As reported by the Indiana Gaming Commission on Monday, the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana property was the highest earning casino in March for the sixth consecutive month, once again surpassing the former earnings leader, Caesars’ Horseshoe Casino in Hammond.
The casino’s win from slot machines and table games accounted for $38.5 million for the third month of the year, showing a 22% increase compared to February’s earnings and 12% more than Horseshoe’s March revenue of $34.4 million.
Hard Rock saw $57.1 in table game wagers in March, with Baccarat accounting for $31.3 million of that total handle. It also led in slot machine play for the third time since opening. Its $268.6 million in slot machine coin-in edged Horseshoe, which posted $257 million in slot play last month.
Ameristar Casino saw slot machine and table game win of $20 million in March, up 10.3% compared to February. March’s win at Blue Chip Casino was $12.8 million, also up 20% on a monthly basis.
Statewide casino win for March totaled $235.2 million, a 16.8% increase compared to the $201.3 million in statewide win recorded in February, and up 12.5% compared to March 2021, according to the IGC.
Joe Branchik, Vice President of Marketing at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, said: “We are excited to lead the state in gross gaming revenue. We feel this success is centered around the creation of a true entertainment destination with quality gaming, entertainment and dining for our guests”.
When it comes to sports betting, the monthly handle for the state was $476.8 million. Even though that is 4.7% less than the state’s record sports wagering handle of $500 million set in January, it represents a 16.5% boost compared to February’s $409 million.
Ameristar Casino led the state for sports wagering handle in March with $145.9 million, primarily through its DraftKings mobile sports wagering affiliate. Blue Chip came in second with $143.8 million in sports betting handle, in affiliation with FanDuel.
Jake Garza, lead analyst for PlayIndiana.com, stated: “Because of the NCAA Tournament, March is easily the busiest non-football month on the calendar for sports books. If anything, though, Indiana’s sportsbooks beat expectations. Purdue, Notre Dame, and Indiana all played multiple NCAA Tournament games. Events that drive that kind of statewide enthusiasm are enormously beneficial for sportsbooks, especially as Indiana’s industry grows increasingly local.”
