By Karen Caffarini, Post-Tribune Correspondent
Last year on a whole was disappointing for the state's casino industry, and 2010 doesn't look much better, given the partial Cline Avenue closure and the anticipated continuing sluggish economy.
Analyst Ed Feigenbaum said Friday that December was the worst month revenue-wise for the five Lake Michigan boats in six years, and the worst month ever for Majestic Star II, formerly Trump Casino in Gary.
Specifically, the five Lake Michigan casinos' wins declined by $3.5 million in December. "This was not a good month and there were no real weather problems," Feigenbaum said.
Larry Buck, general manager and senior vice president of Majestic Star Casinos in Gary, said he does not look at each boat separately, but combined, and he was not aware of Majestic Star II's record low month.
Buck said the biggest problem facing the two casinos is the perception that the casinos are inaccessible.
He said revenue from the casinos' regular customers are down only 4 percent, while those from non-regular customers are down 33 percent.
Feigenbaum said one positive from the report Friday was that Horseshoe Hammond brought in $527 million for the year -- setting a record for any casino in the state.
On the downside, Feigenbaum noted Horseshoe revenue dropped below $40 million for December for the first time in a long time.
Horseshoe had revenues of $39.1 million last month, compared to $40 million last December, but it typically averages about $45 million to $50 million per month.
Other reports:
* Ameristar East Chicago took in $21.4 million compared to $21.8 million the previous December.
* Majestic Star I had $7.1 million in revenues compared to $9.4 million and Majestic Star II took in $6.3 million compared to $7 million.
* Blue Chip in Michigan City saw an increase, going from $11.7 million last December to $12.8 million last month.