Amidst a dip in earnings for other casinos in Lake and LaPorte counties, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana continues to dominate the state’s gambling scene as in April it raked in an impressive $39.1 million in revenue, marking a 2.3% increase compared to the same period last year.
The latest data released by the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) reveals that Hard Rock has emerged first for the 19th consecutive month, outperforming all other commercial casinos in the state.
This achievement brings them tantalizingly close to becoming the first Indiana casino since March 2018 to crack the $40 million monthly win mark, according to records. Notably, Hard Rock accounted for a substantial 18.5% of the state’s total casino win, which amounted to $211 million in the fourth month of 2023.
Matt Schuffert, the president of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, attributes the ongoing success to a combination of factors. “While Hard Rock continues to grow its business, with over 2% growth compared to last year, it is a little concerning to see the entire Northwest Indiana market down nearly 8%,” Schuffert told NWI Times.
Matt Schuffert, President of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana
He emphasized that Hard Rock’s dedication to providing an exceptional entertainment experience, bolstered by new and additional slots, a stellar lineup of performances, and extraordinary dining options, sets them apart in an otherwise stagnant regional gaming market.
Hard Rock’s dominance extends to slot machine play as well, with an impressive $275.1 million wagered in April. This robust performance resulted in a state-best win of $27.3 million, surpassing their April 2022 slot win of $25.5 million. Additionally, the Gary casino took the lead in table game play, particularly baccarat, with $52.3 million in wagers and a table win of $11.8 million.
To put this into perspective, the amount wagered at Hard Rock’s tables in April surpassed the combined wagering at Indiana’s five Ohio River casinos and the French Lick Casino.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Indiana’s gambling industry in April. The state’s former earnings leader, Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, experienced a significant decline, ranking third behind its Horseshoe Indianapolis sister property with $25.7 million in win—down 19.3% from the previous year. Ameristar Casino in East Chicago also faced a 9% decrease in monthly win, with Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City following suit with a 6.8% decrease.
While the start of the Major League Baseball season failed to inspire increased sports wagering in April, the state will still collect $66 million in tax revenue from slot machines and table games, a favorable figure.
Combined, Indiana’s 12 casinos generated over $205 million in revenue during the month, marking the second consecutive month with revenue surpassing $200 million.
