Casinos down in 2012
Sun-Times Media January 30, 2013 3:18PM
The casino floor inside the Hollywood Casino in Aurora on Friday, July 13, 2012. | Brian Powers~Sun-Times Media
CASINO MONEY
HOLLYWOOD CASINO-AURORA
2012 revenue: $152 million
2011 revenue: $173 million
GRAND VICTORIA, ELGIN
2012 revenue: $212 million
2011 revenue: $257 million
HARRAH’S JOLIET
2012 revenue: $212.1 million
2011 revenue: $223.4 million
HOLLYWOOD JOLIET
2012 revenue: $141.5 million
2011 revenue: $146.2 million
ILLINOIS STATEWIDE
2012 revenue: $1.64 billion
2011 revenue: $1.48 million
Updated: March 1, 2013 6:04AM
Aurora’s Hollywood Casino continued to see revenue fall in 2012, but gambling revenue statewide shot up with the Des Plaines casino in operation for a full year for the first time.
Every Chicago-area casino experienced a decline in gambling revenue in 2012 except for Des Plaines’ Rivers Casino, which generated twice as much money as the nearest competition.
The impact of the changed marketplace since the Des Plaines casino was added in summer 2011 means the state saw an 18.8 percent increase in its casino taxes in 2012.
Hollywood Casino-Aurora in 2012 generated revenue of nearly $152 million, compared with $173 million the previous year, for a drop of about 9 percent.
All other area casinos — except the new Des Plaines facility — saw similar declines in revenue.
Elgin’s Grand Victoria casino in 2012 generated revenue of $212 million, compared with $257 million the previous year, a 17 percent drop.
Harrah’s Casino Joliet generated $223.4 million in casino revenue in 2012, a 5 percent drop from last year.
Hollywood Joliet took in $141.5 million, a 3 percent decline.
The impact of the Des Plaines casino was seen only in the Chicago market. Four of the five other casinos in Illinois saw revenue growth in 2012.
Rivers Casino in Des Plaines generated nearly $417 million, up from $177 million in 2011 when it was open half a year.
But at least one local casino manager is betting on a more stable year in 2013.
Gambling revenue at Hollywood Joliet Casino is not likely to increase this year, general manager Wayne Smith said. But, he added, “I think it’s going to be more stable.”
Hollywood Joliet is adding a nightclub in February. Smith said he believes business will become steadier after a full year of Rivers Casino in business.
“Hopefully, the market will start to settle in place,” he said.
If so, stability could be short-lived. The Illinois Legislature this year again is expected to take up gaming expansion, which could put a casino in Chicago and others in the suburbs and downstate. Horse race tracks also could get slot machines.
