Northwest Indiana casino revenues climb in February 2009

By Susan Erler, Times of Northwest Indiana
susan.erler@nwitimes.com

Northwest Indiana casinos took in a combined $103.8 million in February, a 2.2 percent climb helped by increased business at the revamped Blue Chip in Michigan City.

The numbers are included in the monthly report from the Indiana Gaming Commission.

The Michigan City riverboat rang up $16.4 million for the month, an 8 percent increase from $13.6 million in February 2008.

Blue Chip February revenue climbed 20 percent from January, when the casino's $130 million new hotel was unveiled late in the month to help beat back competition from rival Four Winds tribal casino in nearby New Buffalo, Mich.

Foot traffic to Blue Chip climbed 27 percent to 221,805 in February from 174,041 a year earlier and was up from 170,867 in January.

About 1.1 million gamblers passed through turnstiles of the region's combined five Lake Michigan-docked riverboats in February, an overall 6.4 percent increase from a year ago.

Combined revenue for February was up 5.5 percent from January.

Hammond-based Horseshoe raced ahead of the other area casinos to take in $44.1 million for the month, compared to $37.3 million a year ago.

Horseshoe attendance climbed to 437,695 in February from 319,114 in February 2008. Horseshoe in August launched its $500 million expanded riverboat.

Ameristar Casino in East Chicago took in $25 million in February, an 11 percent decline from a year earlier, when the riverboat was still owned by Resorts.

Ameristar February revenue was up 8 percent from January.

The Majestic Star casinos in Gary rang up $18.3 million for the month, a 12.5 percent decline from February 2008.

Majestic Star attendance fell by 11 percent from a year earlier to 230,504 in February.