent compared to March 2019. Players won about $59.3 million. Year-to-date, slots had a handle of $229 million, slightly less than a 1 percent increase versus 2019 levels.
The market’s 100 table games had a handle of $3.6 million, down 44.4 percent compared to March 2019. Players won around $724,330. Year-to-date, table games had a handle of $15.7 million, down 10 percent compared to 2019 levels. So far this year, Deadwood casinos’ total handle has been $245 million, up .07 percent compared to the same period in 2019.
Players received about $1.2 million in free play for March, Rodman said.
