The Kansas City casino market took in nearly $61.47 million in July, down 1.1 percent from a year ago, as it continued to navigate the recession.
It was the second straight down month for area casinos, but for 2009 to date they remained just slightly ahead of their gross revenue for the first seven months of 2008.
The area’s casinos also continued their own recent trends. Market leader Ameristar’s revenue fell 6 percent to $21.1 million, its fifth down month this year. No. 3 Harrah’s slipped 2 percent to $16 million. It has had four down and three up months compared with the same months in 2008.
No. 2 Argosy was up 5 percent in July to nearly $17.26 million, and No. 4 Isle of Capri was up 3 percent to nearly $7.08 million. Argosy and Isle have posted increases every month this year, compared with their gross revenues a year ago.
Statewide in July, Missouri’s 12 casinos took in $152.8 million, up 4 percent from a year ago. The St. Louis market was up 8.8 percent. The four outstate casinos all reported increases.
Statewide, the casinos reported nearly 2.3 million “patrons” in July, up 3.2 percent from a year ago. Of those, 928,500 visited the Kansas City casinos, up just 0.2 percent. But “admissions” were down 0.5 percent statewide, to 4.6 million, and 1.3 percent in the Kansas City area, to 1.86 million. An additional admission is recorded whenever a patron stays for more than one two-hour gambling session.
Read the complete story at kansascity.com